While my next puppy is a little ways off, I do have lots of training plans and a breeder in mind. I have decided to go with a Rat Terrier for many reasons, but mainly because I want a smaller dog I can lift and that is easier to travel with. I’ve already been purchasing some smaller stuff 🙂
I don’t plan to get a pup till after Dazzle has passed and while he will officially be 17.5 yrs old on Dec 31st, and he’s still enjoying life, I know his transition is not far off. 😦 I’d like a while with Voodoo as a single dog as well, but I know he will enjoy a new playmate and I don’t want him to be too old to enjoy the new pup! I never expected him to be 10 when he would become an only dog! He and Dazzle are great buddies, and I know he will need some time, just as I will, to adjust to life after Dazzle. But still, I plan 🙂
MY QUESTIONS FOR THE BREEDER:
If you get these questions from me, know that I have done my research on the Rat Terrier breed, your website and on facebook and feel that you have what I am looking for in my next dog. I have submitted an application and pretty much made up my mind that you are my next dog’s breeder. But I want to confirm that what I read on your site is still the most up to date info and that there aren’t any ‘deal breakers’ (noted below) that would force me to look elsewhere. When we chat, we can talk about any of the following things that I couldn’t find answers to on your website/facebook page, but I think most have been answered. I created this collection of questions so I would remember all the things I wanted to know 🙂
1. Can you verify if you test for the following things:
– -Hips
– -Elbows
– -Patella
– -Eyes
– -Heart, DCM, other
– -vonWillebrand
– -Thyroid
– -Legg-Perth
– -PRA
-Other?
2. Have your dogs (breeding stock or off spring) had any issues with epilepsy, diabetes, urinary stones, cancer, skin problems, allergies, frequent ear infections, or other health issues?
3. I selected you as a potential breeder of my next pup because I heard and saw online that you raise pups in your home and use an enrichment program like Puppy Culture, Avidog, Etc.) If this is not the case, please let me know and you don’t have to answer any additional questions.
4. Which of the following early training do you do with all litters?
– – ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation)
– -crate training
– -potty training
– -Acceptance of separation from litter mates/mom
– -Manding/self-control
– -Intro to weather if possible (rain, snow, thunder, etc.)
– -Intro to dog sports (scentwork oils, tunnels/planks/platforms, etc.)
– -Purposeful intro to novel sights/sounds/surfaces/objects
– -Meet and greets with different people (men, women, kids, etc)
– -Intro to other animals (cats, house pet critters, other breeds of dogs, farm animals, etc.
5. Do you pick the names the puppies will be registered with or does the buyer pick the registered and/or call name?
If I don’t get to name my pup, you don’t need to answer any further questions. I have an extensive list of potential names/registered names and would be fine with you picking a name from that list if you are open to that. Of course it would include your kennel name and can include a certain word or letter or theme.
6. Do you do any temperament testing or 3rd party structure assessment of the pups at 8 weeks old before the new homes are determined?
Do you share stacked photos of the pups at 8 weeks?
7. At what age do you send your pups to their new homes?
8. How long have you been breeding?
Have you bred (or do you currently breed) any other breeds?
9. If it’s not specified on your website- what are your goals for your breeding program?
10. How much emphasis do you place on the following when selecting a breeding pair?
Temperament
Structure
Health tests results
Breeding Coefficient
Height/Weight
Coat/colors
Titles/abilities
Registration
Other-
11. Are you open to discussing faults and issues your dogs have (no dog is perfect) and how you address those with the mate you select? Particularly regarding any pairing I might get a pup from.
Do you consider yourself open about sharing your dogs & pups faults/issues as they arise?
12. What titles do you like to put or have on your breeding dogs?
13. How many litters do you tend to have per year?
14. Is breeding your full-time focus/job?
15. Do you seek out education opportunities to improve your program (seminars, workshops, books, conferences, classes, etc.)?
16. Do you select the pups based on the applications/needs of each buyer – –
If the buyer is expected to pick their puppy, why do you feel that’s best?
Do you have an order in which the pups get selected/matched with their new homes?
17. What registration do your pups come with (AKC, UKC, etc.)?
18. – -Do you share pictures and videos of the litter with the buyers as the pups grow?
– – Do you have a facebook or other group for puppy buyers to talk about and share their pups photos/videos/progress?
