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I am a private responsible breeder

The Menagerie
#21

[QUOTE=Horsegal984;5688611]
the same a horses, they need to prove their worth in competition before passing on their genes[QUOTE]

what? Really? No. there are tons of good dogs who prove their worth every day as service dogs, as working dogs, as outstanding companions that aren’t shown. Shows are useful…to a point, but it doesn’t mean that is the beginning or end of what should be used as a yardstick for good breeding stock! Stock dogs are a prime example…if I were going to look for a good working BC, I sure wouldn’t head to the AKC ring, I’d head to a farm that .uses. their dogs.

#22

When I lost my very special (ok – absolutely the BEST dog every) GSD, I didn’t have a network and checked his the website of his sire’s owner. His sire was deceased and the owner was using different lines which didn’t appeal to me. So, I started searching the internet and used message boards for GSD’s and gleaned knowledge, did research on his pedigree back 7 generations to see if there were common threads. I developed my knowledge of his bloodlines and focused on those and their origins and looked for website of breeders who were using those lines or the West German lines. I learned alot and in the process, found something positive to do with my grief and found a puppy that was similarly bred and her expression even as a young puppy was so like his it reduced me to tears. So, my advice is to research your dog’s pedigree and find some message boards and search for breeders of those lines. It takes time, but well worth the effort. My puppy is now 15 months old and lying asleep at my feet. She has many of the traits I was so enamored with in my male and since I have his frozen semen, we’ll see …
Good luck!
PennyG

#23

Be an active member of a breed specific forum - talk about your dogs, have great photos & stories, share your knowledge of your chosen breed … people will remember :slight_smile:

Start a waiting list/contact list of people who want pups from your dogs, when you have twice as many people on the wait list as pups you’d expect in a large litter, then breed :yes:
This will allow you to choose the appropriate home for each pup & ensure that enough prospective clients are actually interested in the pups your line will produce before you have a litter on the ground (driving you crazy & eating you out of house & home :lol: )

I was looking for OFA hips, elbows, CERF eyes and heart (given the breed). I also wanted to meet the parents.

This.
Though I don’t expect to meet the male, I do want to see a copy of all his health certs.

#24

[QUOTE=Horsegal984;5688611]
Wait… what? Please tell me I’m misunderstanding this, because I thought you just said you’re breeding dogs that have never shown? While it needs not be in the confo ring to me breeding dogs s the same a horses, they need to prove their worth in competition before passing on their genes…

Please tell me the I’m misunderstanding what you were trying to say here…[/QUOTE]

No, I believe that is what she said.

I think it is perfectly acceptable to breed dogs without competing in performance events…and I think it is perfectly acceptable to breed dogs without conformation titles. But I do think you need one or the other (if not both). Otherwise…what is your breeding plan? Just making puppies isn’t exactly breeding…

I guess to the OP I would ask — to what market are you selling? If selling as pet puppies, I guess I’d suggest Craigslist as much as anything else. I think you’d do better, however, and make more money on your endeavors, to hook up with a breed club and get your breeding dogs involved in performance or conformation competitions, and THEN breed after some title(s) has been achieved.

It’s not all that difficult to find a well-bred puppy WITH AKC champion parents and/or field, agility, or other performance titles. So, many people won’t pay too much for a puppy with neither.

#25

Ad in Dog Annual magazine.

#26

[QUOTE=threedogpack;5688756]

[QUOTE=Horsegal984;5688611] the same a horses, they need to prove their worth in competition before passing on their genes

what? Really? No. there are tons of good dogs who prove their worth every day as service dogs, as working dogs, as outstanding companions that aren’t shown. Shows are useful…to a point, but it doesn’t mean that is the beginning or end of what should be used as a yardstick for good breeding stock! Stock dogs are a prime example…if I were going to look for a good working BC, I sure wouldn’t head to the AKC ring, I’d head to a farm that .uses. their dogs.

I never said every dog needs an AKC title. If I’m looking for a working dog I want to see one who’s immediate bloodlines has working titles. However I do stand by my statement that any breeding dog needs to have proven itself, and not just as judged by it’s owners. Primarially because there are millions of outstanding companions being put to sleep in shelters every day.

