How do you look for a new puppy? What to ask the breeder?
Buying a puppy is much like a marriage. you have to trust each other and be honest with each other. This is a life we are talking about. How many people a breeder puts on a list --is it first come first serve??? Is it the best "parent" for the pup???--how many deposits does a breeder accept for a litter:: do you get more deposits than puppies in case someone drops out??? Or heaven forbid, there are less pups than you expected then what happens? Once I put a deposit down on a puppy --do I consider myself a new mom??? Is it mine once the check is accepted??? I didn't know how to ask these questions...I didn't want anyone getting upset or thinking I was too pushy..... First off, everyone is excited about getting a new puppy, and the breeders because they are having that long awaited for litter! How things work *with ME* and remember all breeders are different, is that once i know my girl is pregnant, at about 4 days before my litter is due, i will take an x ray for different reasons. to find out approx how many i am having, and to make sure all are lined up in good positions. i started this procedure many years ago. I will not take a deposit until my pupies are 2 weeks old. There are just too many factors involved that could happen until that time. you just never know. I will talk to you and put your name in my book with your information. I personally do not understand how anyone can take deposits before the litter is born. But that is my business ethic and not everyone elses. That is like counting your chickens before the eggs are hatched. And it ends up not being fair to some people that THINK they may have a puppy when in actuality theree are not enough to go around. That is just dashing someones hopes that has been so excited after having done all the research and deciding to get a puppy. My last girl i bred 3 years ago was HUGE, and we were sure we were having a large litter. We had 2 puppies. And mom sat on one of them when they were 12 days old. Once the puppies are at least 2 weeks old, i then have to take into account other factors: do i owe my breeder back any puppies? How many am i wanting to keep? the number of pups total in the litter. once i have decided i have x number of puppies available i will in ernest start talking to people. I will take a $200.00 non refundable deposit. I learned to do this after my first litter......... as people would tell me they wanted one, and then when time came for puppies to go to new homes, i thought they were sold and the people had not waited and i had to start down my list again. Now if for some reason, due to reasons beyond my control i don't have a puppy i will refund the monies or you may wait on my next litter. but being that i don't breed that much, it may be a year or two........ so i would rather refund your monies to you. But if it is due to you not waiting and finding another puppy else where, it is not refundable. I never promise a certain puppy to someone. You tell me you want a male or female. Then, when time comes, the first person tha has a deposit down for a female gets the first pick, etc. same with males. I will send you my contracts and information when you ask for it. We have to agree upon everything. Yes, my dogs are all co-owned for the life of the puppy. It is not a control issue, just so if anything were to happen to you doG forbid, the dog would come back to me without having to sit in the shelter until your estate were settled! (This did happen to someone years ago and thedogs sat in the shelter for over 5 months) And yes, if for any reason you cannot keep said dog it comes back to me under all circumstances. No resuce groups or pounds, take care of what *I* was responsible for bringing into this world. I am the FIRST person to tell you to look around and talk to other breeders You may just click with someone else better, or like their 'type' of oes better. I tell you to go to the shows, to get to know what you want and like first. I have my english type and my american type and then i will cross the two. LOOK at the pedigrees. Are these pups from someone who is just willy nilly breeding to be breeding a litter? Are they someone who has just been going to the 'top dog' or 'stud of the moment" without thinking where they want their lines to go? I look for continuity in a breeding program. I go back 4 or 5 generations to make sure these dogs were all compatible. I breed for Temperment as well as type. If they are breeding here and there you cannot guarantee either of the two. you need to ask for the Hip reports (be they OFA or BVA or a Board Certified Radiologist report), eye reports. To see pictures if you are not in distance of seeing the litter, of the male and female. Pedigrees etc. Be sure to read the contract and ask questions. I would rather you do that upfront than any problems come signing time or years down the road. If i don't have anything available right now, I will be the first to refer you to someone that *I* think is very reliable...... that you would be happy with. prices. Everyone has different prices. I would say the going range for a good healthy puppy with first sets of shots etc. is fro $1500 to $2000 on up. It depends upon how many titles, how exceptional the dogs are that produced this litter. How much has the breeder invested in these things does matter. Show vs. Pet home is not an issue with me. Sure i would love every pup to be shown, but that is not my main concern. My main concern is a good loving home. Plus, NOT every pup in a litter is a SHOW DOG I don't care how many years someone has been in the breed. I hope this helps answer some of your questions. Sure someone may charge a bit more than another breeder, but it depends upon your gutt instinct on how you feel about the breeder you are talking to, and you feel you will be 'married' to them for the next 14 or so years!! Yes, I want you to all understand something else as well. Breeders DO talk to each other! If we seem to sound 'funny' or distant' at times, it is because we have all had those who have 'fished' around for a puppy. Now, that is not a bad thing.......... I just told you to look at other breeders and puppies didn't I? What we don't like hearing is when someone tells someone one thing, and somebody else another thing........ and 2 +2 don't end up adding up to 4 in the end...... we do get suspicous. This has just ended up happening to 3 of us when we started comparing notes. Ali Gwynedd Old English Sheepdogs. _________________ Allene "Ali" Black Gwynedd Old English Sheepdogs Ch. Stourvale Briar Rose, C.G.C. Int'l./Mex/Can/Am. Ch. TO-Jo's Funtastic for Ewe (Delilah) Int'l./Mex./Am. Ch. Gwynedd's Dunk 'n Disorderly, C.G.C. http://gbwebs.com/Gwynedd/ |
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| Ali, I think this is some good information. Thank you for posting it. It's nice to be better able to understand your point of view. We don't get a lot of breeder perspectives except when someone's upset and they're rebutting! |
| Your welcome! I don't speak for all breeders. Just myself. I pride myself for being an honest person and want to treat all the way i would want to be treated..........
Ali |
| That was really helpful, a good insight, thank you. I found it hard to find info on what the procedure is too, this really helps. It's good to hear your point of view, I think most breeders (who want the best for the breed) would say roughly the same things.
I think from a buying point of view, it's best to be honest & ask all the questions you have as concisely as possible, even if they sound silly. It's difficult because you feel like you're being a pain but keep it short and polite and if the breeder gets offended or seems unhelpful I would consider looking elsewhere. Asking lots of questions shows you are thinking and want things done properly. Cassie |
| This just makes me even more confused as to why my breeder decided that all decisions had to be made 5 days after the puppies were born. It's hard to really even tell what they look like when they're that small.
I tried to ask lots of questions, but it didn't seem to work out too well. It is just so disappointing to go the 2 months of the pregnancy thinking you get first pick of the females, only to find out you get nothing. I really appreciate the way you handle your breeding. I would hate for anyone else to feel the way I felt after my experience. |
| I'm glad I could help. Please feel free to ask me any questions if you have them.
I have NEVER heard of any breeder making you make decisions when they are 5 DAYS old! OH MY............... I would look around to different breeders......... Ali |
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