Soundtrack

The "online puppy" thread has me wondering....

As someone who has been involved in breeding and showing for a long time, I have definite ideas about how and where one *should* look for a puppy. But conversations with friends, co-workers, and on the internet make it obvious that the "average" would be pet owner has a very different persepctive. I think it would be beneficial for breeders in general to understand this difference - sometimes it seems like there's a pretty wide gulf.

So wherever you obtained your dog, I'm wondering things like:
What made you choose that type of source (breeder, pet store, rescue etc)?
What made you choose that particular person/kennel/store/organization? What made you think they were a good choice? Their experience? Cute puppies? Good price? Convenience? Knowledge? or....?
Why did you pick that particular dog/puppy?
Would you go there again?
Feel free to elaborate.

This thread is not intended to be judgemental, I'm honestly interested in knowing what goes through a buyer's head when they're wanting to add a dog to their home. I think many breeders need to understand that what *we* think is important is not necessarily what *you* think is important.

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henry'smum

Hey there Soundtrack.
We where quite specific in what we where looking for this time. Our baby had to be a boy, the taller type of basset, hunting stock preferably with 2 working parents, house raised and lemon and white. Had to have very relaxed parents and be independent. [The independent thing usually rubs people up the wrong way as i am always told, a puppy is what you make it and that has always proved buncum to me as yes you can develop a personality but some are more independent naturally than others in my opinion]
We contacted a whole bunch of breeders that we respected and told them what we where looking for and asked their opinions. They where all very happy to give them. When we where given the number for a breeder we had heard of but did not know, we contacted them and talked for about an hour on the phone. We visited them, met the family, met both the parents and had individual play time with each, talked about why we wanted what we did, past basset experience and what we intended to do with our potential baby. We then met the pups, 3 lemons and a red. The lemons where all beautiful but the little red and white instantly became obviously our dog, fetched things, was outgoing but very quiet around Paul [Paul suffers from PTSD and our last basset was always terribly concerned when he was suffering and that was a bit too much for Paul to deal with]. So there was Henry. We talked for about another hour, left for the night so both parties could ensure we where right for the pup, then we collected him the next morning after another phone call. For the first month we probably spoke to the breeder once a week now its once a month with picture sharing as well.
We got Everything we wanted and i am sure it is because we had a specific idea of who we wanted to buy from and what we wanted. Also the time we spent discussing with the breeders our experiences etc was invaluable. I would not hesitate to buy from this person again. Hope that helps

bethrn

I realize that we took some risk in going with a breeder that I found on an internet search. But we couldn't be happier with Daisy. I knew that I did not want to buy from a pet store. I made numerous phone calls to different breeders in the central Ohio area. Only one "felt right" when I first spoke with her. Our first phone conversation went on for at least 30 minutes. She shared with me her experience, the set up of their home and kennel, history of their bassets, asked questions of our experience with animals in the home (shared the grief of losing our previous dachshund furbaby and my road to being ready to bring another into my heart.) She answered all my questions about the breed, health questions, etc. She emailed pictures of the previous litter while I was on the phone with her. At that time she had no little girls available but was anticipating there would be in July. So emails continued during the process of waiting. Our conversations and emails felt like I was talking with someone I had a connection with. (My friends at work teased me that they would have a puppy shower for me while we waited for Daisy's birth.) And yes, she was Daisy before we ever saw her. There was a convenience factor involved as I didn't want to travel far to find a puppy. I think I searched 100 mile radius. And the price was reasonable. But I again go back to that feeling of it "just felt right." Can't explain it. And the experience of deciding which little girl, it was all in Daisy's chubby little paws.They were all beautiful and I could have easily scooped them all up and brought them home. But she seemed to be the one that chose us with her actions and funny little personality. I have since emailed our breeder and sent her pictures and info of what Daisy had been doing since coming home with us. And she seemed very happy to hear from us. Would I go there again...absolutely.

Mikey T

I don't thing the convience factor as is a dog/puppy availavle when the buyer wants to purchase.

as an example when snuggy died from a eppileptiuc siezure for me the right thing to do because of the emptyness in the house was to replace her as soon as possible. the only basset available was from a "kennel mid state" they were a borading kennel that also sold dogs it was obvious from the numbers of differen breed and there was only 1 or two iof each that the kennel was a reselar of puppymill dogs but at the time it did not matter to me. FWIW that dog turn out to be the nutter-butt see avaitar Quite frankly the fact he was a mill dog har an adverse effect on him behavioral at least as for being a typical basset but at the same time the uniqueness led to him become a heart dog for me.

What is important with each dog is different and when you have time to plan impulse buying is less of an issue but the suddenness of the loss of a young dog is not something you can plan for.

Pilgrim Basset hould and other prue bred clubs in the bast have contributed to a 1-800 breed refferal number and adds in major papers so when someone calls the 800 number they are then reffered to the approbirate breed club rep which in theory is kept currant on available dogs from members of the breed club. It is a small way for reputable breeder to work together to solve the impulse buy problem they face.

