How to make the cut...

[Nicoletta]

Hello again NN :wave:

I received the call the other day that the breeder I have been speaking to thinks that one of her females has been impregnated, and is showing all the signs, but that it is still a bit too early to tell

She says if all goes to plan, she will give birth around the 25th of May and ready to go to their new homes at the end of July. She let me know that (as a good breeder should!) she is very choosy with who her pups go to, and only allows them to go to the greatest homes where the puppy will be looked after best.


I think we will make an awesome home for the puppy. I am a stay at home mum to my two little boys. We live in a house with a big yard and secure fencing. We're in quite a rural area, not near any main roads and we're about 5 minutes away from the river.
My partner has a stable job, and we have a very happy and loving home. I'm trying to show a very keen interest (without annoying my poor breeder!), and show that I am learning all I can about this beautiful breed while I wait. We have had dogs before, but not Newfs.

I've never bought from a breeder before, only ever adopted from shelters so I don't know what to expect, and I'm really nervous!
So my question is - How did your breeder choose you? Or, as a breeder, what criteria do you use to select the best homes for your puppies?

 

[Joan Fisher]

Please go to the stickies in this section and read through No's 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 first! I would be wary of a breeder allowing a puppy to go home before the 10 week cardiac check. 27th July would only be 9 weeks, but maybe it's the 3rd of August when the puppy would be 10 weeks that you would get the puppy.

 

[Elizabeth]

What Joan said
So so important to learn as much as you can about newfs and breeders, and red flags before you bring a pup home

E

 

[Nicoletta]

Thanks guys, I've read all the stickies and the breeder I'm speaking with is the president of the Newfoundland Club of my state, so she is very well known, respected and trusted.
I know how to choose a good breeder...I'm wondering what I can do to improve my chances of this good breeder choosing me

 

[Henrys Mom]

I don't think there is really anything you can do to make the breeder "pick you!" If you have talked to her on the phone I am sure she has a good feeling if you are a fit for one of her puppies. Most people have a good instinct about other people! I would just maybe send her an email telling her again that you are very interested and that you would appreciate her considering your family as a place for one of her puppies. Then you just wait! If she doesn't pick you then maybe she's not the breeder for you or maybe the time is not right for you. Things have a way of working out!

I am sure you are ready for a Newf puppy! It's a LOT of work!! Best of luck!!

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

Thanks guys, I've read all the stickies and the breeder I'm speaking with is the president of the Newfoundland Club of my state, so she is very well known, respected and trusted.
I know how to choose a good breeder...I'm wondering what I can do to improve my chances of this good breeder choosing me

Then she should know not to send puppies home before the cardiac check at 10 weeks, and maybe she's not. 10 weeks from May 25th is August 3rd, which some people may very well consider "late July".

I'd just try to relax and let your circumstances speak for themselves. I tend to be a bit wary of people who are over the top or pushy to show how good they are. It makes me nervous they're hiding something. (*In my work/personal life. I'm not a breeder)

Regardless, you know what you have to offer a puppy, and one day you'll get the perfect dog for your family. Hopefully it's one of these, but if it's not there's a reason for that. Your puppy will come!

 

[blaue_augen]

I am not experienced, Suki is our first newf and our first dog from a breeder, so take my advice for what it's worth. But I say, just be yourself. Let your breeder see your excited about the breed. Let her see your keen interest in learning. No one knows everything and willingness to learn is so important. Let her see who you are and who your family is. Be as honest and as much yourself as you can.

Also, you want her to pick the right puppy for your family. For me, that was more important than the timing and whether we would have to wait for another litter. I asked my breeder to choose the puppy which best suited a family with young children.

I wish you lots of luck and I'm hoping for a nice sized litter with lots of options for you!

