Hestekin

[wrx227wrc]

Hello-

We have been looking at adding another puppy to our family and have come across Hestekin Kennels, in Eau Claire, WI. What do you guys think about their dogs? Does anyone own one of her puppies?

As always, thanks for the input!

-The McAskins

[wrx227wrc]

Excuse my lack of research before posting previously. It appears on the OFA site that some of her dogs are fanconi affected. Does anyone else have any experience with her?

[tanza]

My personal opinion… I would look for a more responsible breeder

Please visit http://www.basenji.org/learn/ScreeningBreeders.htm to learn how to find a responsible breeder

[bellabasenji]

Simply said… please do more research and reconsider!

[wrx227wrc]

I should have read more! Silly me.

[tanza]

Not Silly… .... but there are better breeders out there.. IMO... but you might have to wait till Fall breeding season.. this is a great time to contact breeders, visit, talk to them... and then decide on one that you really like.. and get on their reservation list. And like you have already done... do the research... on health testing...

[bellabasenji]

It's OK, you can start by taking a look at the BCOA breeders list:

http://www.basenji.org/Index.htm

[wrx227wrc]

I have looked at that list and will stick to it. Thanks guys!

[Quercus]

Where in MI are you? We may be planning a litter for next year; the bitch I am thinking of breeding will be five…so it is kind do it in the next couple years or don't do it at all.

Kelli, also here on the BForums may be planning a litter next year.

[Nemo]

There is a concentration of basenji breeders around the Milwaukee/Chicago area if you are on that side of MI or the UP.

[wrx227wrc]

We were considering getting a strictly pet quality puppy now if we found one that was within our budget and from a responsible breeder (probably not going to happen, but I am hopeful). I know how you guys feel about the financial being a consideration, but for us it is. The timing is perfect for us right now as my husband is out of work and home to potty train. Things financially will be just fine when I finish my degree next year, but spending $1000 on a dog right now is not realistic. Nor do I know if we could ever really stomach that.

We would really like to get a rescue but with Piggy being such a dominant female I don't know how that will work. She tends to be fine with puppies but not older dogs and definitely not females.

Quercus, we are in Grand Rapids. We may be in the market next season and I will certainly keep you and Kelli in mind.

[wrx227wrc]

Andrea, who are you breeding?

[kiroja]

Would that be Luna Andrea?

I would like to try to have a litter this year too. But I will have to see how things play out, it may not be feasable.

I would have to agree with Pat, keep searching and doing your homework. And I know that prices seem high, but in most cases you will save a lot more than the purchase price of a dog from heartache and vet bills when getting a dog from someone who doesn't put the same work into the quality, temperament, and health of the dogs they produce. You know the old saying, "you get what you pay for". I can totally relate to doing dogs on a budget! And keep in mind, that responsible breeders aren't making any money with those prices. All that and then some have gone into the health, care, and socialization of the puppies and parent(s) and all the general costs of raising babies. Those that do make money with those prices or lower ones are doing so because they have cut a lot of corners that could be very detrimental to your new family member.

From where you are, there's probably nobody in the surrounding area that you would want to look at breeder wise, but a fair travel gives you some great people in OH, IN, IL, or even South WI. There are a few nice MI people but no one that breeds regularly.

Having fanconi dogs in and of itself isn't alarming. There are certainly great breeders that just didn't get lucky when breeding in the past. What should be concerning is anyone who, now that the marker test is out, is still just using the urine test to breed or not testing at all, or doing any breedings that don't involve at least one CLEAR parent.

[kiroja]

And don't give up the thought of rescue either. They may get a nice young laid back boy in who Piggy can train.

[mauigirl]

Would you be open to a young adult?? I have been running across some available adults while mosy-ing around on BCOA breeder websites. I think Eldorado has one and then there was a black and white boy posted somewhere also. But please do your research and make an educated decision. It really is worth waiting to find a breeder whose practices you're confident in, someone you know has the breed's best interests at heart.

Welcome to the forum

Edit: One other thought….I noticed you said you're looking for strictly pet quality. A lot of people assume that for a pet you don't need to look for breeders who show and place some of their pups in show homes. But this is the best place to look for not only healthy but well socialized pups. And then you have a lifetime of breeder support.

[Quercus]

Maui girl has it right for sure. I would say that MOST of our puppies go to pet homes…only a small percentage of puppies from any given litter go on to be show dogs. Most of us prefer to place puppies that we don't want to keep in our breeding programs in wonderful pet homes so they can be loved and cherished.

