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Screening Breeders
You’ve researched the Doberman or Min Pin breed in books and on the
Internet... |
Perhaps even visited adult Basenjis and their breeders in your
area. You’re ready to move to the next step - finding the puppy
that is right for your household.
The following questions will help you determine if a breeder is
a responsible, dedicated, knowledgeable guardian of the breed or
someone who produces puppies indiscriminately or for profit.
Your goal is to find a healthy, well-tempered puppy from a
breeder who will provide you with accurate information, support
and assistance throughout your Basenji’s lifetime. The breeder
you select should be a person you trust = a person of integrity
who strives to maintain sound temperaments, good health, correct
conformation, and longevity in every they produce.
None of these questions, standing alone, should be the sole
basis for determining whether or not to purchase a puppy from a
particular breeder. These questions are intended to provide a
framework for conversations with breeders, and as a springboard
for acquiring additional information about a breeder’s
practices.
By selecting a reputable breeder, you maximize your chances of
getting a healthy, happy puppy. They will also be a support
network for the life of your dog. Basenjis can present
unexpected challenges to the first-time owner so it’s important
to select a breeder who is both willing to help you and
knowledgeable enough to do so effectively.
An Important Note
Responsible breeders never sell their puppies to pet shops or
commercial brokers. pups that are for sale in pet shops are
produced for profit, and without regard to health or
temperament. The breeders of these puppies are not available as
a resource for new owners, and responsible breeders can usually
provide better and more accurate breed-specific advice than the
staff of a pet shop. Also, a puppy from a pet shop often costs
far more than a companion puppy from a responsible breeder.
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| The Questions
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| 1 |
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How long have you been involved with Basenjis? |
| 2 |
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Do you belong any dog clubs, and if so why is it
important to you? |
| 3 |
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Do you show your dogs in conformation? |
| 4 |
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Do you health test the Basenjis you’re breeding? |
| 5 |
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What specific health concerns are behind the
sire and dam? |
| 6 |
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How do you select a sire or dam for a litter? |
| 7 |
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How many litters do you breed per year? |
| 8 |
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Do you have a waiting list for your upcoming
litter? |
| 9 |
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How long do you keep pups with their dam and
siblings? |
| 10 |
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How do you socialize your puppies? |
| 11 |
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Do you screen prospective buyers? |
| 12 |
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What are your spay or neuter requirements? |
| 13 |
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Do you sell all of your puppies on written
contracts? |
| 14 |
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How much do you charge for a puppy? |
| 15 |
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Can you provide me with references? |
How long have you been involved with Basenjis?
A person who begins to breed Basenjis immediately after
acquiring their first dogs may not have the background knowledge
to evaluate pedigrees for health and temperament issues, and may
lack sufficient experience with the breed to provide accurate,
on-going advice to puppy buyers.
Back to
questions
Do you belong any dog clubs, and if so why is it important to
you?
Belonging to the AKC parent club, or any Breed Club of America
or a regional club indicates that a breeder maintains some
degree of contact with other people who are committed to the
breed. As members, they receive publications that contain
information about health testing, and other issues that impact
the welfare of the breed.
Back to
questions
Do you show your dogs in conformation or participate in other
activities (lure coursing, agility, obedience) with your dog?
Breeders who show or participate in performance events have many
opportunities to compare Basenjis of their breeding with
Basenjis bred by others. They are more likely to be in the loop
regarding important health information, and to be serious,
life-long students of the breed.
Back to
questions
Do you health test the Basenjis you’re breeding?
Responsible breeders are aware of all health problems affecting
Basenjis, and strive not to produce these problems in their
pups. They utilize the best health testing methods available to
screen their breeding stock, and can provide evidence to back up
their testing claims. Hip and eye results can be verified on the
OFA web site, www. offa.org, but a responsible breeder
volunteers documented evidence of the health tests they perform.
Health testing on a routine basis can be expensive—some breeders
who produce pups primarily for profit cut corners on health
testing to save money.
A breeder who is concerned about the long-term welfare of the
breed will health test for the conditions mentioned for that
particular breed and be especially concerned with the following
before breeding:
Hip dysplasia—dogs will have an OFA certification of fair, good
or excellent)
Inherited eye diseases—dogs will have CERF certification
Thyroid disease—thyroid blood panel to determine if thyroid
function is low, or normal
Back to
questions
What specific health concerns are behind the sire and dam of
your litter? What can you tell me about the siblings and other
relatives?
Serious breeders talk openly about health issues they've
encountered in their years of breeding, and will be able to tell
you how they are working to avoid problems in the future.
Back to
questions
How do you select a sire or dam for a litter? Do you consider
studs from other breeders, or studs that do not reside with you?
Breeders will occasionally breed a male that resides with them
to a female that resides with them. But if a breeder never
selects mates other than those that reside in their household,
it is possible that the breeder is:
– trying to avoid paying stud fees
– doesn't understand the importance of selecting mates that are
a good match genetically and physically
– not well-regarded by other breeders and therefore doesn’t have
access to a broader range of breeding choice
Back to
questions
How many litters do you breed per year?
There are a few special circumstances when responsible breeders
may produce two or more litters per year. Properly caring for
and socializing a litter of puppies is time consuming work and a
breeder who routinely produces multiple litters per year in
their own home may need to cut costs on veterinary care,
nutrition, or socialization. In some cases, these breeders
produce puppies for profit rather than to improve the breed. A
responsible breeder who is producing multiple litters will be
willing to discuss their breeding strategy with you.
Back to
questions
Do you have a waiting list for your upcoming litter?
