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Unicorn Breeder

1915 Views 9 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  Viking Queen
Here is an interesting situation, and I don't want to share the name just yet to protect the integrity of this process.

Would you get a poodle from someone who is not great on email, does not market their pups and most of the pups go to show breeders or people who directly contact them, does not take deposits before hand, picks pups after they select their show dogs, has been president of the local poodle club for several years, has been showing for more than 40 years, confirmed to me that their lines are PRA/PRCD clear and never had any health issues....just not the standard breeder that I have seen, frankly it is little refreshing than trying to get to a race to reserve a dog. This is what I had imagined getting a dog would be but the downside is the breeder is not internet savvy, does not send pictures or contracts beforehand, selects pups based on temperaments, really does not communicate much via email but is responsive but may be with one liners than details. I did some due diligence and the breeder indeed is very well known in circles, their name and dogs show up in competition records and are winning champions, but other than that the breeder has no foot print for further research. There is zero mention in this forum and other face book groups - good or bad. However the poodle club they have been a member of and past president of is mentioned several times all in good light.

I am just curious, given that I verified their dogs in show results, past positions held on a well known poodle club, would you get a pup from this breeder? I actually am unsure what we will be provided or not in terms of health certificates as they are very limited in their response. All they told me is until they know for sure they have a pup for me they won't be in touch but think very strongly they may be able to find me something from the current litter which will be ready to go home late Aug. So my choices are to just wait and see which is totally fine but I don't want to lose out on other reservations and am interested in hearing thoughts especially from others here who have gotten pups from traditional old school breeders like this.
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Omg, yes! Matching puppies to owners is not a downside; it's the ideal 😊!!!

A reputable breeder has no need to market puppies - another plus!

Yes, of course we pet owners wait until after the show prospects are chosen for appropriate show (co maybe) owners 😊. And if one not only wishes to but has full funds and intentions to show, one will have discussed and networked well in advance. And maybe such a pup will appear; on a co-ownership, more than likely, esp. for one new to all that. And sometimes a breeder ends up placing a show prospect in a pet only home (conformation dogs ARE pets).

If needed, you could ask for testing results on the sire and dam, but perhaps a visit to OFA would also suffice.

An out of date or otherwise non-current in style or otherwise website wouldn't perturb me.

There may be other elements which could cause one to turn away, and your post seems to hint at a gotcha somewhere, but based on my comments to some of your specific points, I'm not there yet. Good breeders breed to get their next great (hopefully) show dog in a healthy package. It's not about sales. I know people who exhibit who've been offered puppies, literally. As in, a pup is so potentially valuable to the breed, s/he is given to a person best placed to support and campaign the pup.

Hth.
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I would be totally fine with this if I was able to meet the parent dogs and liked them, and if I was able to see health testing results, especially hips.
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I think it’d be a good choice. That much experience and as long as pups are health tested. My pup was from a lady who doesn’t use the internet to sell hers, I just happened to run across her. She did all health tests. It didn’t bother me one bit she doesn’t use the internet and wasn’t computer related. She was great with texting and sent pics each weeks which I loved but didn’t expect. Her and her husband did a vey nice job, her litters stay in their home at all times and raised as part of her family. They’re the sweetest senior couple I’ve ever met and if they’re still around when need another pup I’d buy from them again in a heartbeat! She was organized and sent so many little extra with Tikki when she came home, it was very evident they really care for their puppies. I personally love the hidden breeders (that’s what I call them when they don’t use internet). They really tend to have the old school values which is very rare to find now!
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A friend purchased two dogs (not poodles) from such a breeder and has no regrets. As long as you like the dogs you've seen, and other owners are happy with her selections, then go for it.
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If she has been showing for 40 years, this woman started her kennel before the Internet as we know it even existed. It sounds like she's decided her life is just fine as-is, and there's no need to drag herself away from her dogs to learn web design. I wouldn't hire her as a media consultant, but I wouldn't have any concerns beyond the usual ones concerning her puppies.
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Geez! It never occurred to me that I needed a web site before breeding Zoe. Those of use who have been breeding and showing for decades are not breeding puppies for money!

