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| If you're thinking about getting that perfect puppy as the foundation for the kennel of your dreams and/or for showing, this column is for you. I will explore all facets of this experience and post everything from finding the right breeder to training and championships, to health screening and more with indepth details that helps it all make sense.
I invite you to sit back and enjoy the adventure as our search begins anew. Even if you are well versed in dogs, we hope you will find the account an entertaining journey. |
| I went with a friend last week-end to look at a puppy she was interested in. I was really impressed with the puppy. He was just beautiful. And the adults were very friendly and sweet dogs. Very nicely marked, and healthy and they all got along great in the small area of the kitchen. However, I write this to warn you of a problem when visiting any breeder. The lady was very nice, friendly and couldn't say enough good things about her dogs. There were ribbons hanging on the wall from dog shows and everything was going fine. That was until I asked her about her guarantee. Turns out there is no written guarantee. She stands on her reputation. Apparently the only one who would get hurt by her not standing behind her dogs is her. It was unfortunate that I had to recommend to my friend not to buy that puppy; in fact my opinion was that if she did and there was a problem, she should blame no one but herself. And I decided to write this today to encourage the rest of you to follow that example. It seemed to me that if her reputation was as good as she said it was, she would have absolutely no problem putting it in writing. Even if she was telling the truth, didn't she understand that that little piece of paper isn't just a guarantee, it is a strong source of confidence for the purchaser? Has she never read one article on puppy buying that usually always tells buyers two things. Don't buy from pet stores and responsible breeders have a guarantee? The pup was such a beautiful little boy, but everything just didn't add up. In spite of all the talking about her dogs she did, there was no mention of pedigree or registration and her comment that she "has no problems anyway" was odd to say the least . In all her years of breeding she has never had one problem? I wish it were true. I'd like to meet a breeder who has never one problem with a dog after many years of breeding. I'd buy them dinner. My friend took my advice not to buy the pup. I write this to you today because when your out there looking for a pup and going to visit breeders, it's really hard not to want to take them home with you right there on the spot. Resist the urge to do so, no matter how beautiful they are. Keep a firm motto: No (proper) written guarantee = no purchase. |
| The search for a puppy to start a show career and possible breeding program isn’t as easy as it sounds. My initial attempt of two 'show' dogs from reputable kennels gave me 1 Newfoundland that couldn’t swim and another that was aggressive toward other dogs (in spite of our puppy school, socializing and training). Neither, were appropriate as foundation animals, so I didn’t pursue this avenue with them. They did however make wonderful companions.
If I learned one thing from years of research, it's that you start with the best you can find. Dont settle for 'just ok' or you'll spend a lifetime playing catch up. It's been a couple years since my boy passed, and I’m finally ready to try again. The way I see it, the most important thing to keep in mind is not just the kennel ‘name’ your dog is going to carry, but the personality and commitment of your breeder. What is in a name if it doesn’t carry the commitment we so often hear is mandatory of a ‘responsible breeder’? So where do we start? Well, I’ve been studying the breed off and on for about 15 years, so I have a very good idea of what I’m looking for. This is a really important starting place. Even if you are not planning on showing or breeding your dog, you still want it to be recognizable as a Newf (or what ever dog you may be interested in) and not a cross with another. So having an ideal in mind is necessary. What is their ideal you ask? Well, perhaps I'm going too fast. Start here: Official CKC Standard for the Newfoundland Dog. Have a good review of their characteristics. Size, colour, temperment etc. (If you are not in Canada , please review the standard from your own region as they can differ from country to country slightly). Now that you have a good idea of what an ideal Newf should look like and behave like, you can compare what you find on the internet to this standard. You'll be amazed at how quickly you start thinking, pretty dog, but too small or too long or wrong head shape. I also recommend going to dog shows. If you can find a specialty or booster near you that's ideal. This will give you the greatest range of excellent dogs and an opportunity to speak w/ many Newf savvy people at one gathering. Once you know what you are looking for, the internet makes it very easy to search breeders and see their dogs. Since my first search began, it has made it infinitely easier and broadens our options greatly. If possible, find a breeder close to home. I brought my other dogs in from out of province and had no contact thereafter with their breeder so it left me on my own to figure everything out. It was easy in spite of my nerves to get