Your Experience With Registered Breeders

[Parkeyre]

For the most part; my experience has been good, educational and positive. As with most people; there has been some mixed experiences; but on the whole it has been good!

[Bilbo Baggins]

I am surprised at the results given that so many people had negative experiences in the other thread that was nuked.

I find it rather amazing that people will not treat inquires at a show with respect, particularly if you are in group1 and you have won you will sitting around for hours. :D :p :D :p

Sure before you you go in the ring is busy but you can politely say if you would like to stand there and watch I will talk to you in xxx minutes.

[Dju]

My first experience was great! I was looking for breeders and not knowing the general etiquette of how to buy from proper breeders, I pretty much treated mostly everyone I emailed with the "How much" deal. It didn't even occur to me that I needed to write out a life story and what I knew about the breed etc etc because I didn't think getting a puppy from a registered breeder was like an interview process (until she nicely told me and THEN I put more detail into communications sent between me and my prospective breeder). Basically all I knew at that time was that there was a litter of puppies available within the next three/four months from a certain breeder and I jumped at the opportunity.

I reckon it was fate--I loved the look of the breeder's dogs, the parents came from "good" lines, and my experience with her was wonderful. I'll never forget when she told me during our first phone call that finding good owners for the puppies was more important than money! I'm so glad about my choice of breeder. Hugo is perfect for me temperament-wise, and I lubbbb him sooo muuucch :D. Me and breeder talk to each other quite often nowadays, mostly whenever I have questions, and then spend an hour on the phone talking Vallhunds (LOL), and I would not hesitate buying another pup from her! I did contact a few other breeders about any prospective litters they were planning, but I noticed they were slightly less eager to work with me (possibly because of my stupid "how much" opening line, or maybe because I was a new dog owner? Not sure).

[Sayly]

We currently have dogs from 3 registered breeders and each experience was a positive one.

Gracie is a pet. Her breeder was lovely and now we show we make sure to update her when we see her on how little Grub is going. While I wouldn't say we are friends she is someone I respect.

Ruby is from an absolutely fantastic breeder who sold our family our first Irish Terrier. We kept in contact with her (roughly once a year contact, sometimes more) to let her know how Bridget was going. Once Bridget had passed and we were ready for another Irish she was the only one we would even think of getting a pup from as we had such a great experience. We now have a show dog and possible breeding bitch (if it goes right this time...) and we are in close contact with her breeder, who is a major mentor for both Mum and I.

And of course the Aussies. I own one outright and co-own 3 more with their breeder (1 lives with me 100% of the time, the others technically live at the breeder's but come to mine for extended sleep overs and I handle them). I'm in close contact with their breeder and we can send 20 emails back and forth in one day. We share decisions about each dog so our relationship is probably closer than others.

The other three breeders of Aussie Shepherds in SA that show have also been fantastic to me and more than happy to share knowledge and mentor me in anyway they can. I would reccommend all of them to pet buyers as I have found them to be incredible knowledgable, helpful and friendly with lovely tempered dogs. In fact several breeders from interstate have been the same when they have come to SA for shows. Happy to help and really friendly. I've found the majority of Aussie Shepherd breeders I've met or had much to do with have been wonderful. I know there's some dodgy ones around but thankfully I've had little to do with them and now know who to stay well away from.

[Crazy Daisy]

After reading all the replies it seems Golden and Aussie breeders seem to be getting the best reviews. I wonder why that is?

I personally believe a phone call is much better than an email, unless the breeder has stated otherwise. My friends that are breeders get so many enquiries everyday, one had over 100 in one day

I don't think people should be offended that the're emails didn't get a reply. You don't know if they had already gone through 20 emails and yours was 21 when the phone rang and they got distracted and forgot where they were up to. I'm not saying I condone it but I understand how it happens. I used to get around 20 emails a day for my grooming salon with only "how much?" written in the subject line. I had a stock answer for that question that I could cut and paste but sometimes I would forget where I was up to and then get an angry email saying I never replied. I'm only human and a phone call is always nicer. I can say what I need to in 30 secs than spend 10 mins trying to compile an email response.

[Tralee]

Registered Breeders are fantastic people.