 

[Nicoletta]

Thank you all

I am sure that she will not let them go until they have had their cardiac check, I figured she was just giving me a rough time as she didn't specify a specific date or anything...and of course I wouldn't choose a breeder that didn't have each pup's best interests at heart

I'm trying not to seem over eager, and at the same time show that I am very interested. I'm just so nervous and excited because I have been waiting a very very long time.
You're all right, I just need to keep calm and be patient...fingers crossed one of the puppies from this litter will be the one, but if not then I guess it's not meant to be

 

[Nicoletta]

I am not experienced, Suki is our first newf and our first dog from a breeder, so take my advice for what it's worth. But I say, just be yourself. Let your breeder see your excited about the breed. Let her see your keen interest in learning. No one knows everything and willingness to learn is so important. Let her see who you are and who your family is. Be as honest and as much yourself as you can.

Also, you want her to pick the right puppy for your family. For me, that was more important than the timing and whether we would have to wait for another litter. I asked my breeder to choose the puppy which best suited a family with young children.

I wish you lots of luck and I'm hoping for a nice sized litter with lots of options for you!

Thank you so much :hugs:

 

[Puppypeoplenj]

About the cardiac check, my breeder (who seems to be universally respected and is very well-established in the NCA) lets her puppies go at 9-10 weeks, and is willing to let us bring him home at 9 weeks, right after he's had his heart checked. 10 weeks is a great benchmark, but it's not necessarily a hard and fast rule, and I think 9 weeks is fine. Another very well-respected breeder that many people here have dogs from also lets her puppies go at 9 weeks sometimes.

9 week cardiac check and pick up doesn't necessarily mean that her breeder should be brought into question.

 

[marylouz]

I think the operative clause is "cardio check by a cardiologist" some cardiologists are comfortable doing checks earlier than others. I would be suspicious of pups being placed without a certificate from a cardiologist at any age. From my own experience - getting to the cardiologist is several hours including a $40 ferry ride - basically takes a whole day - so I am more comfortable waiting until 10 weeks because there are fewer innocent murmurs that need to come back for a recheck.

 

[marylouz]

Getting back to your original question - I like puppy buyers who take the time to educate themselves about the breed - go to http://www.newfbooks.org - read Jo Ann Riley's book, Emmy Bruno's book and Newfoundlands Today by Hedd and Del Richards. Go to Judy Adler's site - http://www.sweetbay.com and order (and read) The Newfoundland Puppy: Early Care, Early Training. Take the time between now and when your puppy will come home to attend some Newf events- check out the regional club closest to you and their event calendar. Ask your breeder if they will be out at any shows and can you come and watch. Most importantly- ask questions - breeders want puppy homes that want to learn and demonstrate that they want to do the best they can for their pup.

 

[shellyk]

I think the operative clause is "cardio check by a cardiologist" some cardiologists are comfortable doing checks earlier than others. I would be suspicious of pups being placed without a certificate from a cardiologist at any age. From my own experience - getting to the cardiologist is several hours including a $40 ferry ride - basically takes a whole day - so I am more comfortable waiting until 10 weeks because there are fewer innocent murmurs that need to come back for a recheck.

I have learned that our breeder is basically a back yard breeder with a fancy website and there wasn't a cardiologist check. Luckily our Vet didn't find any issues with our pup but I am morbidly curious - what happens to the pups that don't pass the "cardio check"?:idea:

 

[Joan Fisher]

I have learned that our breeder is basically a back yard breeder with a fancy website and there wasn't a cardiologist check. Luckily our Vet didn't find any issues with our pup but I am morbidly curious - what happens to the pups that don't pass the "cardio check"?:idea:

Unfortunately some get put down.

