when to contact breeder/rescue?

[Kitty]

I've wanted a newf since I was 13. That's when I met my first newf, Sophie, while volunteering at an animal shelter (she was adopted by a nursing home, where she became "the best medicine money can't buy" according to the nurses).

Anyway, I've been waiting a loooooong time for a newf. In about 1.5-3 years I think the stars finally will be in the right alignment for me to acheive my lifelong goal.

So my questions are ...
- how soon should I contact/begin researching breeders?
- when should I contact rescue, if I decide to go that route?

I must add that all of you people getting puppies are making it VERY hard to wait patiently.

TIA

 

[newfloverqc]

We started looking at breeders about 2 years before we wanted a pup. Time to visit 5 breeders, decide, then wait until we were ready.

Puppies are great, but it is the dog you will have the majority of the time the dog lives with you.

Good luck in your search !

 

[dogger]

As you are contacting breeders, also contact your local rescue. Either way you may be in for a long wait.
For example some rescues are not all that busy. Last year we placed 4 dogs. this year I all ready have 2 to go to homes and it is not yet the middle of January.
Let me also point out some of the benefits to rescue.
1)you are most likely past the puppy stage... some may find it the best time.. other like to be able to sleep through the night with out gettin up at 12:30, 2:00 4:00 (all am)
2) you know what size your dog is going to be
3) your new adult dog has been evaluated for temperment and personality and specifically screened (I hope) to fit into your family
4) most likely house broken (one can only hope)
5) less up front cost (the dog has been altered, microchipped, vet checked and vaccintated)
6) No need to worry about unethical breeders. Folks who do rescue are ONLY in it for the breed. We give our time, our money, our homes and our hearts becasue we absolutely, 248% love thsese dogs. There is no chance for us to make money off of them (good breeders dont turn a progit either but this is not about that debate do a topic search if you are interested).
So as you talk to breeders, please also consider the dogs others left tied to trees to lay in their own urine until their skin burned.... were tossed out in fields (as they were no longer suitable for breeding for profit) for us to be picked up or to be shot and left as kyote food...
The ones who are tied to door knobs with notes saying please find a good home we cannot afford her or dogs whos families loved them but life got in the way.

Sorry kinda went off on a tangent there. I would suggest conacting both. talk to both see what will best work in you life

[ 01-12-2005, 08:36 PM: Message edited by: dogger ]

 

[Jeannie]

Please check your PMs

 

[NKlein]

Tia,

I'm sure that many of us know what you are going through right now. Daniel and I wanted a newf very badly for at least 2 years before we got Byron, but we wanted to make sure we provided the best for Byron, so we waited until we could get a house with a big yard and beach access and I could take off a few months to raise Byron when he was a small pup. In the 2 years we waited, we visited breeders, read every publication about Newfies we could get our hands on, went to local NCNE events and bought tons of toys. We even named Byron about a year and a half before we got him! Waiting for Byron was one of the most difficult things I've had to do, but it gave us enough time to thoroughly research the breed and find out which breeder was best for us. Driving home with Byron was one of the happiest days of my life and I couldn't stop petting him because I couldn't believe we finally had him. I actually cried for the first 1/2 of an hour of our trip! I know it's really tough for you right now, but you will definitely get your newf someday and you'll enjoy every minute you have with him/her. Just try to hang in there and do as much research as you can and know that you'll be a better parent for it. Not that anything can fully prepare you for newf parenthood! We're all here if you get discouraged and if you live near any of us, I'm sure you could visit!