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| Tips For Purchasing... 1. MEET THE PUP'S PARENTS on more than one occasion, if possible. Are they friendly? Are they healthy? Does the breeder have certifications to show you about the parents (at least eye and hip clearances)? If the stud is not there, do they have a picture of him? will they give you the name and phone number for his owner? If his parents do not pass your muster, DO NOT BUY! It is helpful to see the parents BEFORE you look at any pups. That way you will not let sentiment impair your judgement. DO NOT try to fool yourself into thinking that this pup will be anything that his parents are not...it won't happen. You cannot compensate for what his heritage did not provide. Period. This goes for temperament as well as physical health. If his mother is standoffish (after she sees that her master has accepted you into the home as a friend), she growls at you or attempts to bite, or appears to be hard to control, it is 99% likely that her pups are not worth your time let alone your money and heartache. Move on. 2. AVOID IMPULSE PURCHASING. This should be a carefully planned decision. 3. FOR YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY AND THAT OF YOUR FAMILY, NEVER NEVER BUY FROM A PET STORE! 4. BE PREPARED to ask and answer questions. Realize that you will likely be required to sign LEGALLY BINDING documents, such as a spay/neuter contract and sale contract. You may want to ask the breeder to forward these to you in advance so that you may look them over before your visit. That way, you will not be under pressure to 'sign your life away' or be too distracted by the new puppy to really understand what you are signing. 5. IT IS O.K TO SAY NO. A GOOD breeder will not take offense if you tell them (tactfully!) that they don't have what you're looking for. Chances are that they know someone who might have what you ARE looking for. It may seem that the dog world is a competitive market, but often it is a close knit community within a certain locale. Show breeders frequently have even international contacts! Sure, rivalry exists, but it usually takes the form of friendly competition. Breeders recognize that there are differences among dogs even within the same breed, and they should guide you toward what will suit you. This is the hallmark of a breeder who cares not so much about making your dollar, but about the breed itself. 6. DO NOT insult a good breeder by quibbling over price. They have set their rates for a reason and they are not likely to change them. Save the "Dickering" for car lots and be prepared to pay a good price for a good dog. Even at show prices, you can often find a Cocker pup from a first rate breeder to be cheaper than a pet store (in fact by a few hundred dollars in some places). An average fair price for a pet cocker who comes with health guarantees (which may vary), first shots and worming is $350.00. This price may vary considerably depending on your location, the pedigree of the dog, etc. Show quality dogs sold with a full registration are usually more expensive than this. Unregistrable (without papers) dogs from a hobby breeder are sometimes less than this, however, like most anything else, YOU ARE LIKELY TO GET EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR!! 7.MAKE SURE that you are prepared to bring your new friend home. this includes his or her CRATE, puppy food, dishes, collar, leash, etc. If you are prepared for his arrival, he will feel that he has truly come "home". |
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