And to answer the OP, and Kelli's question...yes, the bitch in question is Luna, Quercus Select Incandescent . And she will most likely be bred to Stitch, DC Select Alien Invader JC. Luna is not a finished Champion, but she does have several conformation points, and many nice characteristics that make me think she should be bred. We don't show much anymore, and I think she could finish her CH if I put a lot more time, effort and money into it, none of which I have to spend on it right now Anyhow, she needs to have her hips and thyroid done, and a CERF exam over the course of the summer...then we will make our final decision. She is a probable clear, and Stitch is a probable carrier, so puppies would be clears or carriers, but not ever get Fanconi.

[Quercus]

@wrx227wrc:

We were considering getting a strictly pet quality puppy now if we found one that was within our budget and from a responsible breeder (probably not going to happen, but I am hopeful). I know how you guys feel about the financial being a consideration, but for us it is. The timing is perfect for us right now as my husband is out of work and home to potty train. Things financially will be just fine when I finish my degree next year, but spending $1000 on a dog right now is not realistic. Nor do I know if we could ever really stomach that.

We would really like to get a rescue but with Piggy being such a dominant female I don't know how that will work. She tends to be fine with puppies but not older dogs and definitely not females.

Quercus, we are in Grand Rapids. We may be in the market next season and I will certainly keep you and Kelli in mind.

I can totally understand the inability to spend $1000 dollars on a puppy. Generally in the midwest, the prices are not that high…but they still will be several hundred dollars in order to be able to cover the cost of having a litter.

One of the reasons that it is hard to find a breeder in that have litters this year, is because the recession (particularly in the Great Lakes area) have caused breeders to be reluctant to breed a litter, in the event that there aren't enough buyers that can afford to buy a puppy...it is kind of a catch-22 I would love to provide healthy, sweet, affordable puppies for families, if I could be sure that I would be able to find homes for all of them. But, a well bred puppy just costs some money....and it is something a lot of us don't have much of right now.

[renaultf1]

@mauigirl:

Would you be open to a young adult?? I have been running across some available adults while mosy-ing around on BCOA breeder websites. I think Eldorado has one and then there was a black and white boy posted somewhere also. But please do your research and make an educated decision. It really is worth waiting to find a breeder whose practices you're confident in, someone you know has the breed's best interests at heart.

Very good point. Many times breeders/showers have youngsters (1 or younger) that don't work out as show dogs or have finished their championships and need a good home.

[lvoss]

The good thing about starting to look now for a puppy for next year, is that you can start putting a little away each month so by the time the puppy is ready to go home you have the purchase price and it isn't a big drain on the finances. I got my first basenji when I was in college and started my research a year before I got Nick. I just put a little away every month so that by the time I got him I had the money and a little more in case of emergency.

[wrx227wrc]

You guys are awesome. Thanks for all the help. I think the money situation is feasible when we look at next year…unless my husband is still unemployed.

I haven't given up on the rescue idea and I will keep checking BRAT and others. The biggest factor will be selecting the RIGHT companion for Piggy. I don't know if rescues will even consider us because we don't have a yard and don't own our home, etc. Does b experience trump that?

Maui- we are certainly open to a young adult as long as it is right for Pig. If you see any young males around the area or nearest states let me know. Where are you coming across them?

I guess in some ways we just have in our mind that a puppy will be best since piggy seems to be less dominant with small things. Anyone have any thoughts on that? Any good breeder should be able to evaluate Pig and select a puppy they think might work (no guarantees obviously) based on their interaction, right?

Luna is gorgeous Andrea, we would be interested for sure. I have a couple of friends (one lost a b and one needs a second also) that may be looking by that time too.

Kelli-we have lots of relatives on your side of the state. Could we come visit some time this summer assuming it worked around your schedule? Have you heard anything about the guy in grand haven, Sundance? I don't seem him on any sites or anything so I would imagine he isn't very responsible but I have seen dogs around town that he bred.

Lisa-thanks for the advice about money. I am working on a second BS after finding that my first one didn't secure employment. Every other day we get an e-mail from school about how dire the financial situation is, so I am assuming tuition will go up insanely soon. Hopefully things start to look up for all of us in the near future.

In the mean time we will keep saving and researching. Thanks again!