19- Specific to the parents of my next pup-
a) How sensitive are they? Do they have a negative reaction, overly dramatic reaction, or bounce right back after surprises and/or accidental pain (like stepping on something pokey, accidentally getting hit with a toy, accidentally getting bumped by a door, etc.)
b) How in-tune are they with their humans? (Ex: Do they get upset when person gets upset/mad/worried or do they try to comfort?)
b) Any sound sensitivities? (sudden loud noises, thunder/rumbling noises, yelling, whistles, beeping, stuff being dropped, etc.)
d) Any environmental sensitivities? (for example: going out in certain weather, being touched in a certain spot, being lifted/carried, car rides, wearing a harness, etc.)
e) Any odd or fun quirks? (always sleeping with 1 leg in the air, has to always carry something in mouth, takes each piece of food away from the bowl to eat it, etc.)
WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR IN MY NEXT PUP:
Attributes of my ideal dog (I know there will be compromises):
Gender: Male only (won’t be neutered till 24 mo. at earliest, if at all, but NO breeding). I have only ever had male dogs.
Weight: Lean, athletic and under 30 lbs. I’m getting older and want a dog I can easily lift.
Height: 13”- 20″
Coat: short without super excessive shedding is the ideal. Shedding is definitely not a deal breaker. My Malinois sheds like a Husky! LOL
Color: black or other dark color preferred. I’m leaning hard toward tri-color with a lot of black as my top choice if that happens to be on the ideal pup for me.
Temperament: Smart, athletic, versatile, strong desire to please, bold/”fearless”, highly food and toy motivated
Health: Sire/dam health tested every way possible. Minimum: testing for everything major and genetically passed on for the breed. No major illness/issues in parents or grandparents. Exceptional longevity in the lines is a nice bonus. Prefer no history of food allergies or lack of food ‘drive’.
Perfect structure. I know that’s a unicorn, but this is my ideal pup. And I’d want as close to that as possible. Preferably lovely angles in both front and rear with unturned legs (no cow hocks, elbows sticking out, etc.). As close to a perfect length back (for the dog’s structure) as possible. A website that has good stacked photos of the parents showing their structure is great.
Learning program: Breeder experienced in raising the pups with a +R learning program: ENS, Puppy Culture, Avidog, etc. And an experienced breeder that pours their heart and soul into producing the best puppies possible and is always looking to learn more about puppy raising, their breed, dog training, etc. Raising the pups should include potty training, crate training, socialization to many different sights/sounds/smells, etc., and LOTS of handling. And be raised in-home, pups kept with mom and siblings to at least 8 weeks old. Bonus if the breeder shares videos of all this for each litter.
Motivators: Strong food and toy motivation, no allergies. Sire/Dam that are picky eaters or that have food or fear issues need not apply. Both parents should also not have any allergies or be prone to ear/skin issues.
Purposeful breeding. Breeder should have a purpose for each pairing and be able to articulate that. They should know what they expect from the litter (temperament, size, structure, color, etc.). Bonus if that is shared on their website along with info about both parent’s health testing, temperament, height/weight, titles, etc. Conformation, obedience/rally/freestyle, agility, scent related, and flyball titles are preferred, but other more instinctual sports/temperament tests are good too. Breeder needs to be good at predicting their pups attributes and selecting the perfect pup for each home. The breeder should know each pups temperament, conformation, and potential as well as it’s faults. And be open about discussing their dogs/pups faults and/or issues.
Repeat breeding. I know dogs aren’t cookie cutter producers anymore than people are, but seeing what a particular pairing can produce and feeling that the success of their off-spring warrants a second litter is nice. Breeder should be able to articulate WHY they feel the repeat breeding is a good idea.
Quiet. I’m not a fan of dogs that bark just because they seem to love to hear their own voice. I certainly don’t expect silence, but also not looking for a dog that barks ALL the time. I can shape this with training if needed, (Voodoo loves to bark when excited) so it’s not a deal breaker if everything else looks good.
Off switch. Nice to have. I’m used to very high energy, high endurance dogs (Cattle Dogs, Malinois, Field Lab, etc.) but it is nice to have a dog that can settle without many hours/years of training to get that. 🙂 My Lab has that naturally and at first (after several years with my Malinois) I thought he was ill when he wasn’t constantly moving or sound asleep!
Breeder: A breeder that wants the very best homes for their pups, that does their best to select the perfect pup (as much as is possible) for each home, homes that will offer love and training and adventure along with excellent food and health care. That wants updates, photos and videos of how the pup is doing and is available to answer questions if needed.
Raising a Genius Puppy 