**Super_Dogs**

Thanks for your advice Jed. Just to clarify the office of fair trading said they cannot make her as she does not have a registered business. They said all they could do is put pressure on her. Maybe this is also worth a shot!

So last week 2 of my dogs got out (gate was not shut properly) and where picked up by the pound. They were picked up late the day before Anzac day so had to spend 2 nights there :( Last night one dog started coughing who went to the pound, today another 2 dogs coughing, one who was at the pound and another which seems to have caught it from them! So 3 out of my 4 adult dogs have it. So far it seems it is going to a pretty mild case with one dogs as she has had the sniffles and been sooky the last few days but only a very faint cough, another is only coughing when excited. So it seems so far we should get through it with the adult dogs without too much pain. My concern however is the puppies. Does anyone have a similar experience they could share? Is it likely they puppies will catch it? If so, how is it managed? Also, they are going to their new homes in just over 1 week, What do I do if they do catch it? I have been speaking to my vet and will again tomorrow, but I like to hear from people who have experience this first hand.

So they called the office of fair trading today. Because the breeder is no a registered business there is nothing they can do However they can take it in front of a judge for just $30 (something around this can't remember exact amount). So they are going to do it. She should not get away with this! It is just wrong.

Yes, yes, yes and yes!! While heart murmurs may be common is some breeds they are certainly not 'normal'. This breeder has created a document and the last sentence says heart murmurs in 6-8 week old puppies are normal.

Exactly!!!!! With a bad experience like this purchasers tend to tar us with the same brush. But in the breeders favour, they were at least up front over the condition and we must be fair in our appraisal of others.After that, for me, it was all down hill. You know I did agree with this originally. But now I think she had done this so there is recourse on her as the buyer purchasing the puppy knowing it has this condition. IMO this breeder has become an 'expert' as selling defective puppies.

Another update. The breeder has agreed to refund ONLY if after th 8 week and 12 week health check the murmur is still present. WHAT!!!! Would you believe the breeder also told them "you are not the right home for the puppy because you cannot see the situation for what it is and see the puppy as defective". Funny that because it is defective!! Clearly she does not understand consumer rights as she gueninely believes she is entitled to claim the whole of the refund. Time to call Fair Trading. I will post an update to what they say about this.

Finally the breeder is back peddeling and now says she is willing to negotaiate. However she is still insistent that it is not hereditary (which I am baffled to know how can disprove this!!) and that the puppy is not defective as the heart murmur will do. She is saying that she would not sell the puppy to someone who belives it is defective. I think it is pretty black and white - the puppy currently has a heart murmur, so it has health issues!!! The breeder does not have a leg to stand on as she emailed them a copy of the vet health check which has the heart murmur noted. Unfortunetly though, there is not much to negotiate as even is the puppy's health is clear they do not want a puppy from this breeder and they just can trust her. So fingers crosses this can be resolved without having to go to the office of fair trading. However if it is not sorted by today, this is their next step. The whole thing really makes me angry. As a breeder myself I want people to buy healthly sound dogs from registered breeders. It is breeders like this that drive people to buy from BYB!!!

. I do agree that the controlling body will be able to do little but at least they will have in writing an official complaint. They may in time question the breeder if sufficiant complants are laid. It has happened, so I was informed the other day. :) ellz I totally agree. They even emailed the breeder reference to these, with the link, but still refused to refund the deposit. They are going to call the office of fair trading tomorrow to get some advice Thanks oakway. Good to know. I think this is why people must complain whe breeders are doing the wrong thing.

I am glad to hear others thing what the breeder is doing is wrong. I certainly do! The fact that she would not hold only to the puppy until the condition is cleared I think speaks volumes. I would have thought this is what any responsible breeder would do! I understand deposits can be non refundable, however I did not think this was the case if it is not as per the original agreement being a healthy puppy. For example if you put a deposit on the car and in that time they dinged it, they would have to fix it or give the money back. as you can't fix thins health condition this only leaves one option. I have told them even of they get the deposit back they still need to report it to dogs qld.