Basically that is why I went through with getting a dog in the first place.

Both dogs came out of Melbourne and the first one was sired by a dog from the other kennel.

The support exceeded what would be considered above and beyond expectations, and we even returned a dog, for two weeks, half way across the country, to be evaluated after getting a negative report, which was proved false afterall, and no cost or complaints were entertained.

I sometimes think I would have liked to have taken a pup from others that I looked at but that only shows that there are more breeders at our disposal than can be subscribed to.

I am also a registered breeder and my experience has been, well, undescribable.

Edited February 11, 2011 by pewithers

[Gayle.]

After reading all the replies it seems Golden and Aussie breeders seem to be getting the best reviews. I wonder why that is?

I personally believe a phone call is much better than an email, unless the breeder has stated otherwise. My friends that are breeders get so many enquiries everyday, one had over 100 in one day

I don't think people should be offended that the're emails didn't get a reply. You don't know if they had already gone through 20 emails and yours was 21 when the phone rang and they got distracted and forgot where they were up to. I'm not saying I condone it but I understand how it happens. I used to get around 20 emails a day for my grooming salon with only "how much?" written in the subject line. I had a stock answer for that question that I could cut and paste but sometimes I would forget where I was up to and then get an angry email saying I never replied. I'm only human and a phone call is always nicer. I can say what I need to in 30 secs than spend 10 mins trying to compile an email response.

If you preferred phone calls, why did you advertise an email address? Valid question.......I prefer emails and for that reason, if I were advertising anything I would never include my phone number.

[AK_Blue]

I got a cattle dog from a reputable breeder on the North NSW Coast recently, and I have been more than impressed with the service, after sales care, and treatment of myself and the little pup I bought. After having a horror run from a BYB where we bought a red & tan kelpie who had to be put down due to kidney disease after a month of owning him, he came to us with 3 juvenile paralysis ticks on him (the vet suspected he was denied water as a young pup which sent his kidneys into failure, but how do you prove that?) and then the BYB instead of giving me a refund, offered me a pup from the next litter. We got her 3 months later, she had the same sire but a different dam, and she a fifth toe on each back leg, and inverted vulva and we picked her up with a UTI. The vet said she would have UIT's her whole life due to her vulva condition, her 5th toes suggest shes positively inbred, so we made the unbearable decision (after seeking help/ advice from the BYB, who basically said you're on your own this time) to put her down as well. So here we were down $300.00 and have had to put 2 pups who we loved dearly down. And it seems all the phone calls to the trading post - where they advertised their dogs - meant nothing, as this lady is still on the trading post advertising her litters, and calls to the rspca have done little to nothing to stop her from breeding.

Temperament is everything in ACD's which is why I went with a registered breeder. I was very nervous before buying him. Paying top dollar for a dog that could technically get just as sick as a BY bred dog. Reading the pedigree papers and learning the sire and dam had the same grandfather to me seemed strange. So off I went and researched line breeding ... And found out it can in some cases exasperate problems in the line, but conversely if done properly can exasperate all strengths and assets like temperament and the absence of hereditary problems/ illness.

And after having my pup for only a month, I can honestly say I will only ever buy a dog from a registered breeder again. I can't even imagine getting my future dogs off anyone else other than this breeder.

I had a minor problem with the pup after he ate something wrong and had blood in his poo. I contacted the breeder as to what I should do, and not only did she sum up the problem and give me a solution, she saved me an expensive vet bill. Turns out the advice she gave me, is exactly what I would have paid over a $100.00 for a vet to do.

It's a shame there are breeders out there who don't treat people the way they would want to be treated, they drag the breeders who are out there working their butts off and doing the right thing by their breed, and the people, down.