I maintain the breeder referral list for the Enchanted Poodle Club (Albuquerque). My name is on the club web site. I get at least two requests for breeder recommendations a week. I reply with our recommended breeder list that has about a dozen people from around the Southwest. I composed that list using show catalogs, the OFA site, and discussions with respected poodle breeders.
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Geez! It never occurred to me that I needed a web site before breeding Zoe. Those of use who have been breeding and showing for decades are not breeding puppies for money!

I maintain the breeder referral list for the Enchanted Poodle Club (Albuquerque). My name is on the club web site. I get at least two requests for breeder recommendations a week. I reply with our recommended breeder list that has about a dozen people from around the Southwest. I composed that list using show catalogs, the OFA site, and discussions with respected poodle breeders.
To clarify, I have zero concerns she does not have a website or Facebook or any internet space. I found her by calling the breeder list of a poodle club. My question was mainly the limited information and not answering all my questions even on email. E.g., I get regular replies back in emails but they would be one liners. Like, I’ve asked approx date on when puppies go home so I can take off from work or when could we chat on the phone and I get something like, puppies doing well and I’ll be in touch. I mean it’s ok as long as at the end of the day when I’m ready to get the dog I can chat in detail and meet the parents and verify. I think I’ll just have to wait and see how things proceed and keeping my fingers crossed we find our dream puppy! I was just trying to gauge how typical it is for long term breeders to be this cryptic until much closer time. I just don’t want to miss out on getting on other lists but if this is going to be a fabulous opportunity, I will kick my self for not being patient ( I think I just answered my own question!:))
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To clarify, I have zero concerns she does not have a website or Facebook or any internet space. I found her by calling the breeder list of a poodle club. My question was mainly the limited information and not answering all my questions even on email. E.g., I get regular replies back in emails but they would be one liners. Like, I’ve asked approx date on when puppies go home so I can take off from work or when could we chat on the phone and I get something like, puppies doing well and I’ll be in touch. I mean it’s ok as long as at the end of the day when I’m ready to get the dog I can chat in detail and meet the parents and verify. I think I’ll just have to wait and see how things proceed and keeping my fingers crossed we find our dream puppy! I was just trying to gauge how typical it is for long term breeders to be this cryptic until much closer time. I just don’t want to miss out on getting on other lists but if this is going to be a fabulous opportunity, I will kick my self for not being patient ( I think I just answered my own question!:))
That does sound a bit difficult doesn't it. I don't see any downside of waiting until you get to go see the pups. Since she doesn't take deposits you aren't out any money. You can always speak to her in person about evidence of health testing. Hopefully she'll talk on the phone or let you come meet them soon.
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Geez! It never occurred to me that I needed a web site before breeding Zoe. Those of use who have been breeding and showing for decades are not breeding puppies for money!

I maintain the breeder referral list for the Enchanted Poodle Club (Albuquerque). My name is on the club web site. I get at least two requests for breeder recommendations a week. I reply with our recommended breeder list that has about a dozen people from around the Southwest. I composed that list using show catalogs, the OFA site, and discussions with respected poodle breeders.
When I got Iris from Ann Rairigh she had a web site but it was very out of date. We phoned and emailed each other, she snail mailed me test results and pedigrees on the parents and sent me names and phone numbers of local people who had her poodles so I could speak with them. Another family in town went to see the pups and reported back to me. This was rather old school. I knew Ann's background and reputation. The other local family and I got siblings from Ann and were very happy with them for 14 ys. Ann still has a web site....it still is rather out of date but that would not prevent me from getting a dog from her.

When I got Poppy from Betty Brown a friend who has a Betty poodle called me 3 days after Iris died and said Betty has a puppy. With one phone call to Betty and a folowup call that night I had a deal with her and Poppy arrived the next day. Unconventional, but again, I knew Betty's reputation and had Nancy's recomendation of Betty so I was good with all that. Her website was OK, but not up to date by any means. We did old school, a couple of phone calls, she texted me a couple of times and emailed vaccination records and pedigrees. Rather old school but it worked for me!

Oooooh! Zoe babies will be really special!
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