Absolute Dogs puppy farm allegations

[Morwenna]

It seems a former employee has lifted the lid on some breeding practices that look highly dubious. They have registered 731 dogs with their Devongem affix since 2008 with 119 dogs registered in 2019 alone, and that’s not counting the ones registered with no affix or on the activity register or sold with no papers. Not to mention allegations of switching affixes to register more puppies, breeding from a nearly 9 year old bitch, registering puppies on KC with sire / dam ‘unknown’.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I think several former employees have now added allegations, plus puppy purchasers and even neighbours talking about harassment !

 

[Clodagh]

That’s near me. They sound like a delightful bunch.

 

[Morwenna]

Apparently it’s been well-known in the agility / professional dog training circles but anyone who speaks up is threatened with legal action. I’ve never done any of their training courses but did buy the probiotic from aok-9 which is annoying as it’s the only one that seems to help my dog so the search is on for an alternative. Tug-e-nuff toys are also caught up in this as her partner is one of the directors. His brother asked him to step down but he wouldn’t so the brother did.

 

[Spotherisk]

The agility world has been talking of nothing but this over the last few days. It is horrifying and I suspect what is out now is only the tip of the iceberg.

 

[Ratface]

How extremely depressing. Who are the investigating bodies involved?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

My goodness, how the mighty are fallen.

 

[druid]

With that many litters registered it's pretty undeniable

 

[Morwenna]

The agility world has been talking of nothing but this over the last few days. It is horrifying and I suspect what is out now is only the tip of the iceberg.

Sadly I agree. She posted a half hearted statement saying she loves dogs so much she may have got carried away with breeding a bit too much. That doesn’t even begin to cover the indiscriminate breeding, the coefficient of inbreeding for her dogs is twice the average for the breed.

 

[stangs]

How does someone get away with registering so many dogs to one affix - shouldn't that have rung alarm bells?

If relatively well-known dog people are getting away with this, then it's no wonder that run-of-the-mill puppy farms have proved so difficult to stamp out.

 

[Nasicus]

I know one of their 'pro dog trainers', so have a bit of an insight.
I always suspected the breeding side was dodgy. Pro Trainer in question had several of L's litters, supposedly due to lack of time on L's part, for several weeks to a month+ after weaning before they were then shipped on/went to new homes.
Basically PDT got the 'privilege' of raising these puppies for that time, toilet training etc etc and then got nothing out it at the end, besides making it into L's good books.
Bit of a cult there really from everything I had heard over the years.

FWIW I don't think PDT knew the scale of things/wholeheartedly believed L was telling her the truth, I've known her for ages and she's very trusting, to her detriment.

 

[CorvusCorax]

How does someone get away with registering so many dogs to one affix - shouldn't that have rung alarm bells?

If relatively well-known dog people are getting away with this, then it's no wonder that run-of-the-mill puppy farms have proved so difficult to stamp out.

Breeder: Here, have loads of money!
KC: No thanks!

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

(For balance, KC registration is better than nothing but it's still essentially a business rather than a true registration body, with a DNA bank etc etc. The sooner the individual breeds take control of their own registrations, the better)

 

[Tiddlypom]

Oh dear, I hadn't heard of them, but I had thought (maybe naively) that agility was maybe a nice clean sport to be involved in.

Just the one bad apple?

 

[druid]

I feel sorry for some of the gundog guys who have sold to her

 

[druid]

I know one of their 'pro dog trainers', so have a bit of an insight.
I always suspected the breeding side was dodgy. Pro Trainer in question had several of L's litters, supposedly due to lack of time on L's part, for several weeks to a month+ after weaning before they were then shipped on/went to new homes.
Basically PDT got the 'privilege' of raising these puppies for that time, toilet training etc etc and then got nothing out it at the end, besides making it into L's good books.
Bit of a cult there really from everything I had heard over the years.

FWIW I don't think PDT knew the scale of things/wholeheartedly believed L was telling her the truth, I've known her for ages and she's very trusting, to her detriment.

It's not that uncommon to have other people whelp your dogs in some sports/circles. I whelp for several gundog trainers (only a litter or two a year total as none breed in volume!) who don't have the time/set up/inclination to raise a litter. I certainly don't do it for free though!

 

[Spotherisk]

Oh dear, I hadn't heard of them, but I had thought (maybe naively) that agility was maybe a nice clean sport to be involved in.

