QUESTIONS A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER WILL ASK YOU, AND WHY…
A truly responsible and professional breeder cares
where their puppies will grow up. They will keep any puppies they cannot
place in suitable homes and will question prospective buyers closely to
determine if this buyer really deserves one of their precious puppies. A
good breeder is trying to find the best homes for the puppies, and may
ask some occasionally strange questions regarding your home life and
situation before letting you have one of their puppies.
They want to know that you know what you're doing, that you can train
and take care of the puppy, that you are going to be a responsible,
intelligent owner. They are the experts here - and they will evaluate
you as carefully as you evaluate them.
Expect this. If it bothers you, you probably shouldn't have a dog.
Good breeders ask some or all of the
following questions:
Have you ever had a
dog before? If so, what type of dog? How long did you have it?
Some breeds are not suitable for first-time dog owners, and some are
just what the doctor ordered for newbies. The breeder wants to know what
your other choice was, and how it worked out for you. If it didn’t, they
need to know why, so they can avoid you having the same problem again.
Don't expect a breeder to sell a puppy to you if your last two dogs were
hit by cars or you gave them up to the pound for behavior problems.
A breeder is looking for your level of experience with dogs, and
whether you are a responsible pet owner.
Also, if you have dogs already in your household, the breeder is
making sure you understand the dynamics of a multi-dog household and are
prepared to add another dog to your family.
What is your experience with this
breed? What are your expectations?
Each breed has it’s quirks, and the breeder is
trying to determine if you have any idea what you're getting in to. Too
many people pick the "popular" breed, not knowing that Dalmations need
tons of exercise and deafness is common, or that Border Collies will
herd anything, including their family, or that the fuzzy Newfoundland
puppy will be huge and will drool.
In asking what your expectations are, the breeder can get a good feel
for whether you and the dog you choose are going to be compatible.
Looking for a dog to play frisbee with? A toy breed might not be for
you. Want a dog that doesn't dig holes in the yard? Terriers were born
doing that. Hate brushing your dog? The breeder can tell you the
grooming requirements. For example, an energetic, active breed will not
be a good dog for a family that is sedentary, nor will a couch-potato
breed fit in with a family that hikes, camps, and kayaks. They are
trying to prevent you from getting a dog that you cannot live with.
Again, the breeder is trying to see if you are a good fit for the
particular characteristics of the breed.
Are there children in the
family? How many? What ages?
Some breeds are
good with children, some prefer older, considerate children, and some
don't get along with children at all. If you have very young children,
breeders may dissuade you from some breeds until the kids are older and
more able to handle the puppy properly. That applies to both very large,
pushy breeds that can dominate a child, to snappy breeds intolerant of
heavy hands, to tiny toy breeds that can be harmed by too rough play
with toddlers.
A lot of people who have
children at home decide to get a dog so the children can have a pet and
learn responsibility (or whatever). Remember that no matter how
responsible your child is, you will probably end up taking care of this
dog, and the breeder is trying to make sure that things work out.
Do you live in a house or
apartment? If an apartment, does the landlord allow dogs? Can you walk
the dog every day, in any weather?
Some breeds do
quite well in confined spaces, while others need room to stretch and
wander. Some dogs make lousy apartment dwellers, others can live happily
in a small studio the size of an elevator. Other dogs need lots of
exercise and someplace to run, necessitating a fenced yard. Is the puppy
going to be left alone for long periods? These are all things that the
breeder has to evaluate before deciding to sell you a puppy.
Many breeders require that
you have a fenced yard. This is not unreasonable for dogs who are
independent and like to chase birds and squirrels or need lots of
exercise and cannot be tied up.
A note on tying your dog -
many, many breeders will not sell you a puppy if your method of
restraining the dog is to tie it in your yard on a chain or rope. If
this is the method you intend to use, you might want to rethink your
choice to get a dog... dogs should not be tied or staked out all the
time.
Breeders will want to know if
you intend this to be an "outside" dog, and many will not consider
selling to you if you are. If you want a dog, why on earth would you get
a dog if you never intend to let it in the house? Dogs are pack animals
and need human interaction to be happy.
Do you have other pets?
Some breeds are naturally aggressive to other animals, including dogs
and cats, and some get along very well with all God's critters. The
breeder can give you an idea whether this breed will work for you, and
how to transition the new dog into your household.
Do you have a
fenced yard?
No dog should be left outside unattended, and no dog-aggressive
or guardian breed should be confined by only an
electronic fence.
These fences may keep the dog in
but they do not keep trespassing children or other aggressive dogs out.
What do you do for exercise?
High energy breeds need a brisk daily walk or jog of a mile or more to
satisfy their physical and psychological need for exercise.
Do you know the dog laws in your
community?
No responsible breeder wants to sell a puppy to a buyer who does
not plan to obey leash and confinement laws.
Do you plan to obedience train this puppy?
Do you intend to breed/show/train?
If you are
not intending to show this dog, you will probably be sold a puppy on the
condition that you spay or neuter it. If you are going to show, the
breeder is a fabulous source of information and can get you pointed in
the right direction. The breeder will also assess your ability to train
and control the dog, and your commitment to do so.
This is a crucial question
for breeders any breed of dog. An untrained dog can easily become a
domineering pet with severe behavior problems, or a nuisance to his
family. One of the biggest reasons dogs are returned to breeders or
put into shelters is because the OWNERS did not take the time to shape
them into well behaved member of the family. Training classes are as
necessary for the owner as for the new dog.
Are you aware of the costs
involved in grooming, veterinary care, including spaying and neutering,
purchasing a good quality dog food, boarding the dog when you are away,
annual license fees, etc.?
Bedlingtons are a groomed breed, and must be groomed about every six
weeks. If left unattended, their coat will mat, becoming uncomfortable
for the dog, unsightly to the owner, and a haven for fleas and other
pests. A dog is a long term financial commitment that goes well beyond
the initial purchase price. Can you afford it?
Are you aware that you are
taking on the responsibility of another living creature who will, for
the rest of its life, be dependent upon you?
If you can answer these
questions in a positive manner, you are a good prospect for one of the
breeder's puppies. Remember though, the really good breeders have a
sixth sense about people. They will scrutinize your behavior with their
dogs, the dogs' behavior with you, and the behavior and attitudes of
your children. If the children are rowdy and disobedient, chances are
your dog will be too, and the breeder may not want one of her dogs going
to your home.
After
reading this, feel free to email me with additional questions at
ashcrofterriers@gmail.com
Photos of my dogs can be seen in the Photo Gallery.
Places to get additional information about the breed are:
Bedlington Terrier Club of America
VetGen DNA typing for
CT markers
Read
the Breed Standard
Grooming the
Bedlington Terrier