[aussielover]

I got a cattle dog from a reputable breeder on the North NSW Coast recently, and I have been more than impressed with the service, after sales care, and treatment of myself and the little pup I bought. After having a horror run from a BYB where we bought a red & tan kelpie who had to be put down due to kidney disease after a month of owning him, he came to us with 3 juvenile paralysis ticks on him (the vet suspected he was denied water as a young pup which sent his kidneys into failure, but how do you prove that?) and then the BYB instead of giving me a refund, offered me a pup from the next litter. We got her 3 months later, she had the same sire but a different dam, and she a fifth toe on each back leg, and inverted vulva and we picked her up with a UTI. The vet said she would have UIT's her whole life due to her vulva condition, her 5th toes suggest shes positively inbred, so we made the unbearable decision (after seeking help/ advice from the BYB, who basically said you're on your own this time) to put her down as well. So here we were down $300.00 and have had to put 2 pups who we loved dearly down. And it seems all the phone calls to the trading post - where they advertised their dogs - meant nothing, as this lady is still on the trading post advertising her litters, and calls to the rspca have done little to nothing to stop her from breeding.

Temperament is everything in ACD's which is why I went with a registered breeder. I was very nervous before buying him. Paying top dollar for a dog that could technically get just as sick as a BY bred dog. Reading the pedigree papers and learning the sire and dam had the same grandfather to me seemed strange. So off I went and researched line breeding ... And found out it can in some cases exasperate problems in the line, but conversely if done properly can exasperate all strengths and assets like temperament and the absence of hereditary problems/ illness.

And after having my pup for only a month, I can honestly say I will only ever buy a dog from a registered breeder again. I can't even imagine getting my future dogs off anyone else other than this breeder.

I had a minor problem with the pup after he ate something wrong and had blood in his poo. I contacted the breeder as to what I should do, and not only did she sum up the problem and give me a solution, she saved me an expensive vet bill. Turns out the advice she gave me, is exactly what I would have paid over a $100.00 for a vet to do.

It's a shame there are breeders out there who don't treat people the way they would want to be treated, they drag the breeders who are out there working their butts off and doing the right thing by their breed, and the people, down.

That is poor advice from the vet. UTI's are quite common in puppies- the stress of a new environment etc can bring them on. Inverted vulva can also resolve itself with age, and especially by allowing the pup to have one season before desexing. It can also be corrected surgically as a last resort, if there are continual UTIs. My own puppy had this condition and it resolved itself as she got older, she didn't even need to have a season to correct it.

That is not to say that your poor pup wouldn't have had other problems being so inbred But it does annoy me when vets give poor advice.

I am glad you've had such a positive experience with registered breeders

[Miranda]

We got her 3 months later, she had the same sire but a different dam, and she a fifth toe on each back leg, and inverted vulva and we picked her up with a UTI. The vet said she would have UIT's her whole life due to her vulva condition, her 5th toes suggest shes positively inbred, so we made the unbearable decision

Much as I hate to stick up for a BYB I have to comment on your vet's advice. UTI's in puppy bitches aren't uncommon and the shape of the vulva which predisposes the puppy to this condition will almost always correct itself once the puppy has had a season. UTI's usually only persist if the puppy is desexed prior to the first season.

Regarding the fifth toes on the back legs, these are rear dew claws and once again are not uncommon, especially in certain breeds. Rear dew claws do not suggest that a puppy is 'positively inbred' and although most people choose to have them removed as they can easily catch and tear, rear dew claws are perfectly normal.

As far as I can tell from your post there was absolutely no need to have this puppy pts and if I were you I would be finding another vet as soon as possible.

Edited February 11, 2011 by Miranda

[Rebanne]

After reading all the replies it seems Golden and Aussie breeders seem to be getting the best reviews. I wonder why that is?

um because their owners are the ones that have replied?

[JulesP]

I've never really done the hunt around for breeders. Border Collie 1 as purchased after phoning the border collie club. That was 20 years ago. No hassles at all. The lovely lady found a nice litter for me and off I went. Moss was the best dog. Didn't have contact with the breeder afterwards, not sure if that was really a done thing in those days. I sent a photo of Moss grown up. Border Collie 2 was from a friend of a friend. No hassles again.

15 years on when I lost Moss I called the border collie club again. Again they managed to track me down a litter and Brock arrived. I did stay in touch with Brock's breeder as obviously it is easier to do that now. Brock sort of had 2 breeders (breeders terms litter) and neither gave me any crap. I was rather emotional at the time though so would have been a hard person to give me crap.

I had some trouble looking for a pup of a different breed for a friend. So ended up getting them a border collie, lol.

