Anyone ever buy a puppy from Hilltop Meadows in Caldwell TX

Breeder Talk

  • id have to agree about being open minded to an older pup if the option was there.

    we got Hope at 8 wks old and we have just recently added her half sister to our 'pack' at 6 months old. She is house trained, toilet trained, socialized etc. and walks perfectly on a lead. Hope is house trained/toilet trained etc which we had no issues with her cos she was a quick learner (except for lead walking - shes a puller but that would be my fault in failing her, we are in training to fix it though lol) but its like getting a puppy thats already trained (well basically it is!) just add in the bonus you dont need to do all the hard work. Its been kinda enjoyable actually. AND. i was one of those skeptical people that dogs wouldnt bond to you if they were older etc - alls i can say is bullshizz! Ebony has bonded so well with us exactly as if we had, had her from younger.

    hehe just a thought anyway. Im very proud that you have decided not to get the pup and go through a reputable breeder. you cant beat a pup with a brilliant temperament and thats health tested.

    please keep us updated :D

  • First Basenji's

    Thank u everyone for educating me about the right and wrong of buying/adopting a Basenji puppy. I am so so soooo greatfull and I feel confident that I have people who will help me with any question about Basenjis and dog related questions. It makes me feel good to have this support. Also after reading that break down of what the back yard breeder makes vs a real breeder I feel stupid for what I said but I def now know and will educate others that I know of back yard breeding. This place almost feels like a family and internet family hahaha.


  • Great decision, I live in mass, about 15 minutes from Eldorado. I got my first pup from them last season. They have great dogs, then again I may be partial.
    Good luck


  • Most breeders of many breeds won't place with a home that doesn't crate the dog when alone until they have them long enough to be sure of safe behaviors, paneane.

    Sorry Suzee, I have a brat rescue, I volunteer with Brat. They cannot tell you if the dog has Fanconi since they ONLY strip test– which means they are not currently having symptoms. Doesn't mean spit because they could have Fanconi and not show it yet.


  • I see you have found a breeder and some others to talk to, but in case you need help finding more people to talk to you can also contact the BCOA Breeder Liaison. If that hyperlink doesn't work you can find it under Breeder Referral at the link below. Sandy may also have an idea of who is breeding in your area this year.

    https://www.basenji.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=111&Itemid=94

    And as a comment on the breeding costs, the breeder I am getting a pup next year had to do a c-section at the emergency vet in the middle of the night. Which you could imagine is not cheap at all.

    Clay


  • @Nemo:

    I see you have found a breeder and some others to talk to, but in case you need help finding more people to talk to you can also contact the BCOA Breeder Liaison. If that hyperlink doesn't work you can find it under Breeder Referral at the link below. Sandy may also have an idea of who is breeding in your area this year.

    https://www.basenji.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=111&Itemid=94

    And as a comment on the breeding costs, the breeder I am getting a pup next year had to do a c-section at the emergency vet in the middle of the night. Which you could imagine is not cheap at all.

    Clay

    Amen to that Clay! But her dedication to the breed and the welfare of the bitch provided her with a wonderful litter of 7!!!! And hopefully one has your name written all over it!

  • First Basenji's

    So that woman from Texas that is running that puppy mill messaged me the other day displaying pictures of the puppies and mother. I am going to tell her I decided to go with a reputable breeder but I am not sure if I should tell her exactly why I think no one should buy from her. I don't know if that's a good or bad idea. Deep down inside I want to tell her so she knows and she should stop but like I said just really confused..


  • @vickayx:

    So that woman from Texas that is running that puppy mill messaged me the other day displaying pictures of the puppies and mother. I am going to tell her I decided to go with a reputable breeder but I am not sure if I should tell her exactly why I think no one should buy from her. I don't know if that's a good or bad idea. Deep down inside I want to tell her so she knows and she should stop but like I said just really confused..

    I would just tell her you are going with a responsible breeder that does all health testing before breeding and let it go at that. I am sure she is well aware that she is a puppy miller and only cares about the almighty dollar. There are so many other things to breeding and placing puppies on top of health testing. She doesn't care who buys, just as long as they have the dollars to pay.


  • I most definitely would tell her WHY. She may listen, she probably won't, but if you say nothing she misses the opportunity to learn.


  • I would tell her why because of the lack of health testing. I would definitely mention Fanconi Syndrome and talk about it if she does not know anything about it. I would let her know that most puppy buyers will not buy a puppy without being tested. I doubt Sheila Maxwell mentioned it! Now even some BYBs are testing their sires and dams for it.

    Jennifer

  • First Basenji's

    So I told her very simply I had found a breeder closer to me and one that is more reputable. She seemed a little upset. She had responded with I do not understand what you mean by more reputable… honestly I do not want to argue with her.

    Good news tomorrow I am taking a 5 hour trip to Mass. to visit Elderado Basenjis. I am sooo sooo excited! Is there any suggestions you guys have for me about what I should ask?


  • @vickayx:

    So I told her very simply I had found a breeder closer to me and one that is more reputable. She seemed a little upset. She had responded with I do not understand what you mean by more reputable… honestly I do not want to argue with her.

    Good news tomorrow I am taking a 5 hour trip to Mass. to visit Elderado Basenjis. I am sooo sooo excited! Is there any suggestions you guys have for me about what I should ask?

    Rocky1 on the forums is a breeder in Jackson, NJ and has been breeding Basenjis for 35 years apparently! I would totally contact her if I were you, just because she's in NJ.. y'know. I was surprised to hear that!

