Breeders and Buying

Lola asks:

Is there such a thing as breeders putting you on a payment plan cause unless you're Bill Gates, it's pretty hard to come up with $800 for a dog at once. I'm just wondering if this sort of thing is at all possible. Thank you.

From Melissa

I don't know about other breeders, but I have to have a deposit for at least 1/4 of the full price of a pup just to hold the pup for the prospective owner. This gives the person at least another month or so to come up with the rest of the money. I do remind them that that is not where it ends as far as the expense is concerned.

There are costs involved, and most people don't realize just how expensive it is to have a litter. Before going to their new homes, my pups have had their dewclaws removed, they've had their 1st set of vaccinations, they're Registered with the Canadian Kennel Club, and have had atleast 3 checks by my veterenarian.

The cost of feeding a pregnant and nursing female is amazing. After their 5th week of pregnancy they consume a lot of food, and require very healthy food to maintain their health as well as that of the developing puppies. Their appetites while nursing are voracious, and again, they require special attention to their nutritional needs.

Another school of thought is that if the person cannot afford the dog, how will they afford the immediate costs that owning a pup involves? A perspective owner needs to look at the first year, (and especially the first 6 months) as possibly the time when they will spend the largest sum of money on their dog in as short a period of time.

Aside from the vaccinations, which are imperative, there is the cost of neutering or spaying. A good breeder will only sell a pup that is to be a pet with a Non-Breeding Contract.

There is a saying among breeders that if you make money from a litter, you are doing it wrong. A reputable breeder does it in order to produce the best litter possible. This involves money, research, and a genuine love of the breed. If I manage to recoup what I've spent producing a litter, and have recovered my stud fee, (which is between $500.00 - $750.00) financially, the litter has been a success. What I as a breeder am more concerned with however is the soundness, health, and beauty of that litter and the knowledge that I have selected a loving home for the pup where all that has gone into producing that pup will be appreciated.

I can understand your frustration. Save your money for the best Bichon you can get. In the meantime, research breeders. Find someone who has as much love and concern for the breed as you do. The reward will be a healthy pup that will be your companion for a very long time, and who will possess that amazing temperment that us bichon lovers find so irresistable.

From Jean

Melissa, you have given a great answer.

Deposits are very common and come with a contractual aggreement.

Breeders take picks of the litter (sometimes more than one, some are questionable, so they stay with the breeder until a determined quality (show or pet) assessment can be made, maybe they might be sold as "older puppies' which isn't so bad cause they usually come trained).

Stud owners may or may not have a pick also.

After everyone does the picking, then what ever pups remain, are up for sale.

A purchase aggreement is made up for either show quality (more expensive, possibly co-owned with the breeder but owner pays all expenses of showing, owner also may be responsible for breeding and expenses invlolved and the original breeder may have rights to pick of litter as well as the stud dog owner).
Pet quality contracts say no AKC papers until the dog is spayed or neutered. Once you have done that, they will release the papers.

If you go the breeder route to purchase a puppy, make sure you find one who has had both sire and dam OFA'd to check for hip dysplasia and CERF'd to check for heritable eye defects. Also a breeder that is willing to help you out if you have any questions or need support. This is important. A good breeder will take back a dog who might not get along in your house. (My mom had this happen to her, she got a male Bichon who was a bit too possessive about her. Breeder took her back no problem and he found a great home where he was #1 always.)

Oh gosh, and a most important breeding criteria to be considered is temperment by reputable breeders!

Yes, there are badly breed Bichons! (more on that below)

You may try adding your name to the local SPCA. They sometimes get Bichons due to moving, or the Bichon is too active for the owner to handle, or the owner does not have the time to maintain one (high maintence grooming the dogs).

Some breeders also want to find homes for older dogs, retired show dogs, or just need to reduce their pack a bit. Costs depends on the breeder and situation. We got 2 of our Bichons for free because the breeder (reputable and we had other dogs from her) was in desperate need to find a home. (We had an aunt, niece, and the neice's half brother, the other dog we had was no relation to the 3 we got after her).

You may just want to save up your money before getting one, this way you don't have to worry about where it will be coming from.

As Melissa stated, medical expenses run high. You will need vitamins, and heartworm pills which are not cheap.

Another expense is grooming. Last I recall, we were paying $75.00 per dog to have them professionally groomed twice a year. I did all the other grooming in between. It was a 2 day affair.

Some food for thought:

Most inbreeding is done by the hobby breeders who use their stock over and over again to the point of abuse. Overbreeding dogs (using them for several litters a year as opposed to one breeding every year or two) and inbreeding is what causes all of the medical problems. Puppy mills produce the worst health related issues per any breed. And let us not forget about the people who buy the pet shop dogs and then breed them!

The good breeders look at what each dog has and how maybe by breeding them, how one will compliment the other in their stock. Good breeders keep to the AKC standard of the dogs. They do not breed any dog to any dog, breeding requires careful decisions and a history of both dogs involved.

Note that the Bichon was an almost extinct breed earlier this century. It has only been in the past 20 years or so that the breed has flourished but it took decades to rebuild a "lost empire", so to speak