Tried to buy a ragdoll kitten. OMG what a rude bunch of people. Very nearly got a kitten from a pet shop but managed to control myself. Found a Birman breeder who wasn't a lunatic and got a kitten.

[AK_Blue]

As far as I can tell from your post there was absolutely no need to have this puppy pts and if I were you I would be finding another vet as soon as possible.

Not that I should need to explain, as I know of no one who would put a 12 week old puppy to sleep unless totally necessary.

I could write a short novel on the experience and go into a lot further detail about the vet/s we took her to. We saw 3 of them all up, not just one's opinion was taken. Her vulva was so badly inverted, she would spray like she was peeing onto an umbrella. 2 vets and a specialist all concurred the chances of this correcting itself after a season was definitely small.

In the 4 weeks we had her she would come off the 10 day antibiotic course and immediately slip back into another uti. We spent $250.00 on medication in 4 weeks, she had a culture test done, and the correct antibiotic was a;ready being administered with no varying success. The specialist - which we drove for 14 hours to see - big concern was what her situation will be like when she finally became immune to the antibiotics, as she needed them daily to keep the uti at bay.

But then the side effects from such a strong medication became apparent, and our decision was pretty clear. Watching a red & tan working kelpie sleep for 18 hours a day and barely have the energy to go outside and pee, and then struggle mightily to do so when she did was in itself heartbreaking ...

[Tralee]

Regarding the fifth toes on the back legs, these are rear dew claws and once again are not uncommon, especially in certain breeds. Rear dew claws do not suggest that a puppy is 'positively inbred' and although most people choose to have them removed as they can easily catch and tear, rear dew claws are perfectly normal.

I've always understood that rear dew claws are illegal because of the lethal damage they can inflict.

[Jed]

Bilbo Baggins

I find it rather amazing that people will not treat inquires at a show with respect, particularly if you are in group1 and you have won you will sitting around for hours.

Some people are very results driven, and focused at shows. I have dealt with a couple of breeders who were delightful, helpful over and above what could be expected, loved to educate --- but not the most helpful people at shows. I went to shows with one of them, and quickly learned to keep my mouth shut. Before the class, the mind was on preparing the dogs, afterwards - particularly if the results were not as good as expected - the mind was not going to be on anyone enquiring.

They believed shows were for showing dogs. Enquiries would be dealt with perfunctorarily - and sometimes by me!! I think people thought I was the kennel hand.

As a result I am always happy to talk to people at shows. But not everyone is

[JulesP]

I find talking to breeders at shows rather intimidating as they are all sitting in their little tents. I have been just to see the dogs but I haven't then tried to talk to the breeders unless I know them.

[Crisovar]

Regarding the fifth toes on the back legs, these are rear dew claws and once again are not uncommon, especially in certain breeds. Rear dew claws do not suggest that a puppy is 'positively inbred' and although most people choose to have them removed as they can easily catch and tear, rear dew claws are perfectly normal.

I've always understood that rear dew claws are illegal because of the lethal damage they can inflict.

Uhm well that's a new one

[Lowenhart]

I've always understood that rear dew claws are illegal because of the lethal damage they can inflict.

That is hilarious!!

Many rear dew claws are removed at 3 days because in a lot of cases they are not properly connected by bone and can tear off causing the dog pain and recovery takes a lot longer.

Some breeds are required to have them, and not to kill things with.

[Tralee]

I've always understood that rear dew claws are illegal because of the lethal damage they can inflict.

That is hilarious!! :laugh:

Many rear dew claws are removed at 3 days because in a lot of cases they are not properly connected by bone and can tear off causing the dog pain and recovery takes a lot longer.

Some breeds are required to have them, and not to kill things with.

Yeah I know!

If you had ever seen a 50kg Maremma kick like a kangaroo then you would have absolutely no doubt about their deadly function.

Catch an artery with one of those and its bye bye giggles.

Why do you think they've evolved? Extra bling!!! Tummy ticklers!!!!!

ETA You are not allowed to show dogs with rear dew claws.

Edited February 12, 2011 by pewithers

[Bilbo Baggins]

All breeders I know will remove rear dew claws. But briards must have them as part of the standard.

I have seen a horrible result because a rear dew claw being torn.