PRICING

BUYERS GUIDE

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1. Research the breed. Do your research and (books/articles) and then in actuality (meeting the dogs and their owners). Good places to look are akc.org, ddbsa.org/, and at dog shows to meet owners/breeders. Consider temperament, care and grooming needs, breed associated health risks, exercise needs, size, etc and how it fits with your lifestyle. Consider your commitment if you are ready to invest the time and finances to a new family member for 10+ years.

2. Define your specific interests and requirements. Are you looking for a pet companion or do you have interest to show or do working sport? 

3. Research breeders. When you "research" a breeder, again this should be done in theory (reading about them and reviews if available) AND in actuality (phone/meeting in person). 

• Puppy Mills. This is a commercial dog breeding facility. They breed dogs for profit. We associate this practice with filthy inhumane conditions which is what a lot of puppy mills are, but you may not realize that many clean and well kept "kennels" are actually "puppy mills." This is when there are many dogs, many litters, and sometimes many different breeds. There is little to no commitment and limited knowledge from the breeder. Depending on the price charged, these dogs could be very cheap or very expensive. The risk for future breaking your heart (behavioral and health conditions, early death) and breaking your bank (vet bills) are high. Please do not support this practice.

•  Backyard Breeders or BYB. This does not mean they literally breed or raise dogs in the backyard, but that they breed with little knowledge or qualifications for their program. If they are breeding for pets, for money, for a fun experience, etc they are practicing "backyard breeding." Although many BYB's have well intentions, the risk for future breaking your heart (behavioral and health conditions, early death) and breaking your bank (vet bills) are still very likely because they are breeding blind (without an actual knowledge of pedigree's health and longevity, the dog's genetic health, etc).

• Reputable Breeders. These types of breeders are incredibly dedicated and committed to the breed, to the dogs they produce, and to the owners of their puppies. They use the breed's written standard as a blueprint for what they produce. They are knowledgeable and willing to share that information with you. They are involved in show/working/breed appropriate venues because this is where we learn more and have our dog's structure/temperament/abilities qualified for possible future breeding. Their dogs are fully health tested and of appropriate age and condition to be bed. They carefully interview prospective buyers and a contract is provided for each puppy along with spay/neuter requirements and limited registration for pet homes. These dogs may cost more but because the breeder has invested so much into the quality of the breeding dogs and the quality and longevity in the bloodlines, is so dedicated in raising them well in the first critical 8+ weeks, and they follow up with you for life, then it is very likely to have a healthy happy experience. 

Some questions to consider: 
1. What is the overall goal of the breeder's program?
2. Are they knowledgeable and thorough about their bloodlines?
3. What is their experience in raising/breeding dogs and in the breed?
4. Are they active in show/working venue? Do they title their dogs?
5. Do they fully health test their dogs prior to breeding?
6. Are the dogs being bred at appropriate age and condition to be bred?
7. What environment are the dogs and puppies raised in? What temperament testing and socialization is done?
(Some breeder's raise their dog's like family and in the home. Others have too many dogs to keep in the house so they are in kennels or on rotation. The first 8 weeks of a puppy's life are critical for socialization and positive experiences acclimating them to the world. Early stimulation will produce a well adjusted puppy whereas puppies without those experiences are likely to be frightened, hesitant, and may never grow out of it.
8. Do they breed carefully thought out selective litters, usually limited occasion, or do they have puppies all the time? 
9. Read and discuss the contract for ownership. 
10. Do they provide you with instruction and commitment to answer your questions and help you along once you get your puppy? Do they care to receive future updates?
11. Overall do you get a good, trustworthy impression? Are they professional?
12. If you are unsure, is the breeder happy to provide references for you to contact?
13. Does the breeder thoroughly interview you, or are they more focused on a "sale?"
14. When you talk about price are they upfront with you and in an appropriate range? Pricing that is considerably high or low is a red flag.
15. Breeding for pets 
(A reputable breeder breeds for the betterment of the breed.  They breed according to the standard and for health and temperament. They will also be proving their dogs deserve to have their genetics passed on.  Showing and competing is costly and requires much time on the breeder's part. In every litter there will be puppies not to the standard enough for showing and these will be sold as pets. Breeding only for pets shows they have no interest in improving the breed. If a breeder is only breeding for pets, this does not excuse them of needing to do health tests and titling.)
16. Puppies always available (quantity over quality).
17. Multiple breeds and/or far too many dogs.
(Each breed requires so much knowledge and commitment from a reputable breeder, it would lessen the quality and be very difficult to manage many breeds. Some breeders specialize in just one, but it is reasonable for a breeder to do well in a couple breeds. Breeding many-several breeds is generally a red flag and could mean the breeder is acting as a "broker" - reselling dogs for profit.)
7. Guarantees
(No dog can be "guaranteed" of anything. But lots of breeders include "guarantees" including ourselves. Here's what you need to know - it does not mean the dog will not contract any of the issues the guarantee covers, if that is what the guarantee states then know it is impossible. What the guarantee really provides is peace of mind and commitment from the breeder that IF the dog does develop one of the listed issues, the breeder will compensate or assist somehow as the contract states - which is a good thing but not all breeders have it.) 
8. Lack of detail or interest in the dogs/breeding/questions you ask.
9. Lack of "screening" or qualifying in potential buyers. It shows they don't care.
10. No pedigree knowledge.
(This is a really simple test that can show you A LOT about the breeder. Just ask them what bloodlines their dogs have and to explain some details about the line/pedigrees. They should be able to tell you names, titles, longevity and health research, inheritance, and other notable information about the bloodlines they work with. If they don't even know the names or what the dogs are known for or where they come from - they don't know what they're breeding. Also no bloodline is "perfect." If they claim to have no issues ever in the history of the ancestors they are either misleading you or don't know enough. Steer clear.)
11. Website.
(This one can be interpreted differently and is a bit of my own opinion. Practically everything is done on the internet these days. A breeder should want to show off their dogs and share information to all. They should be an advocate for the breed and aim to educate. If a breeder has no website or the site is misleading/difficult to follow/poor quality - this COULD be a reflection of their program. Keep in mind that some breeders are just not as "tech savvy." Decide for yourself whether this is an important factor or not.)
12. "Salesy."
(The attitude and tone of the breeder will say a lot! Do you get a good vibe? If they are "salesy" this is a red flag. They should be concerned about the placement of their puppy and not about "making a sale." ) 

13. Select breeder and maintain contact. After careful consideration to the questions above and more, go with what you feel comfortable with. Fill out the necessary paperwork and pay your deposit when the puppy/litter that suits you is available. While you are waiting for your puppy, follow the steps in our PUPPY ULTURE to ensure you are prepared for your new family member. 

14. Enjoy your pup and follow up. Don't forget to thank and update the breeder! Raising puppies is hard work involving many sleepless nights and lots of puppy poo-poo. The real reward is hearing and seeing how successful and loved the offspring are in their placements. Also keep in mind that puppy phase can be challenging for the new owner, but just enjoy and love your pup and with proper training they will mature into a reliable adult in proper time.