Dog (pupp) Buying Guide Project

I think on the whole its alot easier to spot a puppy mill than a BYB. The puppy mill people sell to pet stores and usually have hundreds of dogs stacked and in deplorable conditions huge red flag. BYB are the dangerous ones they are good at illusions, that is where you have to do your homework. BYB dont test their dogs, do not know the background on their dogs are they are often from other BYB or puppy mills who have less than reliable backgrounds. BYB do not participate in any venues with their dogs. The majority of BYB have both parents on property, however some hobby breeders may also, this is where your leg work must be done. The Hobby breeder will be able to tell you why they used this particular dog for this breeding where the BYB wont or will tell you because they'd make cute puppies:rolleyes2:.
I could go on and on but im not sure how long we want to make this???:wink2:
 
I think a guide is a good idea....
1. What is a reasonable amount of money to budget for...vet, grooming, food, equipment and the actual price of a puppy/dog.

2. How much time you need to train, groom, etc.

3. Sheltie behaviours that are typical...barking, spinning and herding their people, being a bit cat like...

4. I personally would like some idea of what to look for in a puppy conformationally wise...and personality wise...how to tell if a puppy is out going, shy, happy, whacky a do...etc...

5. Some red flags to watch for....like..If 'breeder' is more interested in the $$ then if you are able to care for puppy...kinda wishy washy on their breeding practices, they don't do testing..etc.

Having said that...I have been on a Sheltie group with people I have known from their for seven years. We've had all kinds of discussions on this subject...then a long time member who knows better...went and got a puppy from a person who had a box of puppies with a sign 'for sale'...
So it may not help ALL people!!

Julie
Clancy & Abby
 
clancyh8sabby said:
I think a guide is a good idea....
1. What is a reasonable amount of money to budget for...vet, grooming, food, equipment and the actual price of a puppy/dog.

2. How much time you need to train, groom, etc.

3. Sheltie behaviours that are typical...barking, spinning and herding their people, being a bit cat like...

4. I personally would like some idea of what to look for in a puppy conformationally wise...and personality wise...how to tell if a puppy is out going, shy, happy, whacky a do...etc...

5. Some red flags to watch for....like..If 'breeder' is more interested in the $$ then if you are able to care for puppy...kinda wishy washy on their breeding practices, they don't do testing..etc.

Having said that...I have been on a Sheltie group with people I have known from their for seven years. We've had all kinds of discussions on this subject...then a long time member who knows better...went and got a puppy from a person who had a box of puppies with a sign 'for sale'...
So it may not help ALL people!!

Julie
Clancy & Abby
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Julie I could not agree with you more with the latter part of your note. I honestly believe for the most part it's called "common sense". As someone else said in a previous thread, people need to think with their head and not their heart. :wink2:
 
Samples of questions to ASK a breeder! This was something that could have helped me out since purchasing Edan was my first time ever dealing with a breeder. I wasn't sure what questions to ask but at the same time I didn't want to sound clueless.

Thankfully DH spoke to breeders regarding Melody so he was able to help me out a little.
 
I think this could get WAY too long if we start including training, grooming, etc. That wasn't the point of the project (I thought.)

The main questions we should stay focused on:
  1. What should a puppy buyer look for in a good breeder?
  2. What questions should they be asking, and what are red flag answers?
Lets keep it simple. We could always do another Sheltie "care" guide, but I think there have been plenty of books already on the subject.

Just my 2 cents!
 
Kelly said:
I think this could get WAY too long if we start including training, grooming, etc. That wasn't the point of the project (I thought.)

The main questions we should stay focused on:
  1. What should a puppy buyer look for in a good breeder?
  2. What questions should they be asking, and what are red flag answers?
Lets keep it simple. We could always do another Sheltie "care" guide, but I think there have been plenty of books already on the subject.

Just my 2 cents!
Click to expand...

That was my point..Keep it simple! which may be hard because you know how we love to chat about shelties:lol:
 
*Caro said:
I think the teenage phase deserves a section all on its own - or at least a warning! Or maybe in a section on puppy stages
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Excellent idea! Most people have never heard of heard of this difficult adolescent phase, and to my understanding that is the time period when dogs are most often given up on and turned into shelters or abandoned.
 
Lightplum said:
Is it going to be in a bulleted format? Or written out? I'm just thinking that depending how many areas are touched upon it could be a rather long read...and you know how we like to discuss many topics here on picking the perfect pup:smile2: we could easily make this a war and peace novel :smile2: or is it going to be a quick guide and than a more detailed description below?
I'm just thinking of a way to make it concise to get the point across and be a reference point and keep people interested and not turn them away if it gets too long they may gloss over and miss some vital info.
Click to expand...

Another good point. I find its an easier read when different topics are defined in different sections and points are in bullet form. Otherwise, I personally lose interest.
 
Kelly said:
I think this could get WAY too long if we start including training, grooming, etc. That wasn't the point of the project (I thought.)

The main questions we should stay focused on:
  1. What should a puppy buyer look for in a good breeder?
  2. What questions should they be asking, and what are red flag answers?
Lets keep it simple. We could always do another Sheltie "care" guide, but I think there have been plenty of books already on the subject.

Just my 2 cents!
Click to expand...

I think that's true, but I still think its important that the potential puppy buyer be asking themselves questions about whether an adult or puppy would be better suited for their life styles, and that they be educated about puppy stages in general and breed traits.
 
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