Breeder Talk

I forgot to add: Do not buy a puppy from a pet store! I would only do it if the pup was older and was reduced in price significantly and you told the pet store manager/owner not to order/buy Basenjis again as they are not good sellers. If you do buy an older pup remember it will have significant issues especially socialization, house training and health. I have never bought a discounted B pup at a pet store although I almost bought/rescued a 6 month old Shiba Inu but by the time the weekend came he was no longer there and this was before I ever knew about dog auctions and Amish breeders. Jennifer

Oh vickilb that is just not nice !!! It is unfortunately oh so true !!!

Exactly– responsible small breeders will be shut down and puppymillers flourish if we don't.

@Callforcries: Yep we are going to the Windsor one! Can we just go and talk to people or is there a protocol for a champ show? Just come and find the B's and I am sure anyone would be very happy to show you their dogs and tell you all about them. The only time that could be tricky is if they are about to go into the ring. Your mum is right to worry about the vet bills, not wanting to put a damper on things but although Basenjis are on the whole a robust and healthy breed if you do your research and buy wisely but unexpected things can occur. I recently almost lost my pup and ended up with a vet bill that was well over ?1,000, he is of the opinion that if he can get it down his throat and swallow it it's edible, result was a blockage. Having said that this could apply to any dog.

old thread but figured rather than start a new one ? we picked up one of the new 2012 webmaster ruffwear harness for Hana and she loves it :) we let her wear it around the house a lot to get used to it and she does not seem to mind it one bit ? fits well does not seem to rub hair off like a collar can nice thing is easy on and easy off with the buckles we do camping so wanted a harness over the collar so its more comfy cause some parks require the dog to be leashed up all the time and figured she would like this better also going to get some boots and try them out ? not sure what brand yet but will try the ruffwear

I also noticed the same birthdates! Dogs born in January and sometimes December by a commercial breeder rarely go into the pet stores as there is little demand as they can no longer be Christmas or Valentine Day pups! Usually only if the breeder also sells online do the pups get sold to puppy buyers and not to other breeders. I am surprised that he kept so many possibly related dogs! My Arnie was born in early January 2001 and only two from the litter went to pet stores and one was returned so 5 out of 6 were sold at the auctions. I bought some females-10 months old in Fall 2002 who were sold at an auction because that year there was too many B pups and the dealers/brokers were not buying any so the breeder sold them at auction. Bambi's litter was born December 13 2006 and none of them-4 in the litter made it to a pet store and the breeder was also a dealer/broker so she could have sold them directly. Jennifer

While new generations may forgot the problems Basenjis have had with a well used stud, it is not likely that current breeders will. They may decide that they don't care and use that particular dog a lot, but I have not really seen that in recent years. I think that now that there are more options for people to consider there has been a larger more widely used group of stud dogs. And I know of dogs that unless there was the option of fresh or frozen, you would never be able to breed to that dog because many people do not want the hassle of keeping a bitch for the time needed for the cover. And I can well understand that…. Unless you really have the facilities to house a bitch in season (and a strange bitch at that), it is not something that would be at the top of my list to do. In fact, I would not...

I give a human Omega 3 EPA/DHA pill. It should state on the bottle that it is certified free of heavy metals like mercury. I am giving it to my boy who is 11 for immunity purposes. Jennifer

By the way, yes, dogs CAN get skin cancer.

No, I haven't put my name out there as someone looking for a puppy, but she found my personal email from somewhere… I have my FB page restricted, so I don't think it's there, and I've never heard of her before. Just wondered if she was contacting others from here, too. ???

Congrats. Can't wait to see pictures!

@vickayx: I'm glad I have to wait because it gives me enough time to prepare and be fully ready.. I like things to make sense You sound a lot like me. I loved the time I had to prepare (puppy proof) our place before Kipawa finally came to us forever. :)

@Chealsie508: I am a born skeptic and although I am not a breeder I would feel uncomfortable placing a puppy into a home when you 1: haven't been able to meet them or 2: haven't been "vetted" by someone you know. It is so easy for a breeder to sell a puppy on a spay/ neuter contract but hard to enforce once the puppy leaves you. People can make themselves seem like exactly what you want until they get what they want. I'm also not a breeder, but have friends who are. And I have seen this equation from the other side, twice as a puppy buyer (in both cases I visited, met the parents of the pups, had conversations with the breeders, etc.) and three times adopting older dogs. On one occasion the dog was shipped to me from Washington State…...but that was set up between the breeder in Washington who was looking for a home for a returned dog of hers and a breeder I had previously purchased a pup from, and who went with me to pick up the dog at the airport! I think it is best to have personal contact if you can, but you can get a fairly good "feel" for people by talking to them. Internet may work for an initial connection, but I would want telephone contact at the very least. I agree with Chealsie508 that "People can make themselves seem like exactly what you want until they get what they want." My close friend who breeds Pyrenees has had situations that seemed ideal turn out to be anything but, and on other occasions placements that she was a bit concerned about turned out to be just great. When in doubt, going with your instincts may work, but not always. No guarantees, and it is very difficult to enforce contracts once the dog is out of your hands. Once upon a time I thought I might sell a horse or two. Nope. Couldn't do it. Still got 'em, and they will die here. Glad I never bred my bitch! :)

Bob built ours - and I helped some! We used 4 x 8 sheets of plywood. The sides and the bottom are 4 x 4, the top is a frame with wire fencing so you can see in but mom can't jump out unless you leave it open. We cut a 'door opening' in one corner and attach a wire crate, then use a small piece of wood to create a low barrier that mom can step over, but pups can't quite get over until they're able to climb better. This is mom's hideaway from the babies. We put a pig rail up and also set up one corner with a low L shaped barrier to keep pups in one section until their eyes are open. We put linoleum flooring in, and as they get more mobile, add artificial grass for better footing. We actually have 2 boxes, one we made with hinges on the sides so it's easier to store and move (the solid one is really heavy - maybe casters/wheels on the bottom would help? I know I'm not describing this well, but at least you can visualize it a bit. When we set them up for this year, I'll try to get a couple of pics and post them. We use a heat lamp for the first few weeks - on a tripod, so it can be adjusted easier. Pups are well protected from drafts and curious Basenji house mates, and I can climb in with them! Aaah, puppy breath! Terry

Thank you everyone! It is all so helpful! :) Ill be sure to keep everything in mind when i get things ready and also when i head out and get there. Thanks Len ill make sure to tell them im a first timer.

With the bad economy, more BYB and commercial breeders are being stuck with older pups. I do not believe all of his relatives would want pups. I assume the majority of them would wind up at shelters as I am sure he would not take them back and take care of them. What an idiot! Does anyone know where he obtained his female or the pedigree-would like to know if she has Fanconi in her background-since he probably has not tested her? Jennifer

Thank you Linda, for a very thoughtful post. While I've never met anyone from this forum, I quite agree that people can change for the better. Like basenjis, sometimes we need to take the time and lick our fellow basenji's wounds… Actions speak louder than words, but basenjis roos are much better. :)

Thanks Voodoo for the important reminder on the clothes! Not alot of people know that! :) What do you/anyone recommend one wears to a dog show to show in?