@jdhunt0 said in Can't wait to pick up my new pup.:
I went to see Odin today. The mother is AKC registered. The father is CKC, but was told both of his parents were AKC. The breeder is going to get the information to me. The parents have not been tested for Fanconi, but both of their parents were. I realize this may not be the "right" way to get a Basenji, but it is local, the breeder seems fairly knowledgeable, and loves her dogs. Plus the price is quite a bit less than what the going rate is it seems.
So you picked "Odin" for his name! Seems kinda Scandinavian but definitely fun. If all the grandparents were tested then that wouldn't be a big deal for me. YMMV. Loving their dogs, on the other hand, would be a big deal for me. There are so many things a breeder can/should be doing with the pups, and if they love their dogs there is a better chance of this happening. Again, IMO.
The price on the other hand raises some issues. For starters, I think pet owners focus way too much on the acquisition price. Over the course of the dog's life most will end up spending so much -- including replacing the carpets that get chewed -- that the initial price won't be consequential. Moreover, it costs a lot of money to breed and raise pups. My view is that if you want responsible people to breed you should pay more.
That said, plenty of great breeders sell their pups for less than a thousand dollars. Some for much less. In some cases it's just that they've been doing this for a long time and haven't raised their prices consistent with price increases. Others are more concerned with their dogs and aren't as focused on the money as they are on good placements. (Breeding dogs reminds me of Richard Branson's joke about how to become a millionaire -- start with a billion dollars and buy and airline.) The net result is that puppies are definitely not one of those things you can judge on the basis of price.
Hope Odin turns out to be as great a dog for you as he is cute, because he's plenty cute.
that show!
