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Dogs Spring 2009 litters have arrived! 12 Corgis and 5 Bulldogs ~ All will be ready for new homes in April View more info and photos of our Corgis at www.corgicamp.blogspot.com View more info and photos of our Bulldogs at www.bellabullies.blogspot.com View More Dog Photos For those of us that love animals and take joy in their company, it seems natural that we live with pets. When folks who love breeding livestock also have pets, those pets have a way of becoming breeding animals too. It’s just our way of spreading the joy one puppy at a time! With us, first came the corgis and then came the bulldog. Corgis When Chelsea Spencer first brought puppies by the trailer at the cattle show in Perry, I said “Oh no,
we don’t
need another dog”…..
Famous
last words! We considered it a little and loaded up George that
day and brought him home. As he grew and we learned more about Corgis, we realized we had a very nice dog on our hands. Thus began the search for George’s mate. It took almost 18 months, but eventually we found Ginger and then a year later we found Paula. George has sired several litters of puppies for other breeders, as well as litters with both Ginger and Paula.
Stud Services
Finding a Good Breeder “Never buy through the web” - The web just like any other medium of communication (including face to face) doesn’t stop a liar from lying. Perhaps it makes it easier for a liar to get away with it, but making the blanket statement “never buy from someone who sells on the internet is like saying never trust someone who is from a certain country, or of a certain race. You can’t generalize to that extent in an accurate and fair-minded way. Do be careful though, ask breeders questions, expect to be asked questions, ask for references, ask about their nutrition program, their breeding goals, why they have a particular breed of dog, are these dogs their pets as well? “Always visit the breeder” – Whenever you can, you should. However keep this in mind – by allowing you to visit, a breeder is allowing you to enter their home, with their dogs, their pets, their family, their children, their property etc. You responded to an ad and the breeder probably doesn’t know you from Adam’s housecat – so don’t be surprised if you are limited to a defined area, or if an offer is made to meet you in a public place. Visitors are usually strangers and represent a certain degree of risk for those of us who breed dogs at home. So be understanding of folks who are cautious and don’t be surprised by an interview and a public meeting before an invitation to visit the home. Once there you’ll likely encounter a security system, requests to remove your shoes etc. These are all designed to protect breeder’s puppies both from theft and from germs carried in from outside environments. “Interview and get references” – you bet. Read everything the breeder has on their web site or in their brochures or ads – look for a consistent storyline, photos of the same dogs at different ages, develop a list of questions and be prepared to answer questions about yourself, your lifestyle, activities, home and facilities and the reasons you want a puppy of a particular breed. A good breeder will tell you about the good and the bad of a breed. They should be able to knowledgably speak to you about both genotype (pedigree and genetic background) and phenotype (physical attributes of each puppy). They’ll be able to give you a reference or two and tell you the name of their vet. They should also explain their sale agreement, their health guarantee, and their reasons for having a particular breed. Make sure you ask about how they handle things and ensure you are comfortable with the breeder’s plan for dealing with unexpected problems, the mechanics of the sale, payment and, if applicable, shipping. One last thing – a good breeder will not be a high pressure salesman. Any breeder worth their salt is looking for a new home with folks that know they want a new puppy and know what type puppy is well suited to their family – no sales pitch or convincing should be needed. In fact, I am super careful with litters ready for new homes near Christmas time. I do not want a buyer who is all jazzed up about a new puppy for Christmas – I’m looking for the family that wants the pup no matter what time of year it is and will love the baby I’ve raised on a hot Wednesday in August just the same as they will in the rush and fun of Christmas.
Puppy mills are the source of discussion that spans a wide variety of viewpoints. When looking for a new pet, you really have to be careful, find a decent person who loves their dogs and is interested in raising superior pets in an ethical manner. Good animal husbandry is not easy, it’s not is it an occasional thing – it is a way of life, a reflection of the breeder’s values in general and specifically the value they place upon the animals they raise. Thoughtful breeding and careful planning are time consuming and require a good relationship with your veterinarian, knowledge of the breed standard for your dog and consistently selecting animals for breeding who are superior examples of their breed. I often recommend that folks look for puppy breeders who also raise another species of animals or work with their dogs. For instance a cattle rancher that raises cattle dogs, a horse breeder that raises a favorite complimentary breed, the hunter who raises retrievers etc. This is when you most often find folks who love animals in general and know and appreciate what it takes to raise and maintain good dogs. A good breeder will be able to offer you puppies that are free of known genetic defects, have predictable temperaments, a sound health history, and were bred to be stable, long-term family members. Nothing less deserves your interest, your respect, or your financial support. The web site www.canismajor.com is a good one with balanced information and links to understanding the issues surrounding puppy mills. This site also defines different kinds of dog breeders and includes the following definition of a “hobby breeder” in their list. I freely admit to being all of the things included in the description of a “hobby breeder”. "Hobby breeder": A breed fancier who has a breed or two (or even three); follows a breeding plan to preserve and protect each breed; produces a limited number of litters each year; breeds only when a litter will enhance the breed and the breeding program; raises the puppies with plenty of environmental stimulation and human contact; has a contract that protects breeder, puppy, and buyer; raises dogs in the house or runs a small, clean kennel; screens breeding stock to eliminate hereditary defects; works with a breed club or kennel club to promote and protect the breed; and cares that each and every puppy is placed in the best home possible.
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