feinberg@trwrb.UUCP (Cheryl R. Feinberg) (04/12/84)
I think the best information you can get on a breeder is by visiting.
I bought my puppy from a breeder whose kennel was their house! Not
necessarily the way I'd like to live (they had 24 dogs), but certainly
the way I'd want my dog bred. The males were in the garage kennel
at that particular time, because there were two females in season
and they carefully control who breeds with who. I really believe
(maybe naively) that you can get a good idea by gut feel. These
people were obviously not getting rich (I get the idea that most
responsible breeders don't), but they loved these dogs. They had
old and infirm dogs who were just as well loved. I understand that
some breeders "put down" old dogs to reduce the overhead.
A puppy's personality is already getting a good start by 8 weeks.
That puppy will definitely be different if raised in a cage that
if handled every day by humans. This is call "socializing" the
dog, and is very important.
I only have my own experience to go by, but this is the first dog
I have bought in this manner, and by far the friendliest, feistiest,
and has the most personality. She seems to love all family members
pretty much equally, expresses A LOT of joy when she sees any of
us, and shows all the exuberance of a very secure child.
Cheryl Feinberg