Lose Lose situation breeder recommendation

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#1
What do you do when someone asks you for a reference on a specific breeder within your breed or other protection breed- if you know the breeder is not what most consider up to par?

If you tell the truth it looks like "competition" if you lie and the person goes ahead and gets a dog and it turns out crappy? They blame you.

I call this LOSE LOSE..:(

Being a student of Molossers ( judging showing holding shows etc)
I get requests for breeder referrals for Presa, Corso, TM breeders etc.
And since I dont breed often even in my own breed when I dont have pups or the waiting list is too long.

And I define par as OFA or Ph All dogs before breeding, showing a little working a little, temperament testing allot, no rescue from that kennel , heavy screening fo homes, not having more dogs than you can love and work with, not have more litters than you can properly care for and keep in touch with.

Remember I am in rare breeds thus it is not like open DOGS USA and just looking for the nearest breeder .

Please dont mention my breed but any help from the seasoned vet on what is politically correct to say about your competition? or for breeders gone bad?

Remember one thing about guardian dogs in perticuler rare breeds.
If improperly bred or raised they can injure someone or a kid very easily.
Could I sleep knowing if I opened my mouth i could of saved someone a injury or worse.

Thanks for letting me confess my fears .
Jeannine De Palma
FoxFIRE Farms
 

vomdominus

Prey Drive's a BITCH!
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#2
I work in a common breed so it may not be the same, but I get people asking me all the time about other breeders when I don't have a litter. I have no problems telling someone the truth about what I think about another breeder, be it good or bad. Then again though, GSDs are very common and I don't want the proliferation of weak nerved, ill tempered dogs that make all of us who try to do the right thing look bad.

I can only hope that when someone asks my advice, they actually heed it.
 

noludoru

Bored Now.
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#3
I'd state their good and bad points - be honest and don't hold anything back, but don't actually give your opinion.. just facts. Let the buyer decide.
 

pitbullpony

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#4
You could always

reiterate the basics with some specifics for the breed/type in question.

Does the breeder health test and are there copies of the dog's tests available?

How many litters per year has the breeder produced? Is the breeder partnered with anyone ~ and how many has the partnership produced? Can you suggest to the client to get the information from the breed club? Is that even possible?

Why did the breeder breed that litter? For puppy sales; for themselves; for another individual?

What problems has the breeder produced ~ and how did they handle it?

Has/does the breeder do rescue; support rescue financially; etc.

I would (because I know how back-biting and bitchy the rare breed world is); just keep broken-recording the same basic tenets to "what makes a good breeder". If you have specific concerns and have the information to back it up; see if you can pass on the information; or contact information in a general way.

For instance; let's say the breeder that was mentioned advertises ALL breeding stock is x-rayed; and as far as you know; that is simply not the case. I would gently suggest to the potential client that they might want to request the health tests of X bitch and X dog; since you haven't seen them posted anywhere; and they might want to just make sure; maybe it was just an oversight by said breeder.

Temperament is a more pressing issue; if you know of anyone that owns this breeder's dogs and has had problems; see if the client can contact that person. Heavily suggest to the potential owner that they visit the dogs in person!

Just my Can $0.02
 

corgipower

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#5
reiterate the basics with some specifics for the breed/type in question.

Does the breeder health test and are there copies of the dog's tests available?

How many litters per year has the breeder produced? Is the breeder partnered with anyone ~ and how many has the partnership produced? Can you suggest to the client to get the information from the breed club? Is that even possible?

Why did the breeder breed that litter? For puppy sales; for themselves; for another individual?

What problems has the breeder produced ~ and how did they handle it?

Has/does the breeder do rescue; support rescue financially; etc.

I would (because I know how back-biting and bitchy the rare breed world is); just keep broken-recording the same basic tenets to "what makes a good breeder". If you have specific concerns and have the information to back it up; see if you can pass on the information; or contact information in a general way.

For instance; let's say the breeder that was mentioned advertises ALL breeding stock is x-rayed; and as far as you know; that is simply not the case. I would gently suggest to the potential client that they might want to request the health tests of X bitch and X dog; since you haven't seen them posted anywhere; and they might want to just make sure; maybe it was just an oversight by said breeder.

Temperament is a more pressing issue; if you know of anyone that owns this breeder's dogs and has had problems; see if the client can contact that person. Heavily suggest to the potential owner that they visit the dogs in person!

Just my Can $0.02
I agree!

As far as temperament goes, I would also explain to them what makes a good temperament and what to look for in the parents, in the litter, in other related dogs. I would also encourage them to be prepared to take the puppy to puppy classes and later to obedience classes regardless of where they buy the puppy. Also suggest to them that they should find out what kind of socializing the breeder does with the puppies.
 
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#6
You guys did make me feel better in general it never hurts me as a breeder.
Cause upon research they always come back and say heh u r right.

What hurts is total strangers like people here that dont know you, your breed or your dogs and make snap judgments because you outed a friend of theirs that is a backyard breeder.

I guess my skin is getting thin instead of old with age/. It bothers me that I have enemies based solely on being a good breeder and them or theirs not being.

You think I slept with their other half the way they act.

My little pun :)
 
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