    Good luck with the trip tomorrow! =)

  • First Basenji's

    I believe I did. I have contacted so many people at this time my head is over flowed but I really think tomorrow will work out. I am def willing and excited to take the trip. I just found out my puppy (hopefully) was born yesterday! But I won't be able to see her because the breeder doesn't let anyone interfere with the pups until 6 weeks. I respect that.


  • Good luck on your trip…. each breeder has their own ideas/concerns about puppies... me... the more people the better and the earlier the better...

  • First Basenji's

    even new borns?

  • First Basenji's

    Oh and thank u for all of your support Tanza and others because of you I feel super confident in my decision about getting a puppy, and the life time commitment and joy of owning a Basenj, yall are the best!


  • Yes, even newborns. L'Ox had visitors at a couple of hours old. I needed cottage cheese for his mom so my friend stopped by and of course wanted to see mom and baby. The next day since I worked on about a mile from home, my co-workers came over to see him.

    The Time litter I co-bred with my mom had visitors at a week old. My mom wasn't going to uninvite her dinner guests they took their shoes off and washed their hands before handling the babies.


  • Tanza co-bred my second litter with me and is the co-breeder on Sophie's litter due January 1.


  • @vickayx:

    even new borns?

    Yes even newborns… with a little consideration for the Mom... (if she is nervous about visitors to her new pups) and a little thought into things like removing shoes and washing hands. If people happened to be coming from a dog show, I would be a bit more careful when they are under 2 or 3 weeks.

    But again, everyone does have their own ideas.

    And yup, lvoss, can't wait for those Sophie pups! Think more than 2!


  • She is getting big and isn't lopsided like Rio was so maybe we missed a pup on the one side. I sort of feel like she is keeping the pups in some secret interdimensional space because sometimes she seems huge and other times not so much.

Suggested Topics

  • Stolen Puppies

    Breeder Talk
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    G
    It's an OMG all right, but not how you'd think. At first it was blamed on a family members vindictive ex but now I have an update from someone... "Had not heard anything from the woman that was buying the puppy so I telephoned her. Well.... While the puppies were real (lots of real time updates, photos, videos, & talked about them to her friends & family on her personal Facebook page), it looks like the woman that was selling them made up a series of lies because a) did want to deal with shipping a puppy; b) sold it to someone local; d) sold it for more money to someone else; d) who the hell knows. The woman that was the intended buyer who posted all the ads is livid and perplexed. She plans to talk to an attorney friend to make sure it is okay to plaster the seller's name everywhere. The world is full of jerks, jackasses, and idiots. Had a long talk with buyer and told her to only deal with AKC registered breeders in the future. She is lucky she didn't lose any money."
  • Dog Habari Puppies

    Breeder Talk
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    5k Views
    O
    No, it won't be the same. I recently lost a beloved dog myself. I'm so sorry.
  • Vetting Puppy Buyers

    Breeder Talk
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    7k Views
    eeeefarmE
    @Chealsie508: I am a born skeptic and although I am not a breeder I would feel uncomfortable placing a puppy into a home when you 1: haven't been able to meet them or 2: haven't been "vetted" by someone you know. It is so easy for a breeder to sell a puppy on a spay/ neuter contract but hard to enforce once the puppy leaves you. People can make themselves seem like exactly what you want until they get what they want. I'm also not a breeder, but have friends who are. And I have seen this equation from the other side, twice as a puppy buyer (in both cases I visited, met the parents of the pups, had conversations with the breeders, etc.) and three times adopting older dogs. On one occasion the dog was shipped to me from Washington State…...but that was set up between the breeder in Washington who was looking for a home for a returned dog of hers and a breeder I had previously purchased a pup from, and who went with me to pick up the dog at the airport! I think it is best to have personal contact if you can, but you can get a fairly good "feel" for people by talking to them. Internet may work for an initial connection, but I would want telephone contact at the very least. I agree with Chealsie508 that "People can make themselves seem like exactly what you want until they get what they want." My close friend who breeds Pyrenees has had situations that seemed ideal turn out to be anything but, and on other occasions placements that she was a bit concerned about turned out to be just great. When in doubt, going with your instincts may work, but not always. No guarantees, and it is very difficult to enforce contracts once the dog is out of your hands. Once upon a time I thought I might sell a horse or two. Nope. Couldn't do it. Still got 'em, and they will die here. Glad I never bred my bitch! :)
  • Summer Puppies

    Breeder Talk
    24
    0 Votes
    24 Posts
    15k Views
    P
    They are so sweet. It's lovely to see them, thanks for posting.
  • Illusion Puppies

    Breeder Talk
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    5k Views
    JannekeJ
    Gorgeous girls! I saw Petra's pics on FB.. Way too cute!!
  • No Puppies for Tanza

    Breeder Talk
    18
    0 Votes
    18 Posts
    5k Views
    tanzaT
    @kiroja: Pat, I heard from Linda this weekend and Boo IS preggers! Just thought I would let you know. :) At least 4 pups were seen, but she usually gets a little more than what shows up. One is very small though and probably won't make it. So at least 3 little babies on the way! And fingers crossed that Kylie cooperates next time for your new plans. :) I'm so happy that Parry will get his Jaadii kids. Cool… thanks for letting me know.... and yes, we are hoping that Kylie is ready for "Motherhood" .....gggg And we are excited about our possible Jaadii kids!