25 replies to this topic

[ladybroc]

I suggest you go to the Find Breeders page on the web site and talk to some breeders listed thereon. If the man you speak of is breeding dogs for money, you are taking a chance on what you're getting. I doubt that he pays any attention to the genetic backgrounds of the dogs in the pedigrees that he breeds. Money is NOT a motivation that enters the equation for a good breeder.

Joyce

[ladybroc]

Steve,

There are "bad" breeders that breed all breeds of dogs. If you do your research and find a reputable breeder you will not have these problems -- puppy mills are problem mills. What more can I say? All the breeders on this site are very reputable and none of them breed for the money. I would have been bankrupt years ago; it's a labor of love.

Also, normally people don't shop for a cairn by "color." You may start out with a puppy of a dark color and it may be wheaten when it's adult coat comes in. Color should not be a factor. It is not a factor in breeding because cairns can be any color except white.

Joyce

[bradl]

Try the breeder referral search on the CTCA home page: Search for Province=BC.

[Jutta]

Hi, I could name you 2 reputable breeders in MN, St. Paul. Please let me know if you are still interested so I can give you their email addresses. But! Dogs from a good breeder cost a little! I assume you want rather buy an "expensive" healthy pub than a "cheep" one with high vet costs in the future. Think about it. A good breeder never wants to make money, he/she wants just the money back he/she's been spending to breed and raise the litter - which is more than most people can imagine. Plus, the expenses just to purchase a dog are rather low compared to the future costs which could accur in the dog's whole lifetime (+/- 15 yrs. -) you never know ... vets, special diets, boarding costs when something happens to the owners or they want to take a trip without the pooches. there are a lot of dogs nowadays suffering from i. e. diabetis, epilepsie, allergies, digestion probs, .... and so on.
Have a nice day
Jutta

[bradl]

I can sympathize, Dan and Marshall. Ive found that some breeders prefer to screen using email, while others may have email but aren't really comfortable with it, or they may feel that email inquiries are not very serious. They prefer to talk 'live' to a real person, either on the phone or literally in person for more give-and-take communication and to learn more about your family and your expectations. Some other tips: if you're calling long distance, by all means leave a message, but call back on your own dime. Be flexible. Consider a junior dog or retired show dog (these are the best kept secrets in my opinion). Be patient and peristent (but don't pester). Sometimes a dog becomes available later that wasn't available when you first contacted a breeder. The very best bet is to start attending dog shows in your area and just start meeting Cairn people and their dogs. A lot can happen through relationships and word of mouth. Good luck and don't give up. A nice Cairn from a dedicated breeder is worth the time and effort.