08/21/2024
A Breeder's Hopes
There are a lot of posts out there about how to find a reputable breeder, but not enough is said about what breeders look and hope for in a future puppy owner. The most important point I have to make is this: That for those of us who have invested so much in our chosen breed and our lines, the sale of a puppy is NOT a one-time business transaction, but the beginning of a ten- to fifteen-year relationship between not just dog and owner, but also the breeder and buyer/owner.
I get a lot of short inquiries that go like this: "Is the red merle male available?" I don't know from this if they want a dog just to hang out on the couch with or one that will hike the Appalachian Trail by their side.
I can't answer which puppy is available before eight weeks because I don't place puppies solely by color and haven't evaluated them yet. I understand having a preference (I have my own), but color is superficial. If I placed puppies that way, I'd be getting a lot of them back later.
Caring breeders know that what matters most is whether the potential home is the right match for that puppy's potential and the owner's goals and lifestyle. The personality and energy level of the puppy matter a hundred times more than its looks. If I place a puppy with someone based solely on color and it ends up being a terrible mismatch as far as the owner's needs vs. the pup's personality, then eventually the novelty of a fuzzy, cute puppy wears off and you have an unhappy owner and an unappreciated dog butting heads.
A caring breeder wants to know you're committed to the dog for its lifetime and will keep in touch with questions, brags about graduation from obedience class, and pictures of your dog along on the family vacation. What you tell me about yourself upon introduction can make all the difference going forward because it lets me know if you are what I, as a breeder, am looking for in a home. It’s more like an interview or a first date rather than a simple business transaction. You are communicating to me what YOU have to offer this puppy.
That future relationship between breeder and buyer is a big part of what makes breeding worthwhile. It can also be what makes it a nightmare if a breeder isn’t selective enough. Breeders need to know you're prepared for and committed to proper training and socialization and that your new puppy will be an integral part of your family for its lifetime. After all, we're letting go of the babies that we've poured sometimes generations of planning into. It's not a decision we take lightly.
In contrast to those window shopping for a specific color, when I get an inquiry that goes into detail about the potential owner's home and family, why they want an Aussie or this particular litter, what plans they have for a future pup (companion, service animal, running buddy, sport dog, etc.), something about their current or past pets... then I get a much better *feel* for whether they might be a good fit, as well as how good they might be at communicating with me in the future. Those things are what matter to a caring, reputable breeder.
I treasure all the wonderful owners who've come along in our three-plus decades in Australian Shepherds. Some have become very good friends. But some have also taught me what I don’t want or what isn’t right for this breed or my dogs. Above all, I want to feel that any potential owner will love and adore that dog not for how many "pretty dog" comments they might get in public, but that they will value the loyalty of that dog, the things they did with it, and the relationship they developed with it, just as we all do with any true friend.
Caring breeders don't just fill orders. They pair you up with a lifetime partner.