Puppy mills like healthypups.com and labpups.com stay in buisness breeding crap dogs because they advertise “excellent companions.” If we can educate people to expect the same from their dog breeders as horse breeders we might help to cut down on that buisness

#27

As a buyer it was very hard to sort out the resposnible breeders from the BYBs sometimes.
Some of the BYBs had lovely websites and seemed to say the right things. Until you really read and found multiple litters and often multiple breeds. And only a grandparent had any performance or show record. And then they didnt advertise the health testing. Big Red Flag!
I found the purebreds I have owned by first going to the breed club website and familiarizing myself with the standards and descriptions. I already knew the breed’s usual personality type, exercise requirements etc (as any responsible buyer should!) I also Googled and found out the complaints and less flattering aspects of the breed. Then I networked with dog people I knew. Mostly this gave me some “who to avoid” info. Eventually I found a couple of breeders who seemed to be good - had all the health clearances and showed dogs in conformation or performance events. I ended up e-mailing back and forth with one breeder this last time for about six months. Finally her girl had a litter and I was able to get my pups!
So I would say that being part of the local breed club or kennel club would be valuable. It helps to have a website. I never responded to “Puppy for sale” ads since I found 99% to be irresponsible or at least careless breeders. I did ask at my veterinarian, but they tend to have limited geographic reach and probably dont want to be involved in seeming to recommend a breeder. I would respond to a business card in a vet’s office with “puppies occasionally available” on it.

#28

[QUOTE=Horsegal984;5688611]
While it needs not be in the confo ring to me breeding dogs s the same a horses, they need to prove their worth in competition before passing on their genes…[/QUOTE]

I define a private responsible breeder as one who:

  1. health tests their potential breeding stock and researches previous get for genetic health defects before mating and provides copies of the results
  2. works/competes their dogs in some venue and provides copies of titles/competition record.

Those are the only two ways I have of weeding out marketing-slick BYBs and true hobbyists. The latter tends to break even or possible lose $ as the above two requirements, when you add it all together, amounts to quite a bit of money and lots of time.

OP, if you are working your dogs in some venue, surely you can build contacts in your new area. If your dogs are not performing in any way and are loving and loved couch potatoes, that’s great! But not where I would seek a pup from.

#29

I gathered that they were showing the dogs they bred. While I agree with the PP that said, “not all dogs have to show they’re worthy,” I would hope that the owner was doing something legitimate with the dogs (working dogs, etc.)

#30

I’m confused, you said you haven’t bred or sold a litter in 10 years in your OP but now you have a litter?

Yes I last breed and sold 10 years ago. My 1 remaining bitch is spayed and 12 years old…

Last showed our fabulous Dog Chessie 2 years ago @ the National in Harrisburg, scratched him from The Garden and haven’t shown since.
I do not breed nor want to breed Chessies, my chessie Bitch is long since spayed.

I always had all my other litters pre-sold before born.

This litter of puppies from not breeding in 10+ years was very thought out, I used a very respected stud, my bitch is more than qualified to have these puppies.
I had 3 pre-sold, but life happens.
1 customer rescued an older dog during gestation who doens’t tolerate puppies, and 2nd had a financial reversal that requries a new job and alot of time away. Not condusive for a new puppy. 3rd pup is well sold and leaves this weekend @ 8+ weeks.
Stud dog owner called yesterday and was stunned I still had 4 of the 5 unsold. she is coming out to preview litter personally and may have 2 clients who are huge fans of her stud dog.

in years past I didn’t have a webb site hardly anyone did and I pre-sold based on my past litters and vets recommendation.
This is a new breed to me as well.

I have very little problems selling my horses w/O showing them. Horses I don’t sell what I breed from the farm. My home bred horses go off to race and get sold @ the track.

#31

[QUOTE=judybigredpony;5689501]
This is a new breed to me as well.

I have very little problems selling my horses w/O showing them. Horses I don’t sell what I breed from the farm. My home bred horses go off to race and get sold @ the track.[/QUOTE]

Maybe someone here can help you out. What breed and where are you located?

#32

[QUOTE=judybigredpony;5689501]
Yes I last breed and sold 10 years ago. My 1 remaining bitch is spayed and 12 years old…

This litter of puppies from not breeding in 10+ years was very thought out, I used a very respected stud, my bitch is more than qualified to have these puppies.

…this is a new breed to me as well.[/QUOTE]

I think the confusion came with saying something about not showing, not currently breeding, but you had a litter currently even though you’re no longer involved.

Based on the above, I am going to deduce that PRIOR to this CURRENT litter you now have (and can’t find anyone to buy the puppies?) you had last bred and sold 10 years ago. Although, your one remaining bitch is spayed at 12 years of age…where did you get this current bitch from that produced a litter?

Can you not contact your current bitch’s breeder for assistance? Something isn’t connecting here.

And here is where I be blunt and say, if you are asking for help in advertising this current litter because you have no active buyers for them, AND “this is a new breed” for you, the litter probably wasn’t as “well thought out” as you thought it was.

