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Selecting a Havanese Breeder

General Guidelines on Breeder Selection

Selecting a breeder should be the number one factor in selecting a puppy. There are some important fundamental reasons. First all breeders are NOT alike. Breeding quality dogs is a time intensive and expensive endeavor. There are many factors which go into a quality puppy and several are discussed here. There is additional information concerning breeders on the T-Wags Havanese site, and T-Wags will be used as an example in this discussion.

The most common problem that puppy shoppers do is put price first, that should be last. There is a simple reason for this fact, in that high end quality breeders prices are normally within a price range that is fairly narrow among quality breeders. When you find “bargain puppies” you are going to get just that, and you will regret that decision as the dog matures. Genetics and how the pups are raised have a DIRECT impact on the health of the dog over their life-span. This is a fact that any veterinarian will attest to.

Havanese, like virtually all dog breeds have genetic fault tendencies. Thus the first set of factors a quality breeder will do is to research and check lines. This is a challenge in the Havanese breed as the original breed stock came from a very few lines. Breeders over the past decade have been expanding the lines, but not all lines have developed well in terms of genetics. Thus quality breeders monitor and watch breeding stock carefully for genetic fault tendencies. Quality breeders will remove breeding stock from their kennel when faults show up in any offspring. Thus the decision to retire either a bitch or a stud impacts the operational cost of the kennel, and in effect are losses. This is especially true when any of the stock has been championed, and thus all those costs associated with obtaining the championship are in effect now "down the drain."

A quality Havanese breeder will do extensive health testing on each dog in the breeding stock. Most of these tests are annual and must be conducted by veterinary specialists. These tests directly impact the breeding costs, yet they are critical to monitor the breeding stock to ensure that the breeding stock is as sound and healthy as possible. This testing quickly runs up in the thousands of dollars for a breeder who adheres to all the testing recommended for this breed.

The quality breeder will not over breed the bitches. This is a very common practice in the dog world, and a terrible fact in puppy mill operations. Having litters is very hard on the bitches. Bitches should be given time off between litters and not be bred back-to-back year in and year out. Yet this commonly happens in many kennel operations. This also has a direct impact on the quality and health of the puppies in the litters.

Food selection in the kennel is important as not all dog foods are alike and many are simply awful. Once again you get what you pay for in dog food. T-Wags uses several foods. A special food developed by Royal Canin is used during the pregnancy up to 45 days of whelping. This is a food that has been developed especially for the health of the bitch and puppies during pregnancy. Once whelped, the puppies at T-Wags are given special food developed by Royal Canin for the small breed at different age levels. This is supplemented by Esbilac (by PetAg) which is a special formula to help ensure that the puppies are getting well balanced nutrition during this critical developmental period.

At T-Wags, all the dogs are fed high end food and given daily vitamin supplements, except the bitches during pregnancy. T-Wag uses Pet-Tabs Plus and also supplements the food with glucosamine for healthy joints and hips. This all adds cost to the breeding program.

Quality breeders will have a code of ethics and define their breeding program. T-Wags for example posts the kennel standards on the web site and adheres to the standards. Quality breeders will be members of the local and national breed associations, but realize that enforcing the standards by the clubs is very difficult for the clubs. These affiliations do not in themselves represent guarantees of important breeding factors.

Breeders face many costs associated with raising puppies. Necessary veterinarian care for all the dogs in a breeder operation is critical and these days expensive for breeders who have several dogs for breeding purposes. The breeder faces other costs when delivery of puppies necessitates veterinarian assistance when for example a bitch needs a C-section due to complications such as a breached puppy. Add to this yearly immunizations, puppy shots, and normal care such as teeth cleaning and dental care. There are many additional costs, here are just a few as examples: litter registrations, crates for sleeping, puppy pens, bedding, toys, chew toys, treats, a cabinet full of veterinary items ranging from Panacur, and Ablon to doggie aspirin. These represent the many items that a breeder needs for the on-going care and health of the dogs and puppies.

