View Full Version : A Good Breeder
BorderCollieLvr
05-30-2006, 03:57 PM
Whats everyones opinions here on a good responsible breeder im from the UK so im guessing most of you are from US and want to see how opinions vary...
my opinion is
a good breed should..
Health test all breeding stock and only breed from dogs will within the adverage or good results etc
Have a good knowledge of the breed in general and be able to offer new owners help/support at any time in the dogs life
Have good knowledge of the lines they are breeding from and know of any health problems in the line, working ability etc
Take back or offer to help im re-homing any puppy/dog that cant stay with the new owner at no matter what stage in life
Give out puppy packs infomation guides with each puppy including a diet sheet.
Not re-home more than one puppy at the same time to one household
Try and keep in contact with all puppies they breed and ask for regular updates.
Make sure all litters are AKC/KC/ISDS registered etc
Not breed from a bitch under 2 depending on the breed as to suitable minimum age for breeding
Not breed more than 3 - 4 litters in the bitches life in my ideal world the maximum would be 2
Do not breed a bitch over 6-8years of age again depending on the breed and condition of the dog at the time.
Not breed more than once every 18months although i know alot of good breeders breed every 12months but one litter 6months later is a big NO NO.
Thats all for now but im sure i will think of more later.
All of that, and;
Never sell a puppy to a couple expecting or that have young children
Intensely screen each prospective buyer
Show their dogs
Have a spay/neuter contract
Not sell a puppy as 'show potential' until it is 6 months++ so that they can see how he grows and if he still fits the standards
BorderCollieLvr
05-30-2006, 04:07 PM
Yea i like the show their dogs one to prove the parents are worthy but will add that they could also be good herding, agility, obedience dogs or a good gundog etc.
Yea i like the show their dogs one to prove the parents are worthy but will add that they could also be good herding, agility, obedience dogs or a good gundog etc.
Yup, that too.
They should definitely be involved in whatever the breed was meant to do, also (for example, herding dogs should be gien a chance to herd livestock etc)
Never sell a puppy to a couple expecting or that have young children I disagree with this. I think it varies with the breed, but I know quite a few wonderful dog-savvy families who have kids under 5 and I personally would sell a puppy to them when I have a litter.
I especially agree with the point that a good breeder will DO something with their dogs along with showing in conformation. I love to see dual-champions. Quite a few dogs can earn a conformation title, but it takes a special dog to earn a conformation title AND high-end working titles.
BorderCollieLvr
05-30-2006, 04:32 PM
Im not sure on the young children thing. I personally am not a child person hate the things lol if i was to breed a litter i would want to see the child interacting with the pups in a sensible manner and have the parents understand fully that the child must be taught to respect the dog.
RedyreRottweilers
05-30-2006, 04:45 PM
All of that, and;
Never sell a puppy to a couple expecting or that have young children
Intensely screen each prospective buyer
Show their dogs
Have a spay/neuter contract
Not sell a puppy as 'show potential' until it is 6 months++ so that they can see how he grows and if he still fits the standards
I would have to disagree with 2 points.
NEVER is not a good word to use with dogs. There might occasionally come along a family who IS suitable even tho they have kids or are expecting.
Maybe rarely, but it can and does happen.
In my breed, 6 months is a TERRIBLE TIME to look at puppies. About the only thing you can tell is if they have complete dentition. Even the bites can and do change after that age.
In my breed, it is WIDELY KNOWN that puppies should be evaluted BY 8 weeks, and sometimes you don't want to even look at them again until age 2.
Keeping all show prospect puppies until 6 months would not help breeders in my breed.
I get around puppies not "turning out" by trying to screen carefully enough that puppies go to people who are looking not only for that top show potential puppy, but also for a COMPANION, even if the bite goes off, or a tooth is missing, etc etc.
I think the bottom line is a responsible breeder has the best interests of the BREED at heart, and not the pocketbook.
:D
Redyre, interesting point.. Is there ANY breed that can be accurately judged at 6 months? I know toy breeds mature faster, but even the Papillons I have seen look terrible at 6 months.
JennSLK
05-30-2006, 06:07 PM
Never sell a puppy to a couple expecting or that have young children
Intensely screen each prospective buyer
Show their dogs
Have a spay/neuter contract
Not sell a puppy as 'show potential' until it is 6 months++ so that they can see how he grows and if he still fits the standards
I dssagree.
Your right about the expecting part, but what you cant have a dog if you have little kids? Thats wrong imo. There are tons of breeds out there that are know to be good with kids.
As for the showing. I am taking that to mean conformation. There are many good breeders who dont show conformation because they breed working dogs and dont have an interest in shows. IMO they should have either or both CH titles and working titles. Depending on the breed.
A spay/neute contract is a must with pet puppies but whit show prospects it can vary.
