Okay, I have been searching night and day recently as many of you know for a good chow breeder. I have narrowed my results down to two.........(Also, remember, I am not looking for a show dog, just a family pet)
Chow breeder Number 1: http://www.dmfarms.com This breeder is more of a hobby breeder. They have some pretty dogs and I have gotten references from buyers from them. They do not show currently but they are hoping after they retire to. They have been very helpful and very friendly. There puppies are about $650 for what I am looking at and that seems to be about average. However, they live around a four day drive away. There dogs are not OFA certified and they typically give a 90 day guarantee against any genetic defects, however, I have asked if they would extend that into a 2 year guarantee and they said not a problem. They say they have never had anyone ever come back and tell them that one of the puppies that they have whelped has ever had a genetic defect. (i.e. entropian, hip dysplacia, etc.)
Chow Breeder Number 2: http://www.threebearschowchows.com/ This breeder is a show breeder. They have also some nice dogs, although only one female of the color that I am looking for. They do show all of there dogs (with the exception of one and he is fixed) They are also very helpful and friendly. They charge about $1500 for a show puppy and a little less for a pet quality. They say that price is negotiable on a pet quality home, a good home is not. They have their dogs OFA and CERF certified. I am still waiting for a reply about their guarantee on health and genetic issues. They only live about 4 hours away.
As much as I do not like the idea, the main reason I am having difficulty choosing is price. We take really good care of our animals when they are here but this will be the most expensive dog I have ever bought, even at $650 but I am kind of hesitant to spend over $1000 on a dog. Plus I am not sure I could convince my husband to! lol What would you do? or What should I do?
I would have to say it depends on how comfortable you are with the breeder you are going through. I did some reasearch on Frenchies before we got Lola and thought the perosn I was buying her from was the breeder...WRONG, she was the broker. Lola cost us around 1700 and if I remember right that's on the low end. It might be a little cheaper had we just gone straight through a breeder from the Ukraine, but in the states we were looking at 1700 up to 2500 or more!!!
If I know that is the dog I want and everything checks out, I dont have a problem spending the money to get the dog of our dreams. If you dont have the money right then, you pick your breeder and save until you have the money for the dog you want. Besides they may not have the color or sex you want in the litter you hope to get, so it gives you more time to spend the money on a quality dog. (not that good quality dogs are always expensive)
Mostly though I say it depends on your comfort zone.
I'm not sure on this one. But I like the 2nd breeder better and that is mainly because of the OFA and CERF. I think if I had the money I would spend up to 2500 on a Great Dane and that only because I love the breed.
If price is an issue when a puppy buyer calls me, I tell them to go to the rescue or shelter, that they are not who I'm looking for. I have been known to hang up on people that start talking about price. Told you I have issues
Well, I understand completely about that. Money is not an issue as far as if I have it. I do. I just am trying to decide how much money I want to spend on a pet quality dog. I really am not complaining about the price, I am just trying to figure out if one breeder is going to be better then the other. I am almost 100% positive I am going to go with the one that does both eye and hip testing (just have to wait for their response on guarantee) Although price is not a real issue in choosing, it still is alot of money to spend. I am not one that would negotiate price after I choose the breeder. I think it is kind of insulting to do so. JMO.
I am thinking that the other criteria of the one closer to me just out weighs the price difference. I am far more concerned with getting a healthy puppy and one free of genetic defects then paying a cheaper price and having something happen later on. I know I am sounding ignorant and naive but this is the first chow I have bought from a breeder. I have only bought Poms before. The rest of my animals were rescues. And I have learned alot from being on these pet forums in learning that I had bought some of my poms from less then great breeders even though I tried to be a good breeder myself, I failed in the aspect that I didn't start out with very good breeding stock. I am not into breeding anymore but rather am very into getting my dog (and future dog) into competition obedience trials. But as for trying to find an excellent breeder, that is what I am trying to do. It really isn't about price but it is something that I have to take into consideration as well. I definitely cannot pay over $2000 for a dog. (Hubby wouldn't fly for that one! lol) Thanks for your help.