Just the one bad apple?

The same as any sport I suppose, there will be bad eggs in horses as well as all of us nice people.

 

[Spotherisk]

Me and Mr StR nearly bought Bowerlands when it was on the market about 15 years ago, we were at the business plan stage when common sense kicked in and we decided not cease (as we already had two very hands on animal related businesses) as there was hell of a lot to be done there. It was perfect for riding - dead end lane which turned into a bridleway, which linked on and on. If it ever comes up for sale it will make a great business (I think I’d change the name…).

 

[Indy]

I

Oh dear, I hadn't heard of them, but I had thought (maybe naively) that agility was maybe a nice clean sport to be involved in.

Just the one bad apple?

Am actually gutted about this. I know there will always be good and bad but I rather naively thought everyone did agility because they enjoyed a day out with their dog.

 

[Annette4]

I remember someone telling me years ago that she was a puppy farmer but I didn't know about the tug e nuff link until this has all come to light.

 

[Spotherisk]

Do a fb search on her name, and then on Companies House.

@Indy I’m sure that’s exactly why most people do agility, it’s certainly my reason, but no sport can guarantee every single participant is a good ‘un.

 

[AmyMay]

Do a fb search on her name, and then on Companies House.

[

Oof!

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

I read this on fb this morning, I tried to listen to their podcasts a while ago but I just couldn’t get past the annoying intros

 

[MuddyMonster]

We were recommended AD'S Sexier Than a Squirrel course by a local dog trainer and found it really useful (I did find their FB group page a bit cult like though) so such a shame to hear about the puppy farming. It's not as if they didn't know better. Poor dogs

Are both allegedly involved or is just Lauren? I've only seen a statement from Lauren on FB.

 

[blackcob]

There's always been talk but the bits I heard historically were mostly about the type and conformation of the dogs - there seemed to be a goal of miniaturising the cocker spaniels at any cost, be it temperament or structure, rumours of crossing in dachshund etc. The sheer scale of the breeding operation has shocked me.

I said it in the other thread but I am desperately curious if she'll show her face this week, that'll take some balls.

 

[Spotherisk]

There's always been talk but the bits I heard historically were mostly about the type and conformation of the dogs - there seemed to be a goal of miniaturising the cocker spaniels at any cost, be it temperament or structure, rumours of crossing in dachshund etc. The sheer scale of the breeding operation has shocked me.

I said it in the other thread but I am desperately curious if she'll show her face this week, that'll take some balls.

She was competing at Paignton Agility show on Friday.

 

[MurphysMinder]

There's always been talk but the bits I heard historically were mostly about the type and conformation of the dogs - there seemed to be a goal of miniaturising the cocker spaniels at any cost, be it temperament or structure, rumours of crossing in dachshund etc. The sheer scale of the breeding operation has shocked me.

I said it in the other thread but I am desperately curious if she'll show her face this week, that'll take some balls.

Like you I’d only really heard rumours about the cockers not being pure bred . There certainly are some teeny ones with that affix . Sad that a vet seems to be involved with some of the breeding too .

 

[CorvusCorax]

Wow. I do think working dogs should be not oversized/agile but some of those cockers are tiny.

 

[stangs]

So KC reg puppies being raised in a home, with the bitch presumably, with only 1-2 litters at the house. How is the average buyer supposed to figure out that these are unscrupulous sellers? They don’t exactly fit the backyard breeder, Lucy’s Law look.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I 'think' I may have seen this fb post yesterday. Was it someone called Laura or the like apologising for breeding and that she hadn't realised how many she had bred or something? The reason I didn't take much notice was that it was shared by a local dog trainer to me who keeps on breeding litters of cross breed puppies. She always says her bitches got got by accident . Makes me really mad so I scroll past.

 

[Morwenna]

We were recommended AD'S Sexier Than a Squirrel course by a local dog trainer and found it really useful (I did find their FB group page a bit cult like though) so such a shame to hear about the puppy farming. It's not as if they didn't know better. Poor dogs

Are both allegedly involved or is just Lauren? I've only seen a statement from Lauren on FB.

Both I think. Some of the litters were registered under his affix. I’ve also seen people saying they’ve raised concerns over his breeding practices to the RVC.
I heard about them through a friend who has found them really useful and who recommended the probiotic to me. My friend has done a few things and found them really helpful.