Breeders begin looking for good homes for their puppies as soon
as they decide to produce a litter. It takes time to interview
prospective owners (they need to check you out, just as need to
evaluate them). Many breeders begin adding names to their
waiting lists in Spring for a Fall breeding. A breeder who does
not have a waiting list, or who waits until the pups are born to
begin looking for homes, may not be taking the responsibilities
of breeding seriously, or may not be putting enough time and
effort into selecting good homes.
Back to
questions
How long do you keep puppies with their siblings and dam?
puppies are not ready to go home with their new owners until
they are eight weeks of age, or older. Breeders who send puppies
home prior to age eight weeks may not be aware of the
importance—for pups in particular—of spending time with siblings
and dam, learning canine communication skills, and appropriate
ways to interact with people. Puppies that are separated from
their dam and siblings too soon can develop behavior problems
later in life, can be difficult to house train, and may lack
bite inhibition.
Back to
questions
How do you socialize your puppies? Most nreeds require a lot of
early, positive experiences with new people, places and animals
in order to be well-adjusted adults. The breeder should be able
to tell you, in detail, how they socialize their puppies, and
what you can do to continue the socialization process once you
take your puppy home.
Back to
questions
Do you screen prospective buyers? Will my entire
family/household need to visit before we can be added to your
waiting list? Most breeders who care about their dogs, and the
breed, will not place a puppy with a person they have never met,
or at least corresponded with extensively. Expect to be asked
for references—including from your landlord if you rent. Expect
to be asked to visit the breeder’s home if you are within a
reasonable distance, and anticipate that all members of your
household (children, anyone else residing in the household) will
be asked to attend. A face-to-face meeting, where practical,
helps the breeder find the best possible match for pups they
produce and in the end is for the benefit of you and the puppy.
When a personal visit isn’t possible, expect that a breeder will
want to speak/correspond with you at length to ensure that you
and your puppy will be a good match. A breeder who will
sell/ship a puppy without references and a thorough screening
process should be cause for concern.
Back to
questions
What are your spay or neuter requirements? Responsible breeders
realize that breeding dogs properly takes a great deal of time,
effort and experience. They do not want dogs they’ve produced to
be bred indiscriminately, adding to the pet over-population
problem. Requiring companion pups to be spayed or neutered
indicates that a breeder is conscientious, dedicated to
maintaining the integrity of the breed, and concerned about the
welfare of each puppy they produce. Responsible breeders also
have first hand experience with some of the demands of living
with intact dogs—they understand that a person who is looking
for a dog as a companion isn’t likely to want to face these
challenges.
Back to
questions
Do you sell all of your puppies on written contracts, with CKC
or AKC registration?
Responsible breeders sell their puppies on written contracts. A
contract will protect you, the puppy buyer, and clearly state
the seller’s expectations. A responsible breeder’s contract will
contain health guarantees and include a provision to take the
puppy back at any time during its life (even in old age) if you
can no longer care for it.
Our dogs are CKC-registered breeds. Canadian breeders do not
need to use other Canadian or US-based registries. Many of these
alternative registries were created to provide papers for dogs
that are not eligible for registration. The integrity of some
alternative registries is suspect—particularly if the breed is
recognized by the CKC or AKC - and the pedigree you’re given may
not be accurate.
Back to
questions
How much do you charge for a puppy?
The price varies from breed to breed. Breeders in the U.S.
charge much more for a companion puppy on a spay/neuter
contract. There can be legitimate reasons for charging more or
less. However, a breeder who is selling companion puppies for
significantly more or less in your geographic area should have
good reasons for doing so. A breeder whose fee is significantly
below market rate may be producing too many litters and needs to
sell quickly. A breeder who sells at an inflated price may be
seeking to line his/her pocketbook at your expense.
Back to
questions
Can you provide me with references from other puppy buyers and
breeders?
A responsible breeder will have a long list of puppy buyers and
fellow breeders who can vouch for their credibility, sincerity,
and knowledge. They will not hesitate to provide you with
references and will encourage you to contact them. Follow up on
the references you receive—a disreputable person may give out
names of well-known breeders in the hope that you will never
bother to contact those individuals. Take the time to call or
e-mail every reference you receive. |
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A TALE FOR A BREEDER
I love my little puppy, he makes my
house a home, he always is my best friend, I never feel alone. He makes me
smile, he makes me laugh, he fills my heart with love. Did some breeder
breed him? Was he sent from heaven above?
I've never been a breeder, or seen life
through their eyes. I hold my little puppy, just sit and criticize. I've
never know their anguish, I've never felt their pain, the caring of their charges, through snow or wind or rain. I've never waited all night long for
puppies to be born, the stress and trepidation when they're still not there
by dawn...
I've never felt the heartache of a little life in my hands, a darling little
puppy who weighs just a few grams!! Should you do this instead of that? Or
just pray to God? Alone you fight, and hope one day he'll grow into a dog,
bring joy to another being and make a house a home. You know it's all just
up to you, you fight this fight alone.
Formula, bottles, heating pads, you've
got to get this right. Two hourly feeds for this little mite throughout the
day and night.
In your heart you know it, you'll surely lose the fight to save this little
baby, but God willing, you just might save the little mite....
Day one he's in there fighting. You say
a silent prayer. Day two and three he's doing well, with lots of loving
care.
Day four and five - he's still alive your hopes soar to the heavens! Day six
he slips away again, dies in your hands day seven.
You take this little angel and bury him
alone, with aching heart and burning tears, (and an exhausted groan).
You ask yourself, Why do this? Why suffer all the pain? But seeing the joy that
puppies bring - it really self explains! So, when you think of breeders and
label them with "greed". Think what they sometimes endure to fill another's need.
And when you buy a puppy, with dollars and cents you part. You only pay with
money ... we pay with our hearts.
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