My opinion is that I would go with breeder #2. They say $1500 for show quality & a little less for pet quality and that that price is negotiable if they feel it would be going to a good home. They would probably be more than happy to come down to somewhere in the $1000 range which is only about $350 more than the other breeder who doesn't do any testing. I guess it comes down to whether or not you think $350 is worth the testing they have done to try to assure you that you are getting a healthy pup.
If I were buying the pup, I would see if I could get one that is both show and breeding quality, price would not be considered, unless it were obviously out of the norm for what you are buying. If they verbally agree to see the animal through, guarantee wise, as breeding quality they should give you a replacement pup if it comes up with hereditary defects. This would make it worth the double puppy price. I do not guarantee dogs for breeding, as I am not interested in giving that strong a guarantee to anyone. You should not expect more than a second pup in a guarantee [that is all I offer]. You should expect no money towards operations, and expenses, unless they would rather give you cash, than a second dog. If a pup is defective, from a breeding point of view, it should be destroyed and replaced, although whether they actually want the dog back to destroy, should be their option. Because 75% of what causes dysplacia is diet and enviornment, and the breeder cannot control what you feed, or how you exercise your dog, it is asking for a lot to expect them to happily produce cash for a puppy buyer that in all likelihood has trashed the dog they bought, themself... Guarantee for show quality is even less likely to happen. A show Champion is roughly one dog in 10,000. One that looks good as a pup often "falls apart" and reveals different flaws when it is grown. By pronouncing yourself merely a pet quality dog buyer, you are setting yourself up for the least guarantee. Regardless of many flaws, a dog can still be a good pet...it rather indicates that you don't expect much [and you likely won't get much, either]... I always pay more attention to people that are looking for a better quality dog. If they "just wanna pet" they are just another puppy buyer, when one goes out the door, another one comes in to replace it. A person with a keen eye to breed standard and with a future interest in the dog, other than having a breathing throwrug for the living room, will get my utmost attention and honest detailed critique of each pup's high and low points. With a pet buyer, they are on their own, because I figure they don't know what they are looking at, anyway. Oh, and by declaring that you are merely a pet buyer, you will not get a break in the price, unless I have a dog with a noticable defect. The price is then based on the defect, in full disclosure, in writing, not in what you want to do with the dog...
Okay so would a better way to word it be that I am not interested in showing or breeding this dog. I honestly do not care if there is a price discount or not. I have no interest as of this time in my life in showing a dog, when my kids are older, then yes I probably would like to get into it then, and breeding I have no interest at this time. I do know the breed standard and to be honest I do not like some of the looks of the champion chows. I honestly am more concerned with health and temperment more then anything else or I would try the shelter again. I do "just wanna dog" but I want a specific dog and I want one that is healthy or at least has a better chance of not already having a genetic defect or disorder. I also expect to do alot with my dog, like I mentioned, I am hoping to get into obedience trials as well as work on therapy training for my dogs. Koda is well on his way and that is what I am hoping to achieve with my next puppy. So I am not sure if that takes me out of the "just wanna dog" catagory.
I think anything that you put forth like that to the breeder will indicate above average interest for a dog owner, and that is good. I was more or less putting all that out to indicate how a serious hobby breeder looks at people that buy dogs, although there are lots of us...some more, some less, accomodating in terms of how the dog is guaranteed. I was rather shocked in the guarantee that my mom gave with her pups. It indicated more trust on her part, of the people that bought the dogs. Me, I don't trust or believe anyone, so I am a bit tougher to deal with. I have known some folks that refuse to give any guarantee at all. Mine comprises 3 pages, and is read to, and explained in detail to, each buyer. State laws require certain things in CA... The more interest buyers have in dogs, the more interest I have in getting them as an owner of my pups.
just remember that just because the parents are ofa and cerf, does not guarentee that the puppies will be free of defects. you are paying the price of a show puppy, with no intentions on showing. doesnt make sense to me. i paid 1900 for my french bulldog male because that is the average going price of the breed. if 600 is the average price of a pup, i wouldnt pay alot more than that unless you are planning to show.
