Why would you want to get one of our poodles
over someone else?
This is an excellent question. One more people should ask themselves when dealing with any breeder. What is this breeder doing for me, my future pup, and the breed in general. Different people expect different things from their breeders. Some are delightfully surprised by the good ones, while other are sorely disappointed.
When you go shopping for your next "baby", you need to ask the breeder what they think about the parents temperaments, health, what health test were done prior to breeding, and what pups they feel would be appropriate to your home, goals, and environment. If you can meet one or both parents, even better. You will find varying degrees of commitment from breeders. Some show breeders cannot see past the "look" of the dog. Some pet breeders can't see past the "temperament".
What I try to provide is an entire package. I want a poodle who
looks good, so most of my dogs go back to conformation show lines. I want a
poodle who is healthy so I am health tested my dogs, and try to stay with lines
with many health tested dogs behind them, again leaving mostly conformation
lines. Does this make my dogs healthier than someone else's? Not necessarily,
but it gives me more information to work with. I will not know if any breeding
was a success until those pups are 10-15 years old. If any breeder tells
you their "Line" does not have <insert health problem> they are not telling you
the truth. The only health test we have for Standard Poodles that is
completely accurate and can be totally prevented or bred out of a line is von
Willebrand's disease (a free bleeding disease), for which we have a DNA test.
That is the ONLY ONE! Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.
I only have one litter at a time, so I know each pup's manners, likes, dislikes,
similarities, and differences as compared to each other and with the parents. I
also temperament test them at 7 weeks of age. This gives me an edge in
finding the right home for that pup. You see, I do rescue as well, and my goal
is to find the right home the first time, so my pups do not have to go thru the
trauma of re-homing later in life.
All of my dogs are housedogs, so I know every little thing about them or they live with others who also keep them as beloved pets first and foremost. They are not kenneled, they are not tossed into the back yard. This allows me and the people I work with to match the right temperament of a sire with the right temperament of a dam to get a nice mix of puppies who will be good as pets or working dogs. In 2007 we have just had a litter of puppy from Rain and Levi. Rain is pushy, independent, very smart, loving, etc. Levi is sweet, gentle, loving, laid back, eager to please but not near as smart as Rain. These two are a great match since they are both loving yet have different traits to offer. Breeding Rain to Levi who's very laid back is a good way to temper the pushy nature of Rain. The mix of puppies should be very good working dogs and some exception pets.
I give a written health guarantee better than 90% of the breeders out there. Why should I do this? Because I care about the breed. If your dog is not healthy, I want to know about it first! I do not want to be breeding dogs with serious issues. If you do not tell me, how can I know? So, I offer a way that makes it worth your while to contact me.
As far as "behavior" of your pup, I am more than willing to help. If you have a problem, I will have an answer. It might take me a while to find the it, but I will do my best to find the solution. I have been training dogs since I was very young. I learned how to train obedience from a book when I was 12 years old. Then, I took a few classes, then over the past 3 years a LOT of classes. I've raised a breed called a "Shiba Inu". Not for the faint of heart, this breed taught me all there is to know about dog behavior, pack dynamics, how to do what, when, and where. With a Shiba, you do it right or you loose the dog's respect. The Punishment MUST fit the crime. I learned when to push an issue and what was not worth fighting over. There is no substitution for putting your time in and paying your dues. Something I have done. Many breeders haven't a clue of how to get your pup to a point where you can live with it. I can.
Conformation of a dog is vital for a long and healthy life. I have been showing in Conformation since I was 12 years old. I started in Irish Setters why back when, did a little in Sammy's, a lot in Shiba Inu and finished one English Setter on the side. I have put my time in, know how to play the game, and have spent enough time ring side to I know a structurally sound dog when I see one. Standard Poodles are noted for "straight" shoulders. This does not lend itself to a long hard working day in the field. It might look flashy in the show ring, but it is not structurally sound. This is what I will be working hard to correct in my dogs. All of my dogs have straighter fronts than I would like to see. I tell you this upfront and honestly. 95% of all conformation line standard poodles do. One of Major's full litter mates has a GREAT front, which is exciting and gives me great hope for my line. My goal is to breed out to other males and females with good fronts and add those genes in. If you know of a line with nice fronts, please let me know.
Last, I am starting a foster program, of which Georgie and Gatsby are apart of. This will allow me to place my best pups in homes that will love and adore them as their own, but allow me the option of breeding those dog a couple of times so I do not loose their genes if that pup turns out good enough. Hopefully this program will allow me to have only a few litters a year, yet be progressive in my goals for great working dogs as well as healthy pets. Please visit this Foster Home section for detailed info on this program.
Breeding dogs should never been done casually. It should only been done with thought, care, love, attention, devotion, patience, and with a firm goal in mind. Find a breeder who will do these things, and you will have someone who will stick with you through the BAD times as well as the good. That is the test of a true breeder.
Becky Baxter
Breeding Poodles for Tomorrow, Not Simply for Today!