Looking for a puppy? Check this out!

[AJs Human]

"Yes, I have BTDT."

???

[sharronhurlbut]

Been there done that…Kathys post is right on. Kathy, can I share this?

[tanza]

Well put Kathy… I would also add the BCOA site for screening breeders at http://www.basenji.org/learn/ScreeningBreeders.htm

[khanis]

It would actually be great if this could be made a sticky to stay at the top of the section… then all interested parties could read it before they kept going looking for a pup!

Feel free to share Sharron.

[lvoss]

This would make a good sticky.

I would also add, Fanconi is only one problem that is easy for buyers to screen for but it is not the only problem with purchasing a puppy from these online sites. My vet asked me last year, how hard is it to find a responsible basenji breeder? I told her the information Kathy posted, adding that the Basenji Club of Northern California also has a breeder directory. She said that is what she thought but wanted to ask since a client had come in with the scrawniest, least thriving basenji puppy she had ever seen a few weeks before. The client had told her that there were absolutely NO breeders ANYWHERE nearby. The vet new that was obviously false since I have been taking my dogs to that vet office for 7 years. The puppy had been bought from one of these sites. It had slipping patellas and by the time it was 4 months old had to muzzled when examined because it bit and not just at the vet, the owner was looking for a behavior consult because the puppy was aggressively biting her also.

Finding a good breeder requires work. It takes time and energy to screen breeders and you will probably get several, "no puppies at this time", "all our puppies are spoken for" and you will definately get "please tell us more about yourself".

[nkjvcjs]

The one thing I would add:

The first litmus test to ask any breeder: "Will you take this dog back at any time in its life if for any reason I cannot keep it" If the answer to this is no, or for that matter, anything other than an immediate yes, move on, no other questions need be asked.

Once you get a yes to this question, then move on to health testing, references, intentions with this breeding, etc.

I know you mention it in one line in the pdf, but I think it is important to stress that responsible breeders make sure their dogs are not the ones filling up shelters and rescues. The reason I am so passionate when I hear that someone is buying from an irresponsible breeder is that they are the ones whose dogs end up in shelters, and their new puppies take homes that could have gone to those shelter dogs.

-Nicole

[Basenjimamma]

Very good information. I wish I hdd these all in my head when I looked into basenjis..I have learned, meanwhile I will live…

[tanza]

Of course while it makes a great sticky… people still have to take the time to read it....

[lvoss]

@tanza:

Of course while it makes a great sticky… people still have to take the time to read it....

Yep! and sometimes that is the biggest hurdle. It isn't like this information isn't out there but it requires taking the time to look at it instead of just saying, "Ooooh, cute puppy!"

[khanis]

Yes, Nicole that would be good info to add….
but that is going too far at this point.

Like Pat said... people have to want to read it.

This was just meant to be something that people can START with...
Those are basic pages that if someone was looking for a basenji, the would be able to see that the BYB or PM they are considering does NOT fit into .... hence... not the best place to go.

Throwing too much info at a person so quickly will be more than enough to make them turn and head for the hills...
or buy the first puppy they see... then come looking for help with all it's problems later.

BABY STEPS.