Re: [pyrnet] Choosing a show puppy for beginners

[JGentzel@aol.com]

I sent this yesterday, but it was returned.  I am trying again.

You are asking the right questions, but the answers are not so simple.  You 
have to study and understand your breeder.  How do you do that?  That's the 
really hard part.  

Selling puppies is a lot of marketing, like anything else.  Some people 
market themselves and their puppies much better than others and this has 
nothing to do with getting good puppies.  So in the end, it comes back to you 
and your homework.  Take your time.  Read books and magazines.  Ask questions 
like you have here.   Listen with your mind, not your heart.  Never go look 
at puppies unless you are really sure (fairly sure) you want one from that 
breeder.  Puppies of any breeding totally disarm the most hardened of us.  
Once you have picked your breeder, be prepared to wait for what you want.  
Most people who call me want a puppy now and that is their criteria.  I 
always tell them if they have called me when the last litter was 7 or 8 weeks 
old I might have a puppy for them, but that was 7 months ago.  So everything 
is relative.  Good breeders do not want this type puppy buyer anyway as these 
puppies are very likely to end up in rescue.  Also any breeder should be 
ready to take your puppy back at anytime for any reason, without really 
asking any questions.  Ask your  breeder about health problems.  All breeding 
dogs should have their hips X-rayed and graded a passing grade by some 
acceptable organization like OFA.  They should also be clear of knee 
problems, shoulder problems, and their eyes now need to be checked for 
Cataracts and PRA.  Ask about incidence of Dwarfs in the lines including 
brothers, sisters, grandparents, etc.  Ask about epilepsy in any of their 
dogs, and especially any dog related to the puppies.  Visit the kennels and 
judge temperament.  Nervous, shy, or aggressive dogs should not be on your 
list.  

Ask them to show what is wrong with their dogs.  There is something wrong 
with every dog.  If they cannot show you anything, they are probably not 
being real candid with you or are "kennel blind".  Look for healthy sound 
dogs whose parents and siblings are same, but also look for dogs that have an 
elegance about them.  If they remind you of St. Bernard's or Newfoundland's, 
this dog is probably not a real typey Pyr. Look for large dogs, but not 
necessarily heavy dogs with really large impressive bone.  Don't worry too 
much about color.  Take the best you are offered once you have your breeder 
picked out.  

 The most professional appearing and sounding breeder can be the worst 
breeder, so it comes back to you gaining some understanding of what is 
correct in the breed.  Price does not necessarily mean anything about 
quality.  Remember marketing.  Your better marketers will be more successful 
and aggressive on price.  Do not get trapped into thinking if X breeder wants 
1.5 or 2 thousand for a puppy and Y breeder only wants 1 or 1.2 thousand for 
that top show prospect the more expensive might be better.  Not necessarily 
true.  

Good luck, this is very hard for anyone. 

Joe