When it comes to contracts with a breeder, do you know what to expect?
Here’s the third and final part of my video interview with Bernese Mountain Dog breeder Angela Evans, and AKC Breeder of Merit, about how to pick the right Berner puppy for your family.
In this installment, Angela talks about what to expect in Bernese Mountain Dog contracts and the best time for a puppy to go home with the new family.
The video series:
- Part 1: What type of dog is right for you? (4 mins, 24 sec)
- Part 2: The importance of temperament (2 mins, 33 sec)
- Part 3: What to expect in a contract and when a pup should go home with the new family (3 mins, 14 sec)
Need even more help?
Need help on what to look for in a breeder? Read the BernerWise Guide to Buying a Bernese Mountain Dog Puppy.
Transcript of How to Pick a Bernese Mountain Dog Puppy, Video Part 3
Eileen Blass: A responsible breeder typically asks the buyer to sign a contract. What should a buyer expect in a contract?
Getting Ready for Christmas?
Check Out The Berner Nerd Store!
Angela Evans: You should never buy a puppy with the intent that you will ever let that puppy go, but we all understand that some things can happen and health issues can change.
You should make sure that the breeder is willing to take the puppy back for one, or the dog back, or at least work with you if something goes wrong. That is the most important part.
If you’re buying a pet from a pet shop or an un-reputable breeder and something goes wrong, you have nobody to turn to but rescue or the pound and that’s why those dogs are there.
So make sure that your breeder is willing to work with you and help you.
My contracts are very simple. I ask the people to be responsible for the dog’s health on a day-to-day basis. They’re also responsible for taking that puppy to puppy school.
Puppy school is not just important for the dog. It’s very important for the person because, generally speaking, the dogs are easier to train than the people. So, you really should go to a school that can really help you in your day-to-day activities with the dog.
The breeder doesn’t necessarily live close enough that they can advise you always and if the breeder is not there, the breeder may not exactly know what’s going on. That’s what you should look for, a breeder who is willing to help you and at least expects you to take the dog to puppy school.
Eileen: You have a litter on the ground right now. These guys are six weeks old now. What’s the best time for a puppy to go home with a new family?
Angela: I keep my puppies until they’re eight weeks old, anytime after eight weeks.
Sometimes people think that they have to get a puppy at eight weeks. That if they got a puppy at 4 or 5 months, the puppy would never bond to them but that’s really not true.
Puppies will bond to you at any time.
I don’t let them go before eight weeks because they need that social time with their mother and with their littermates.
And Bernese Mountain Dogs will bond with you at any age actually. You could get a six-year-old dog from somebody and given a little bit of time, a little bit of love and a couple of good cookies, it’s your dog. It’s a nice breed.
Eileen: Thanks Angie for sharing your knowledge with us. Choosing a puppy is a very important decision. It’s a decision for the rest of that dog’s life. Be wise about your decision and make sure you have a great relationship with your breeder. That’s for the life of your dog, too.
Stud dog contracts.
When contracting for stud service be sure to include a “REPEAT BREEDING” if your bitch does not become pregnant. and Be sure to specify that the repeat breeding will be by the same stud dog ( and NAME THE DOG).
Another berner person and I drove 450 miles each way dropped off bitch #1, and next weekend picked up #1 and Dropped off Bitch #2. and the 3 rd weekend we drove to pick upi bitch #2.
Neither bitch became pregnant. When we advised that we wanted to have a repeat breeding as per our contract we were advised that the Stud dog had Died. We asked for a refund and were told ” Oh no. when I get another male you can used that dog for stud” Neither of us ever saw a penny of our $750 dollar stud fee that each of us paid.
Be careful when contracting.
I enjoyed listning to these three fragments, very clearly told