[TrishB]

I've been on the forums for quite a while now - since before I got my now 3 year old dog as a 12 week old puppy. This board has seen / heard a lot from me, and me them. I wanted to discuss something that we all see all the time - that we really should address.

DON'T RUSH FINDING THE RIGHT BREEDER!

It's happened here so many times, I can't count them. Some new member comes on, upset about their breeder and sickly puppy. After some digging, we find out that they only had email contact and after a couple of weeks had a puppy in their hands.

Please understand that purchasing a puppy is not like ordering a toaster. It takes time. Think of it like purchasing a car. You want the right vehicle, the right dealership, the right contract, the right rates, the right warranty…. It takes time to evaluate that. And let's face it - you'll have your dog for a lot longer than the average vehicle these days.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you start your search for a puppy:

1) You may have up to 2 years to wait before you get your puppy.
2) Good breeders typically do NOT have puppies available at the same moment that you call.
3) Good breeders try to line up homes before a breeding even takes place – to be sure that they can justify having a litter.
4) It takes time for good breeders to evaluate good homes as well – and they don’t have any spare time once the puppies are on the ground. So they’ll want to talk to you before the breeding takes place.
5) Many good breeders want references. Maybe another puppy owner of theirs referred you, or a breeder you know would be willing to speak up for you, or maybe your vet would be willing to write you a letter. Have these available for them, they’ll appreciate it.
6) You have to sell yourself to the breeder, just as they have to sell their puppies to you. Good breeders will turn people down. If they do turn you down, don’t be upset; ask why so that you can fix it (i.e. you don’t have a fenced yard).
7) Keep in mind that bitches only go into heat approximately every 6 months and that breeders cannot do anything about that.
8) Both parents of your puppy contribute 50% of the puppy’s genetics. Be sure that you are just as happy with BOTH parents.
9) Ask the breeder for some contacts of past puppy buyers. You’ll want to contact them to be sure that they are happy with their dogs / the breeder.
10) Be sure to receive a copy of the contract and to be fully comfortable with it before you sign anything.
11) Good breeders don't breed their dogs just because they're in heat. They breed because they want to achieve something with that litter, for themselves and their breeding program.
12) Of course, as we've all posted here before, for a dog to be qualified to be bred, they should have: Titles before and after their names, along with all health certificates. This ensures that you're getting a dog that meets the standard, has the ability the breed should posess and is a healthy dog genetically to pass on to your puppy. Yes, this applies to both the sire and the dam.

The long and short of it is, this all takes TIME. If you decide you want a puppy today, you are NOT going to get a great, healthy, socialized puppy out of titled, health tested, registered parents of merit, bred by a COE breeder by this weekend.

Enjoy the process – get to know your breeder. Be sure that you are comfortable with them as they will become a part of your extended family.

I had a chat with my father one day – he said that I tend to forget that not everyone wants a ‘show dog’. Some people just want a pet. They don’t want all of the fuss; to some people, it’s just a dog. I had to take a step back because although I don’t agree – he’s right. But it’s those people who get sucked in by the BYB and Puppy Mill sales pitch. “Oh – these are just pets – you don’t want a show dog with all of that stuff – you just want a dog. Here’s what you want, right here, available RIGHT NOW – buy it.” But those are the same people that get saddled with dogs with SAS, hip dysplasia, temperament issues and worse.

Simply put – you want the best value for your money. You can end up with a great dog that’s healthy and a pleasure to have around. Or you can end up with a sickly dog, either in mind or body, costing you more money than a show dog price, several times over.

Take your time – enjoy the search. It is those who have rushed in that often find that if they had just waited, they would have noticed that there wasn’t any certification for their breeders claims, that none of their dogs are out doing what they say they do, that there have been health problems that they failed to tell you about…if they had only taken the time.

Let’s face it folks. Picking a puppy is like walking through a mine field. There are any number of people more than happy to take your money and saddle you with a heart-breaking puppy (never mind the damage to your bank book). Take your time, pick your way through, you’ll be thrilled with you end up on the other side with the perfect puppy for you and your family.