Buyer Beware

Available Puppies Buyer Beware Buyer Feedback 1 Buyer Feedback 2 Claire's Puppies (Available) Dames Diesel Repair Dusty's Pups (Sold) Home Horse For Sale (Gelding) Horse Trailer For Sale House For Sale My Breeding Experience On The Farm Our Breeding Practices Our Facilities Our Security System Penny's Puppies (Sold) POA Gelding 1 POA Gelding 2 Price List Quarter Pony Filly Shipping Options Sire (Chief) Sire (Ely) Tandy's Puppies (Available) Training A Working Dog 1 Training A Working Dog 2 Training A Working Dog 3 Wanted Working Dogs



Important things to consider when searching for a responsible breeder: 

1. Beware of "cash only" breeders. They likely will not give you a written health guarantee & if something goes wrong during or after the sale you have no proof you purchased a puppy from them. I hear of situations like this often. It is much safer for you, the buyer, to write a personal check so you have proof of your transaction with the breeder. Keep in mind that "cash only" breeders may sell their puppies for less, but if the puppy dies or becomes ill & needs vet care, you really didn't save any money. In addition, if the puppy dies, you may decide to purchase another puppy as a replacement & have to spend even more money.  

2. Don't buy from anyone who does not want you to come to their home & see how their dogs & puppies are kept & cared for. You should be invited to view all of the adults & puppies in the breeders care & see where & how they spend their day as well as where they sleep & their exercise area. The exception would be a dog or puppy that may be ill or under a veterinarian's care. 

3. And last, don't buy from anyone who does not have the puppies registration paperwork readily available at the time of purchase. "I'll get the paperwork to you" RARELY works out. If breeders are not responsible enough to apply for the registration paperwork well in advance to have it back in time to make the sale, they shouldn't be breeding.

What to expect when visiting a kennel: 

1. Cleanliness should be a priority. A good rule of thumb I like to use is, if I wouldn't take my shoes off & walk barefoot in the pens, then I need to have a better maintenance program. The only exception would be if you visit a kennel during inclement weather. Outside pens are expected to be wet & muddy during & after rain & snow as are outside dogs. Water tubs should be clear & free from visible algae. The only exception would be for a breed of dog that loves the water & is in the water constantly. Australian Shepherds are one of those breeds. I keep several 5 & 6 gallon hard plastic tubs with adequate fresh cool water at all times. My dogs are in the water constantly thus making the water murky at times. I empty & refill their water tubs at least 3 times daily in warm/hot weather. A good rule of thumb I use is, if I wouldn't cup my hand & get a drink of water from the tub that is offered to the dogs, my maintenance program needs improving.

2. Dogs that are kept in pens should have adequate room for exercise. A red flag would be dogs/puppies that are kept in cramped cages and/or stacked on top of each other. Dogs need sunshine & fresh air for adequate development & should not be confined to a cage.

3. If you buy from a breeder with any of the above mentioned faults in their program you are enabling them to continue to breed & sell their puppies. Don't get caught up in the "oh what a cute puppy" & buy him because you feel sorry for him.

4. Consider buying from a breeder who knows the breed standard not from someone who had a male or female & thought they needed to have a litter of pups to "settle them down".

How to locate a responsible breeder:

1. Many breeders sell from a referral basis. Buyers can participate in the same process. If you know of someone who already has the breed of dog you want to purchase, & had a good buying experience, ask them who/where they purchased the dog & contact them for available puppies.

2. The internet is a great tool for searching & locating responsilble breeders. Use good judgement if purchasing out of state & contact the breeders references. Request pictures of the parents, the entire litter, & pictures of puppies from previous litters, if available, from the sire & dam. 

3. Visit AKC & ASCA's websites, or other breed specific websites, for breeder referrals.

Responsibilities of visitors/prospective buyers:

1. It is important to know that adult dogs can be well socialized but not be accepting to strangers. Australian Shepherds are very social animals but some can become very protective of their people & property & may not appear well socialized to visitors. Mama dogs may also be more aggressive than normal if someone approaches their pen to view their puppies. It is best to ask the breeder to remove the puppy you want to hold or view more closely from the pen rather than just reach for him yourself.

2. Disease can be carried on your clothes & shoes. DO NOT visit more than one kennel without returning home to change clothes, shoes, & wash your hands thoroughly so you don't bring disease with you to a kennel. Be respectful of breeders who won't allow visitors until the puppies have had at least their first set of vaccinations. Do not expect to bring a dog you currently own with you to a kennel & be allowed to remove him/her from your vehicle.

3. Responsible breeders should offer a list of references. Be sure you contact at least a few of the previous buyers on the list to find out how the sale went.

What is a puppy mill? 

1. It is my opinion that a puppy mill is a word that defines how dogs & puppies are kept & cared for, or rather lack of care, not the number of dogs a person owns or how many litters of puppies produced per year. Just because a breeder has more than one litter at a time does not make him/her a puppy mill. Female dogs are no different than any other breed of animal. The adult females cycle in groups thus producing litters at the same time. You never look out in a pasture of cattle & see one baby calf or visit a horse farm & see one baby colt, one baby lamb, or kid, etc.

2. Questions to ask yourself when visiting would be: Would I drink from their water dish or walk barefoot in their pen? Does the breeder still have most of the puppies from the same litter at a year of age or older? Marketing is a HUGE part of placing puppies directly into their new homes. Breeders who don't market their puppies may have most of the litter leftover. Does the breeder sell to a broker or pet store to avoid their marketing responsibilities? How does the breeder handle the puppies? Does he/she show compassion & care towards the animals?