Purchasing a Show Prospect
A question was asked recently how a novice could go about purchasing a top quality show potential puppy from breeders. It got me thinking about my experiences as a breeder with novices which led me to thinking about my own experiences.
We were all novices at one time, and some of us were luckier than others in our first attempts to purchase a show quality animal.
I was fortunate to meet Joanne & Rob Burns when I went looking for a boxer - didn't want a show dog, just a pet. What I took home was a champion bitch on a co-ownership who turned into my pride and joy! It was a breeder's contract that I entered into and thus began my obsession and my financial ruin . . . :-)
I also dabbled in obedience training, driving clear across Calgary to train with Bill Elser and Tubby Miller, and earned my first CD. I participated in visits to nursing homes and hospitals, educated the public about responsible dog ownership, joined the local dog clubs, was an active member of the doggy "drill team", square danced with the dogs, helped out at dog shows and sanction matches, and learned all the while.
Meanwhile I worked with Joanne, socializing her litters, visiting her until she was sick of my face, driving several hours to spend the day with her, hounding her at dog shows with question after question. I learned how to raise litters, what to feed puppies, how to tape ears. I knew every one of her dogs and researched pedigrees with her, grabbing whatever knowledge she would pass my way. I purchased my first show dog from her and cried when he won his class at the Spokane Boxer Specialty - my first trip to the big US of A. He never finished his American championship, but we learned lots.
Joanne came with me to my first ABC experience - and we sat ringside for three solid days - never once leaving the room while dogs were being shown and poring over the catalog in our room every night. I was so excited when my bitch won second place in the Open Fawn bitch class that I left my purse when I went to collect her from the handler -- and Kris Dahl (of Boxer Review fame) rescued it for me and kept it safe until I realized what I had done. And I didn't even know that there were people who partied at ABC :-)
That was my foundation bitch - April became a dam of merit in two countries, and it had taken me two years to talk Joanne into selling her to me! But it was worth it and I had the benefit of Joanne's expertise when it came time to breed her, choosing a stud dog and looking at her litters and discuss the merits of each puppy - and I had to drive 12 hours to get that benefit - by now we lived in Manitoba! My first best in show winner, 4 American Champions, 7 Canadian Champions and 2 dams of merit resulted from those carefully planned breedings.
And then she sent me a puppy on the plane to socialize - and I fell in love with him the moment I opened his crate! But she wouldn't sell him to me, said he was destined for greater things and at 6 months of age I delivered him back to Alberta. The following summer I visited Joanne while on holiday with my children. The dog was still at her house and she was getting into Nubian goats and had less interest in the boxers at that time. I got lucky - she agreed to sell the dog to me and I wrote her a cheque right then and there and put the dog in the back of my Subaru with my three children and two boxers - they were packed in like sardines, I didn't have enough money in my account to cover the cheque and I was ecstatic! Ch Golden Haze Tuxedo rode home 12 hours laying on my 8 year old son all the way! The rest is history . . and when Bogey won his Award of Merit at ABC, the first person I phoned was Joanne.
My recommendation to newcomers is to take it very slowly, start by going to the dog shows and getting to know the breeders. Let them see how serious you are, learn from them, visit with them, ask questions (lots of them) and above all, be patient. Don't run out and buy the first show potential puppy that comes along. Show the breeders that you are in it for the long haul and that you are just as dedicated and caring as they are. Keep your ears open and your mouth shut. Start earning your dues in the dog game, and the rest will come along naturally. Be persistent, be willing to deal, sign away your first born if you have to, do your homework, always get everything in writing and be flexible! Save your money, this is an expensive hobby!
Sound like a tall order and too tough for you? Then don't apply to purchase one of my show prospects - because I'm looking for the kind of person that is willing to do all of that and more. And if I'm lucky enough to find you, then I hope to do the same thing for you that Joanne Burns and others did for me!
-- by Sharon Simpson, Zephyr Boxers
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