Why are Wolfhound breeders so bent on giving their pups show homes first and family homes are last if not at all? I love these dogs and would like to own one but every breeder on the east coast that I have talked to perfer their pups go to show homes rather then family homes... which is understanable but frusterating at the same time, especially when you'd like to own one for as a family dog. Is it the same case with Scottish Deerhounds as well?
Questions about Wolfhound breeders
- Thread starter Kaleigh'sAdrienne
- Start date
All breeders are like that because they can get most money out of selling the show quality pups to breeders/show people than to those who just want one as pets. Becides, to their mind it doesn't matter to simple pet owners if their dog is show quality or not as they wont be breeding or doing anything more than the local show, which I suppose is kinda fair if not annoying.
Consider rescue or keep searching. You will find a breeder that will place a pet with you, but you MUST be very patient and willing to wait. You also need to look across country and be willing to travel to pick up your puppy. I wish more breeders held on to their puppies this way. Not that I don't want people to have pets, but I just wish more breeds were rare enough so their quality is protected by those who really know the breed. You need to find a breeder you like and trust and nag, nag, nag. Then, ask lots of questions and be persistant. Make them understand that you are serious! Most breeders will give you a bogus high price or say they only sell to show homes at first to weed out the people who are not serious. Keep hounding! No pun intended!!
I think that most people can handle them if they have room and start puppy classes asap. I've seen some really carm ones (unlike the great dane 'puppy' who wanted to play with EVERYONE. She was almost full grown)
But be warned that these types of larger dogs usually don't like much past 8 years because of the stresses of haveing such a large body.
But be warned that these types of larger dogs usually don't like much past 8 years because of the stresses of haveing such a large body.
the thing is, you are KIDDING yourself if every single dog in every single litter is a show home - i see it in dobes, people labelling every dog but one in the litter a "show prospect" -- how many litters in ANY breed TRULY have a majority of dogs finishing, even if some others are finishable but just not shown?
i think SOME breeders need to reevaluate what they have and what actually gets shown and look at what they are producing - and which dogs actually ARE show quality.
i think SOME breeders need to reevaluate what they have and what actually gets shown and look at what they are producing - and which dogs actually ARE show quality.
a good breeder will consider only the best homes for their dogs, which doesn't necessarily mean show homes.
anyone who thinks show homes are always better than pet homes are really just kidding themselves. i know a number of breeders who would prefer letting a show quality pup go to a pet home where it will be well cared for and involved in activities, rather than a show home where it will end up sitting in a kennel most of the time.
don't give up your search!
anyone who thinks show homes are always better than pet homes are really just kidding themselves. i know a number of breeders who would prefer letting a show quality pup go to a pet home where it will be well cared for and involved in activities, rather than a show home where it will end up sitting in a kennel most of the time.
don't give up your search!
I must add that contrary to popular belief, a show home is a pet home. All the show dogs I know are spoiled and adored and very well taken care of. The majority rarely spend time crated! They have owners that truly understand and adore the breed. On the other hand, I know a lot of pet owners that take very poor care of their dogs. There are exceptions to any generalization, but please don't think that show homes are different from pet homes. At the end of the day, the dogs are spoiled and in bed with their owners
most responsible breeders are either breeding for show quality or working quality depending on the breed, and some are breeding for a combo of the two. good breeders dont TRY to produce pet quality puppies (not saying show and working quality pups dont make good pets). very few if any litters produce ALL show/working quality pups though. a good breeder of course tries to find the best home for their pups and they also know how to tell (atleast a good guess) wether a pup is or isnt show/working quality. if they think pup #1 has potential to be a excellent show winner then of course they want it to be all it can be and will only place it in a show home. usually these homes/adopters are on a waiting list for a year, easily longer than that, so the breeder doesnt have to settle or search for a home for the pups. truly responsible breeders rarely if ever breed unless they have more names on a waiting list than they expect the litter to produce...if the average litter size of a certain breed is 8 pups then they want 10-12 or more names waiting.
you should be able to get onto a waiting list even with a breeder who has a high succes rate of producing show/working pups, but you may have to wait a year or more.
why not check into your local breed rescue organizations? most states have a rescue that works with one particular breed, and usually have 1 for each of the most popular breeds. some areas have rescues for less popular breeds that dont work in just one state but a region (2 or more states). you could find the perfect dog that way.
you should be able to get onto a waiting list even with a breeder who has a high succes rate of producing show/working pups, but you may have to wait a year or more.
why not check into your local breed rescue organizations? most states have a rescue that works with one particular breed, and usually have 1 for each of the most popular breeds. some areas have rescues for less popular breeds that dont work in just one state but a region (2 or more states). you could find the perfect dog that way.
Thankyou for all your replies. I've talked to a well known Irish Wolfhound breeder in TN who has 2 male wolfhounds unable to be show dogs. She dosent know what to do with them because she cant show them so I was willing to drive to TN, meet the owner, and see the pup and perhaps take it home with me, but in the end she wasn't willing to sell the pup because she said it hadnt been properly trained. It was 7-months.