A dog can go through some interesting growth patterns as it gets older. At 8 weeks you can see what the pup has. The blue print is there for what the pup will grow into. Granted it is never a sure thing, but thats what experianced breeders are good at. Evaluating pups.
With Jazz at 8 weeks he was pick puppy in the litter. Now lets say for some strange reason she cant show. It doesnt mean I love her any less.
At 8 weeks you can tell, IMO if a dog will be capible of finishing it's Ch title, now specials material is another story.
RedyreRottweilers
05-30-2006, 06:31 PM
No, Jenn, you can in no way tell at 8 weeks if ANY puppy will finish.
It might go under or overshot.
It might be missing several teeth.
It might not get both testicles.
It might turn out butt UGLY, or unable to move, or any of HUNDREDS of other things that can trash a show career in the blink of an eye.
At 8 weeks, a show PROSPECT is just that.
A prospect. An educated guess. Sometimes more educated than others, for sure, but never ever think that what passes for the BEST at 8 weeks will still be so by 2 or 3 years old.
:D
In my breed, 6 months is a TERRIBLE TIME to look at puppies. About the only thing you can tell is if they have complete dentition. Even the bites can and do change after that age.
In my breed, it is WIDELY KNOWN that puppies should be evaluted BY 8 weeks, and sometimes you don't want to even look at them again until age 2.
Keeping all show prospect puppies until 6 months would not help breeders in my breed.
I get around puppies not "turning out" by trying to screen carefully enough that puppies go to people who are looking not only for that top show potential puppy, but also for a COMPANION, even if the bite goes off, or a tooth is missing, etc etc.
Sorry, I don't know much about judging dogs except for the fact that you can't tell if they are show potential when they are very young. I didn't neccesarily mean 6 months, I don't know when, I just mean that they can't label them show quality until they are mature enough, and can't sell them as sq when they are 8 weeks old or something.
Sorry again :D.
Also, I just don't believe that families with children under 5 or babies have enough time to spare to raise a great puppy. It has happened, yes, but it is very difficult. If the potential buyer seems to be a great match for a puppy of the certain breed, than I would possibly make an acception.
~Tucker&Me~
05-30-2006, 07:31 PM
I know lots of people have been saying there are lots of breeds of dogs that are good with children.
But...
There aren't LOTS of kids who are good with dogs.
Also, I just don't believe that families with children under 5 or babies have enough time to spare to raise a great puppy. It has happened, yes, but it is very difficult. If the potential buyer seems to be a great match for a puppy of the certain breed, than I would possibly make an acception.
I readily agree with this.
~Tucker
PWCorgi
05-30-2006, 07:42 PM
I got Izzy and Frodo when my sister was 5 years old. But they aren't really "family dogs" they are my dogs (I am 16). But then again I was interested in a "performance" dog, meaning therapy, obedience, and agility (I don't know if that counts as performance, lol). But the breeder did want contacts (my dog trainer, my 2 4-H leaders, one of my teachers and my vet, lol) because I was only 16 and she and my mom talked about if I ever lost interest (would never happen, lol) that she would be the dogs caretaker or the dog would go back to her, blah, blah, blah...So it was definitaly harder to get a dog, but I wanted them in my name, etc.
RedyreRottweilers
05-30-2006, 07:58 PM
Sorry, I don't know much about judging dogs except for the fact that you can't tell if they are show potential when they are very young. I didn't neccesarily mean 6 months, I don't know when, I just mean that they can't label them show quality until they are mature enough, and can't sell them as sq when they are 8 weeks old or something.
Sorry again :D.
Also, I just don't believe that families with children under 5 or babies have enough time to spare to raise a great puppy. It has happened, yes, but it is very difficult. If the potential buyer seems to be a great match for a puppy of the certain breed, than I would possibly make an acception.
No apologies necessary.
:D
Show quality IMO means a dog that can win in the ring. When the dog is winning, then you can say it's show quality.
A PUPPY is a show PROSPECT. A "hopeful" so to speak. Good breeders can make educated guesses at 8 weeks as to what puppies may turn out very nice conformationally. Sometimes they are right. Sometimes they are not.
:)
What *I* do is I sell ALL my puppies for a pet price. This way if something goes wrong, no one is out a pile of money. I'd rather the person spend the money on the puppy than on the purchase of said puppy anyway.
I agree with you, except my general rule is no kids under school age with Rotties.
There ARE, however, exceptions to the rule. I know MANY breeders who have raised many Rottweilers with their kids with no problems.
It does take a huge amount of dedication tho, and most who have kids under school age are not up to it.
:D
MomOf7
05-31-2006, 03:38 PM
Apart of screening prospective buyers is screening thier children as well.
I hesitate to sell a dog to a potential client who has small children.
I will only do this if the person knows about my particular breed and lines and has first hand experience with them.
Otherwise. NO..Wont do it.
Otherwise yes on most that was posted here