8. Breeders

• 8.1 Why does/doesn't my local pet store have Newf puppies?

First things first. Pet stores that sell puppies more often than not get those puppies from puppy mills (See "What is a puppy mill" later in this section). True breeders abhor the idea of puppy mills, as should you. If you've talked with a Newfoundland breeder, you have no doubt been assaulted with numerous questions regarding your intentions and home environment. These questions help the breeder to, among other things, prevent their puppies from ending up as breeding stock for a puppy mill. This careful screening of potential buyers has helped keep the number of Newfoundland puppies in pet stores to a minimum.

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• 8.2 Are all pet stores bad?

No, but sweeping generalizations are! ;-) Seriously though - most pet stores that sell dogs and cats get their animals from puppy mills. Want to ensure you don't help a puppy mill by keeping a pet store in business? Buy from pet stores that do not sell dogs and cats. When you start to learn more and more about the pure-breed dog world, you will find that breeders usually have a waiting list for their puppies. You will also find that reputable breeders NEVER sell to pet stores.

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• 8.3 How do I find a Newf breeder in my area?

A great place to start is the Newfoundland Club of America's home page. They have a great list of NCA affiliated Newfoundland Clubs. Their web page is located at http://www.newfdogclub.org

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• 8.4 What is a "puppy mill"?

The term "puppy mill" is used to describe someone that breeds dogs for money, and not to further or enhance the breed. Puppy mills are usually filthy disease ridden places that abuse their animals through excessive breeding and neglect.

Ask any true breeder of dogs whether they make any money on their dogs. They will usually laugh at you. True breeders care about their animals, and they care what happens to them. True breeders will check their dogs for health problems, and screen the prospective owners of these puppies. A true breeder will usually take back a puppy if the owner has a problem with it. Simply put, breeders treat each puppy as the sacred little bundle of life that it is.

Puppy mills want to make money. Period. The health and welfare of their dogs does not concern them, unless the death of a dog threatens to slow down production. Think I'm over-reacting? Take a look at http://www.nopuppymills.com/.

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• 8.5 My breeder sells more than one breed. Are they a puppy mill?

Are the dogs all healthy? Would you let your dog live there? Are the dogs sick? Do the dogs come with health certifications? Do you get a pedigree with your puppy? How often do they breed? Puppy mills are offensive places. Chances are you'll know right away. When in doubt call the authorities.

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• 8.6 The breeder asked me a lot of questions! What's up with that?

They don't want to sell a beautiful Newf puppy to a puppy mill! They don't want to sell their puppies to people that will abuse them or neglect them. They care about their puppies, and they care about their puppies future lives. Their WHOLE lives, not just until the bill is paid! All of these questions help ensure the puppy will live a healthy happy life.

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• 8.7 Why are Newfs so darned expensive?

Breeders need to recoup their expenses. Vet care, health screening, feeding, whelping, sleepless nights, supplies, emergency vet care, and 10,000 you can't even imagine add up to the breeder just breaking even after charging you all that money for a pup. Believe me, breeders are not rolling in cash from their breeding programs.

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• 8.8 What's a limited registration?

Generally a limited registration prevents the puppy owner from showing or breeding their pup without express permission of the breeder. It sometimes requires the owner to have the new pup spayed/neutered after a certain amount of time as well. Why? To prevent people that only want to make a buck from breeding the puppy. The AKC will not allow a limited registration dog from being shown, nor will it allow puppies bred from that dog to receive registration papers. This prevents unscrupulously puppy mills from selling AKC registered pure bred dogs produced from this puppy.

You should note that a dog with a limited registration can still enter into obedience and water work and agility and all sorts of other wonderful events. They just cannot enter conformation shows or be bred.

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• 8.9 What does "show quality" mean?

A show quality dog is one that epitomizes the standard of the breed. A show quality dog is a dog that stands a good chance of winning a dog show, and would therefore make a good candidate for breeding stock. Since these dogs are the epitome of their type, they can often command a higher price. Breeders and people that show dogs are the only people that need show quality dogs.

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• 8.10 My prospective puppy is only "pet quality". Is he/she inferior?

Is a person with a pretty face inferior to one with a slightly less lovely one? Certainly not. A pet quality dog is simply one that is not show quality. It doesn't mean that this animal is sub-standard or imperfect, it simply means that he or she does not exemplify the standard for the breed. You may get a puppy with one white foot. Is he inferior? No. Will he love you any less? Be serious. He will not win a conformation show because of his foot, but he is 100% Newfoundland, and has all the traits that come with the breed.

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• 8.11 My breeder won't sell me a Newf! Why not?

Well first of all, they have every right to refuse you for whatever reason they want. That being said, they may not like the way you think of animals. They may not want their dogs to live in apartments. Could be they just don't like you.

Breeders care a great deal for their dogs. That's why they breed. They will not sell to someone that they feel will not give their puppies the absolute best care they can give. That is their right. Respect it.

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• 8.12 Can I breed my Newf?

No.






Still want to? Call your breeder.

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• 8.13 $1000 a pup! I want to make that kind of easy money!

Easy money?! Aren't you listening? Breeding Newfoundlands (or any dog) is hard work? A LOT of hard work. Puppies die! Can you deal with that? Puppies get sick. Bitches have complications. Vets cost money. A lot of money. Health clearances cost money. Caring for puppies is a simple matter of not sleeping for a month. Just when they get to be self sufficient and fun, they go away and the mother goes crazy looking for them. If you think that the life of the dog is un-important and replaceable just so you can make a buck, then get off my web page. Now.

Just read this question because it was next on the list? OK you can stay. I wrote this FAQ because I wanted to help the breed somehow. I know I don't have the stomach for breeding, so I leave it to the pros. So should you.

Now if I can just figure out how to get down off this soapbox...

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