Quality breeders will champion some or all of their breeding stock. This is a very expensive endeavor. Thus costs associated with championing bitches and a stud adds to the breeding program costs. Because all costs associated with showing dogs has risen championing dogs in the breeding stock is more selective than it was in the past for many breeders. This is especially true these days as all the costs associated with breeding quality puppies has risen dramatically. The hidden reality is that champion dogs and championship lines by themselves are only ONE part of a quality breeding program. A puppy buyer needs to look beyond any championship factors.

It is interesting that no matter what dog breed one is looking at, you will find quality breeders talking about these same issues discussed here. The simple reason is that quality breeders work very hard to raise quality puppies that will live long and healthy lives. In every breed there are the quality breeders, the backyard breeders and the puppy mills. And much too often it is difficult for the buyer to sort out the difference. Also often those looking for a puppy in any breed “fall in love with a puppy” and forget both common sense and reason. Do your homework if you are looking for a puppy. There is additional discussion of selecting a breeder at the T-Wags Havanese site.

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Critical Rules for Breeder Selection
and Breeder Schemes

Selecting a breeder is important, but it is YOUR responsibility. Take a bit of time, and do your homework.

First, quality responsible breeders do extensive health testing, most of it on an annual basis. You want complete and thorough and up to date health testing of both parents, not just CERF or partial testing. Require documentation and keep in mind this veterinarian testing is expensive. The Havanese Club of America lists the tests they recommend for this breed. Quality breeders do this testing.

Second, check breeder references, quality breeders have associations with other breeding professionals, they should list them and you should check them. If they don’t list any, ask for them.

Third, request puppy owner references. Talk or email owners of dogs from that breeder. They will not only provide information on the quality of their pet, but provide insights on their experience with the breeder.

Fourth, check and verify professional affiliations.

Fifth, be aware of the new hybrid form of "bait and switch" and "pyramid type deals."

Bait and Switch: These include rather clever schemes where a breeder will try to hook puppy buyers into showing the puppy they buy. This will be for a discounted price or telling a buyer that the puppy they select is a show quality dog and "will sell it only as a show dog." Part of this "deal" is that they must finish the dog. (Finish the dog means one must get the dog’s championship. Gaining a championship for a dog is an expensive proposition.) The hype often includes "this will be fun to do." If you want to show and breed dogs, most people do this after some careful thought. Breeding and showing dogs is both expensive and time consuming. But these "deals" are often done in the frenzy of the buying decision, and not thought through by the buyer.

Pyramid: Some of these "deals" include requirements of raising litters of puppies, which then turns the innocent buyer into a breeder as well, with all those chores, challenges, headaches and expenses. In these "pyramid" deals the selling breeder requires one or multiple litters and then gets pick, or multiple picks, of the litters. The breeder from whom the dog was purchased will then turn around and sell those pick puppies for their profit. Since the picks of the litter are gone, and if the litter size is small, these schemes can become additional nightmares and money pits for the people who have become ensnared in these schemes. Remember too that it is possible that one can lose a female in the whelping process and hence these deals can turn into sad tragedies. Perhaps clever and innovative schemes by unscrupulous breeders, however certainly questionable ethical practices in the opinion of most reputable breeders. If you want to breed and show dogs decide this in advance of your Havanese puppy shopping.

There are also iron clad contracts associated with these bait and switch and pyramid schemes. Once contracts are signed there is no way out, except with your money, time and headaches. The bottom line of this bait and switch is that the innocent puppy buyer has been bamboozled into finishing dogs that bear the name of the breeder who sold the dog. In reality the buyer is now marketing the kennel name of the seller.

Sixth, look at the genetic lines of the dogs and understand what AKC registration means. AKC is simply a registry. It is important, however it does not focus on critical health issues in breeds. This is normally the role of the national clubs such as the Havanese Club of America which lists health testing that quality breeders should do.

Seventh, beware of "Backyard Breeders and Puppy Mills" and gossip. With backyard breeders and puppy mills that spells trouble for you. If a breeder starts badmouthing another breeder check any negative allegations and determine if they are facts or merely statements intended to get you to buy a puppy from them. If another breeder corroborates the negative information you have reason for concern.

Health Certificates: Most states require puppies be sold with a health certificate from a veterinarian. Don’t fall for the line that you don’t need a health certificate. These are linked to state laws that protect YOU the consumer.

More on puppy scams at this link:
http://bullmarketfrogs.com/blog/?p=598

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