MollyMcFrecklesMom

I chose a breeder as opposed to a pet store for obvious reasons. My last dog was a pet store dog and she was perfect, but I learned more about puppy mills and pet stores over the years and vowed to not go that route again. I chose to go to a breeder to get a young purebred puppy. I was not finding the young puppies at the time on rescue sites, at least not nearby. I was in deep mourning over the loss of my Zoey and was very anxious to get a healing puppy. I did find my breeder online and was only willing to purchase from them if I found them and their facility satisfactory.

That said, the breeder was fantastic. Healthy parents who were treated as pets and not puppy machines. Clean facilities and healthy puppies. I chose them for my second puppy Winston, too. They no longer breed their female, as she has developed skin allergies that require medication and she can't be on the meds and be pregnant/nursing.

What made me choose Molly? I was taken by her picture and when I showed all the puppies' pictures to my husband, he pointed her out right away. I thought we needed to meet this little girl. When we met her, all the other puppies ran outside to play and she stayed with us - sniffing, wagging her tail and winning our hearts. We were in love.

What made us choose Winston? We knew we wanted a male and there were only a few left in the litter. I chose Winston and when I met him, he growled the whole time I held him. I was in love with his sassy attitude. I still am. It just felt right to choose him.

I am still in touch with the breeder via Facebook and I keep them updated on Molly and Winston regularly - antics, pictures, etc.

Convenience did play a role - the breeder is an hour and a half from my house, so I picked out the puppies on one trip and went back out to pick them up when they were old enough. Would I use this breeder again? If they were still in the business of breeding, absolutely. Though, next time around I think I will adopt an adult dog. Puppyhood is so exhausting!

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Michelle - proudly owned by Molly (21 mos) and Winston (14 months).

Molly McFreckles' World:
The adventures of a Basset Hound living with Addison's Disease and a baby brother named Winston

Barney'spal

If I knew then what I know now, no, I definately would not buy another dog from this breeder? (backyard). I was also filling a void having just lost my beagle a month before. I went online to the nearest big city paper and saw an advertisement. Got hold of the owner and proceeded from there. She was selling them at 6 weeks, which at the time, I didn't know any better. She was 2 hours away and when I finally got down there, Barney was the only one left. I saw the father, but she gave me a song & dance about the mother. There was no health guarantee, questions asked of me, no requests for followups....all in all, just paid for the pup and left. Needless to say, I was very uninformed about what I should have done, but to be honest, I had a terrible need and doubt that I could have waited that going through the right process would have taken. If anyone reading this is thinking of buying a 6 week old pup......don't do it....many unnecessary problems.

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Properly trained, a man can be a dog's best friend.

eclairs mom

My decisions have been based upon 4 things:
#1 wanting to rescue
#2 wanting a certain breed between the age of 1 and 8 years old
#3 wanting a particular sex
#4 finding the right personality and tempremant to fit our family

The only adoption that diddnt fit that critera for us was Rufus. We had gone to see a potential Black Lab when we were looking for another goldie/lab. The lab was the wrong fit when we met at animal control, but my husband noticed a cocker in a pen who so wanted to meet us. We met and his personality and tempremant was us, plus we felt so bad that a great dog was on death row. He wasn't what we had intended, but he's awesome.

CatherineM

I picked a breeder who worked with the local basset rescue. She had 4 left to choose from. I picked the one that went right up to my husband. He has schizophrenia, and that can actually set a dog off for some reason. I wanted to make sure they'd be able to bond well.

barneysmom2510

I knew I wanted a puppy my husband and I have always loved bassets. I knew I would always go to a breeder when I started my search I checked mass and local states like new york. When I saw barney's picture I was in love. I was nervous to get a big dog because I am used to cuddly lap dogs so I was really looking for a cuddly puppy. I liked that I got to go to Barney's breeders kennel and mee the parents. I alos met the breeders famill. As soo as I held barney he rested his head on my shoulder and snuggled close and it was over from there. He has been the most loveable and friendly dog. I would have definietely traveled at least to new york if I had to. I would however would never have a dog flown to me I would have to see the dog and feel a connection with it and its personality. As soon as I held barney and interacted with him for the first time I knew he would be wonderful I also liked that the puppies were around 9 weeks when they became available Barney was almost 11 weeks when I got him and I swear it has made it easier than when they are 8 weeks.

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-LISA


Mini daschunds Sadie Lou & Daisy dukes
Chihuahua Lola
Bassett Hound Barney

Mandy&Simon

I got my Simon from the local humaine society. I was looking into breeders in the area to buy a pure breed basset, and then my father sent me an e-mail from the Ottawa humaine society with a little paragraph "from" Simon. I fell in love and had my mind set on adopting him. In hind sight i probably should have researched the breed and done some (ANY) homework. But I am glad i didnt because if i would have read about all the training issues and behavior problems maybe i wouldn't have him. And i love him so much. Not to mention i saved almost a thousand dollars adopting him rather than buying from a breeder. And it turns out he's a pure breed after all. WINNING!! lol