my boy pointed (all him, no thanks to me), but it was a learning process that was made that much more difficult with no mentor for guidance. This time, I will most definitely find a breeder who is within driving distance and who I feel comfortable leaning on for support. I want to stress how very important this is, so before you get your heart set on any kennel or name, you should visit them at least once before making your decision. While there, you will want to see more than just the kennel and dogs. Ask yourself, what is the breeder like? Are they personable? Do you connect? Can you see yourself calling this person and seeking help if needed. Are they willing to help you on your chosen path? If all your answers to these questions are yes, great! You can expect your prospective breeder to ask some questions. Do you have a fenced yard? Do you understand the challenges of grooming, feeding, and generally caring for a Newfoundland (especially if you've never previously owned one)? These questions are normal. I have found some go beyond reasonable, so if it stops being a friendly converstion and starts to feel more like an FBI interogation, you should consider moving on. You should expect your breeder to have a guarantee. Be sure to read the guarantee and ask any questions that you require to clarify. Most breeders will usually guarantee their dog to be genetically sound for at least one or two years. If however, they also require you to euthanize your dog in the event there is a genetic flaw, you should consider a different breeder or at the very least have them remove this from the guarantee. After all, after getting to know and love your dog for a year or more and finding out your new best friend has a heart defect are you really going to kill him in order to get another puppy? Frankly, I don't consider this a guarantee and I highly question breeders who use this and select owners that are ok with this stipulation. Ultimately, either situation is bad. You either have no guarantee at all, or you have to kill your dog. Ethical breeders should not be ok with this. What you should find is that the breeder will request the dog be returned if for any reason you are unable to keep it. This is normal This is a breeder who wants to know that the puppy they brought into the world is going to be cared for throughout it's life. So here I am, very excited to be starting out on this journey called 'Dogs'. If you have any questions about finding a breeder or any of the other topics covered, please don't hestitate to contact Newf Fans. |
| Is there any such thing as a perfect breeder? 2004 |
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| January 9, 2010 The Most amazing luck We visited a kennel today and what a great trip it was. The breeder was happy to answer all of our questions and we got to know each other a little over the course of an hour. He liked us, we like him and the dogs were amazing. We met many dogs that previously we had only seen pictures of in the show ring. They were truly great and typically newf. They did have one puppy that we learned was promised, but due to unfortunate family circumstances of the prospective owner, they were unable to take him. I've been watching this kennel off and on over the years and the timing with this just couldn't have worked out better. It really is incredible. For those of you beginning your search, this is an extraordinary circumstance. Be prepared to wait for your new puppy. And before you think I didn't take my own advise, we did not get the puppy today. We did agree with the breeder that we loved the pup and he liked us as an owner of their puppy, so agreed to made arrangements to go back to pick him up in the next day or so. This is always the best decision you can make; it's really hard not to want to take the puppy on the spot, but it's always best to sleep on it and go back if you still feel the same way. So, don't take money with you, be strong. One of the questions I was sure to ask was about the guarantee. And there was NO euthansia clause (thank goodness) They agreed with me that this clause really is turning a guarantee into 'no guarantee'. Learning this and that they would be happy to help us on our show career path was everything I was looking for. Close to home, excellent lines, personable, helpful individuals. I had hoped to bring you more information about our contacting and visiting process. Who could of guessed this would happen. Ultimately I recommend in your initial contact just to let the breeder know you are interested in a puppy and request to visit their kennel. If by e-mail give them enough time to respond. A week or so wouldn't be unreasonable. Note: A breeder who takes a reservation isn't necessarily better, nor does it mean that you will receive a better 'pick' because you waited on a list for a 'show' quality puppy.. Use your best judgement, visit the kennel and go to a show or two where they are showing. Getting to know your prospective breeder will take your further than some 'list'. |
| January 6th, 2010 A New beginning |
| January 13 The Day We brought home our beautiful boy today. It is excredibly exciting. I'll keep this short today, but am very please to introduce you to: Nash. |
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| 10 Weeks - Just Home |
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| 12 Weeks. |
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| Bath Day And Fluffy again. |