If you’re currently looking for people to buy the puppies, and you have no idea where to start, etc. I would fall back on the stud owner. I know you mentioned in a previous post that they are helping…a little, but as they have an active stud, they are active in the breed (hopefully) and will have better contacts besides the two who like their stud.

Does the stud owner have a website? If so, have you asked them about posting a litter announcement on their website with contact information for you?

ETA: Friends of mine that are breeders constantly have people asking them about upcoming litters, etc. based on what their dogs have done and what they are known for. This “breed that is new to you,” why did you want to breed them in the first place if you’re 1) not active in the breed 2) they’re “new” to you?

#33

I was confused when you spoke about showing your Chessie and then your later post said you had a new breed?

First of all, if this is a new breed to you, perhaps you should have learned more about the breed, joined the parent club, and networked before just breeding. But since you already bred your “qualified” bitch, you should consider yourself lucky that the stud owner is helping now.

I guess you are breeding for the money rather than to preserve or improve the breed? :no::no:

You failed to say what breed, and depending on the breed, some are easier to sell than others based on their popularity… In today’s society it is not all that easy to sell purebred dogs anymore because the PC thing is to rescue. Good luck.

#34

I am still not making sense of the OP.
If that poster has been long in dogs, was a breeder and competitor in any one dog venue, I assume field trials with a chessie, it should know it’s way around, I would think?
It doesn’t make sense to me to come to COTH asking about where to sell puppies.:confused:

#35

Why did you breed before you had confirmed buyers? Are you prepared to keep these pups or take them back later in life should issues arrive?

I am also curious about the breed.

#36

Just wanted to mention, I thought CL rules did not allow for breeders to advertise? People always try to sneak litters in and usually get flagged. I also think if you are simply breeding pet quality animals, DON’T. There’s millions in shelters. And if what you are breeding is only CL worthy, DON’T. That being said, I don’t think a show record is necessary either. Just my 2 cents. (not disagreeing with the poster I quoted, just adding my thoughts)

#37

[QUOTE=cloudy18;5690235]
Just wanted to mention, I thought CL rules did not allow for breeders to advertise? People always try to sneak litters in and usually get flagged. I also think if you are simply breeding pet quality animals, DON’T. There’s millions in shelters. And if what you are breeding is only CL worthy, DON’T. That being said, I don’t think a show record is necessary either. Just my 2 cents. (not disagreeing with the poster I quoted, just adding my thoughts)[/QUOTE]

Oh, I didn’t realize they didn’t allow breeders…I just always see horse ads and figured if I looked for dog ads I could find them.

I am in agreement with you – breeding for “pet quality” is not a good idea. But for a litter that is already on the ground, I thought you might actually find decent pet homes via Craigslist – as I said…my experience with CL is really only that I see horse ads posted all the time.

#38

[QUOTE=saje;5688195]
This is the breeder I’m about to get my 3rd dog from:

http://www.cedarwoodkennels.com/

As far as I know this is the only “advertising” they do. Everything else is word of mouth and previous owners.[/QUOTE]

I can vouch for them. I’ve met the owners and some of their dogs.

We met them through one of the clubs for dog breeders. DH and I breed corgis and GSP’s. Our website is essentially our only advertisement. There is a solid website for gundogs and we’ll sometimes place a litter announcement there.

We have plans for a litter of corgis this year. Haven’t put much up on the website as we had so many people wanting Iris’s kids before we even picked our sire. (Mom is multi-titled performance gal)

Somebody else mentioned breeder’s hanging on the “last one” or leftover puppy. DH and I did exactly that with our first corgi litter. Grew up to be pick bitch of the litter who already has her first title. No breed show ring points yet, but keeps coming up reserve.

#39

Yep, I got my 1st dog from them over 20 years ago, and I just lost my second Labby girl from them at 13 hrs old. Both those dogs were wonderful, they had brains, total trainability, good hips and elbows, were gorgeous to look at, and were just lovely sweet mellow dogs. Nancy’s great to work with, cares about her dogs and her reputation, and pretty much exemplifies what is is to be a responsible breeder of a way too popular breed. IMO, her dogs are what Labs ought to be.

eta: I did come across a listing on the Nat’l Lab Club breeder referral page, thats about it though.

#40

[QUOTE=cloudy18;5690235]
Just wanted to mention, I thought CL rules did not allow for breeders to advertise? People always try to sneak litters in and usually get flagged. [/QUOTE]

Posting litters or dogs for sale on Craigslist is not only a surefire way to get your ad flagged (removed when people click “prohibited” since animal sales are prohibited in the Craigslist Terms of Use…that big long thing everyone agrees to when they post,) it is also a surefire way to nearly (or definitely) tarnish your name, dogs, etc. for life. No “private responsible breeder” posts their litters for sale on Craigslist.

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