 

[marylouz]

The vast majority of pups that do not pass an initial cardio check are held for 4-6 weeks and re-checked. The issue is that pups can be born with an innocent "idiopathic" murmur which usually fades completely away by the time the pup is 12 weeks or so. Murmurs from SAS are not present at birth and begin to be heard around 7 weeks - so there is an overlap of a couple of weeks when a murmur can be heard but you cannot tell if it is an innocent puppy murmur that will go away or the beginnings of SAS - these pups are held for a month a rechecked. If a pup continues to have a murmur then an echo is done and the murmur is graded from 1 (mildest) to 5 (most severe) pups with lower grade murmurs can live long happy lives but care should be taken with anesthesia, medications and over exertion, pups with high grade murmurs often die suddenly at a very young age - some breeders keep them for as long as they live, some breeders place then with trusted family/friends who are willing to accept the shortened lifespan, and some pups with severe murmurs are euthanized.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

but I am morbidly curious - what happens to the pups that don't pass the "cardio check"?:idea:

It depends on the severity of the condition. Most times the pup is given to a family (preferably without children) that has full knowledge of the condition if it is a considerable problem. Some pups outgrow minor issues and the family may be asked to re check the pups at some future date.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

Hello again NN :wave:


So my question is - How did your breeder choose you? Or, as a breeder, what criteria do you use to select the best homes for your puppies?

You sound like you would give a pup a good home and that is what a breeder looks for. An ideal home would have some family members at home in the day for the pups care. A knowledge of owning a giant breed is important (shedding, grooming, drooling,). Are you a member of the club she is affiliated with? If not, join it and go to the events or go to a show to see newfs. Look into pet insurance plans now. Ask the breeder what food she recommends so you can look for its availability in your area. Good luck!

 

[miriamstolle]

I would visit, go to some newf club activities even without a newf. My husband and I did. We felt foolish without a dog but it was so fun and we met great people! it was very nice to actually be around a big, shedding, wet, and hairy group of dogs and get a real feel for what we were getting into! And it will give you ideas about what you realistically want to do with your dog once you get one, and that will give you a whole new direction to focus on. In a fun way! And, be yourself, be eager, and be realistic. And if she doesn't pick you the first round that just means she has not found the best pup for you and your life. Far better to wait than jump the gun! I do feel your pain. I was so hoping our breeder would let us have a pup. SOOOO hoping for it! But I did have a back up plan (which consisted of me telling myself and my husband that it was ok to not have a pup right at that moment, that we would be that much more prepared when our special baby did finally come....that was my whole plan. Nothing to special, but it guarded my heart a bit from let down should that occur) It will all work out! I do suggest visiting your breeder though just to get a feel for her dogs, their temperaments, the facility, etc etc. all of that I am sure you already know, you sound very put together which I'm sure will help your case!

 

[Ksullivan]

We got our Sully at 10 weeks, and unless we were just lucky he is the best dog we have EVER had!! I have read on here that staying the extra week or two helps them socialize. It truly is the truth with our WONDERFUL GENTLE GIANT!!!!

 

[R Taft]

Getting back to your original question - I like puppy buyers who take the time to educate themselves about the breed - go to http://www.newfbooks.org - read Jo Ann Riley's book, Emmy Bruno's book and Newfoundlands Today by Hedd and Del Richards. Go to Judy Adler's site - http://www.sweetbay.com and order (and read) The Newfoundland Puppy: Early Care, Early Training. Take the time between now and when your puppy will come home to attend some Newf events- check out the regional club closest to you and their event calendar. Ask your breeder if they will be out at any shows and can you come and watch. Most importantly- ask questions - breeders want puppy homes that want to learn and demonstrate that they want to do the best they can for their pup.

"like"

And even fi you have had many newfies before, starting with a new breeder is just as nerve-wrecking.i have just put myself on a list with a breeder. All my other newfies since the late 80's have come from one breeder. I want a bitch now that is very similar in Breeding to a dog that is doing so well in the USA (Osca)and now i have to go through all of the "will they like me enough" stuff too..So I know where you are coming from, it is scary. So just be yourself. Hopefully you have had some previous dogs to tell her about. My first breeder also asked for a Vet references. My newf breeder can at least see my present newfies and what i do with them Good luck