Yes they are. I also suggested they do this. What is worse the breeder has been telling them this is no problem and will go away (which I know it could but you would not knowingly take this risk). The breeder keeps saying this is not a heart disease, it is a murmur. The breeder even emailed a document to her about it which clearly they wrote as it says a heart murmur in 6-8 week old puppies is normal. You don't need to be a vet to know a heart murmur is not normal! They also admitted to having puppy with a 3/6 heart murmur from another litter and said that it will be good for a pet home.

A family member put a large deposit (33%) for a puppy. At the puppy's 6 week health check last week the vet detected a 2/6 heart murmur. What makes it worse is the breeder wants final payment this week - 1 week before they pick up the puppy. They spoke to the breeder about waiting until the puppy has the all clear before they pay and take puppy but she did not agree to this. They have therefore decided that they do not want to take the puppy and have requested a refund. The breeder has refused. Her terms and conditions hidden on The website in a place you would not look state the deposit is non-refundable or refundable at their discretion. I cannot understand how she can refuse to refund when the puppy has a heart murmur. This is not what they put the deposit on! Any advice of next steps they could take?

My vet told me it happens because they are growing so quickly. He did provide more details as to why......but I can't remember this bit :)

Beautiful weisnjac! Cat tunnels are great! My lot love theirs.

I agree with both of these suggestions PADS and Teamwork. : They both have a puppy class but Teamwork is a better option is you want ongoing obedience as PADS is an agility club.

I have found some is just stiffer than others. The vet bed I brought last year was very stiff and I could not even fit it in the washing machine! I brought some more this year, same size, and it fit in the washing machine straight away. To really soften it with take quite a few washes.

Enjoying their first meal.

I thought I would share some photos of my babies. They are now 4.5 weeks but these were taken last week.

Thanks for your ideas. I have been giving pups some inner health plus the last few days and most puppies stools are back to normal. I am due to worm again this weekend. This time I will using tablets. So between all of this, hopefully this solves the problem!

I have 4, about to be 5. 4 is a good number, I did not find is any more diffcult than 3. I really did not want to go to 5, but I really want a pup a specific litter and for me now is a better time for a crazy puppy that in a few years. When I tell people I have 4 they look at me like I am mad.......especially when I tell them they are not small dogs! I think I am going to have to start using Poodle Mums line when we go to 5.

I am sorry about your boy. How old are your babies? Just wondering as curiously when people vaccinate.

Hey Gumnut. My babies were 3 weeks Sunday and their poos are smelly and some runny. All gaining weight and active also :) What Hydalyte do you give? I have been giving them some yogurt the last few days but was thinking of trying some kids inner health plus. Have you tried this?

I have 7 lab puppies 3 weeks old. All a very healthy weight, gained weight since yesterday and are playing as normal. The other day I noticed a puppy stool quite mucusy. Yesterday and today I suspected some puppies have runny stools as the marks on the vet bed. So yesterday and today I have given the puppies some yogart. This afternoon I noticed the poo smell quite strong. I have just seen a few marks on a towel that look mucusy and some blood. What could be wrong? Edited to add - were wormed at 2 weeks with Troy.

So I decided on the interlocking foam mats. I found Bunnings sell a 4 pack (each tile is 60cm x 60cm) for only $14.95. These will be easy for the pups to walk on and also easy to clean. I think I will probably take them out the pen when they are confident on their feet as I they may chew them. Thanks so much for all the ideas.

I am pretty sure I pay around $60. I know the emergency vet charges $115 for after hours. If I need medication the visit usualyl costs $120-150. I think it is time for them to change vets!

I train and compete in agility with my labs Yes, they are not as quick as a BC but my girls are consistent and reliable. So we area still competitive. I love it, and so does my girls! I agree with what others have mentioned that you need to get the right dog. My girls are very lean. You don't want to get the heavy stocky labs which are more common in the show ring. IMO labs are a very versatile dog.