How do you recognise a good Swedish Vallhund (amateur) breeder?
A good breeder...
- wants a good home for all his pups and will therefore ask you about your situation, wishes and expectations. Be prepared to answer a lot of questions.
- has a lot of passion for the breed and his animals and is looking for the best match.
- wants to know if you prefer a male or a female and will ask you if you're aware pups can be born either with or without a tail.
- will not put people on the wait list when asked to, without having asked more information about you or knowing (of) you.
- knows the regulations of the kennel club and breed association about breeding
- appreciates contact with the buyer of his pups. You are welcome for a visit even before the pups have been born, but also likes to keep in contact after you have taken your pup home.
- has the mother of the pups at home and will allow you to meet her when you visit.
- focuses his attention on a few animals. Beware of breeders who are actively breeding multiple (more than three) different breeds.
- has a lot of information about the breed available and can answer just about any question, but will never guarantee that your pup will have certain traits or qualities.
- knows about points of attention regarding health and education of the breed
- will warn you that this is a type of breed that is late to fully mature (both mental and physical) and will warn you not to push too far too soon.
- can show you the pedigrees of both parents, as well as health checks, passports and show results of at least the mother dog.
- respects the minimum age of 8 weeks (some breeders prefer 9-10 weeks) before the dog can move to its new owner (within country boundaries).
- will not allow the dog to move abroad before the legal term/age (because of mandatory shots and/or procedures).
- wants to make sure that the pup you are taking home is the best match available to prevent disappointment. The breeder knows the pup intimately and can make a good assessment of whether the pup suits the new owner or not.
- can tell you what he does to socialise the pups. Ask him about it! Maybe your home situation has some specifics that the breeder can anticipate on.
- has mother and pups daily (regularly) inside the house. A pup that's raised in a barn has too little contact with different people, other animals and homely smells and sounds.
- takes care of good hygiene. Pups that walk around in their own excrement will have a hard time to become house broken. There's no need to keep things septically clean. However some breeders can tell you from experience that some Vallhunds take their sweet time!
- tells you that a Swedish Vallhund does not like being left alone. He'll stress that you'll need to pay a lot of careful attention to this to make sure the dog can stay alone at home or in the car for a (short) while.
- will tell you that a Swedish Vallhund may like to bark or vocalise and that this behavior will have to be guided appropriately with training and a balanced ratio of activity and rest.
- will let you know that (solitary) seclusion and not being with you are things that will be taken hard by this freedom loving dog that's always aimed at his favorite human.
- can show you proof of coverage and birth. This will give you (some) certainty about obtaining a breed certificate for your dog.
- can show you at least 4 weeks after 'chipping' a DNA profile of mother and pup(s). He is not obligated to give you a copy, but many breeders will give you one.
- offers the pups a safe but also challenging environment (with toys and places to hide etc.)
- is happy for you to come by more than once. If you have no opportunity to do so, think about other ways to contact the breeder or ask for references.
- can tell you more about the (dis)advantages of a buyer's contract or has his own template he can show you before you have to sign it.
- gives you the correct paperwork when you pick up your pup and will also give you information about the food the pup has been given and will also send along a trusted blanket/toy and maybe a 'manual' for the first couple of days.
- is always there for questions and will not force you to make a decision quickly. He can ask you for a downpayment but will usually have the right to not sell a pup to you at the last moment.
- helps you to comply with the laws about im- and export with registration of your pup.
- will always prefer to breed his bitch to a dog 'live'. If either is unwilling, the planned nest must be postponed. Artifical insemination should only be used when the dog cannot be present for live coverage.
- does not try to hide a cesarean or stillborn pups.
How do you recognise a good Swedish Vallhund (pup)?
- A pup may swith between play and sleep. If the pup is awake he will be curious and inquisitive
- A pup has been chipped (around 7-8 weeks) before leaving the nest
- A pup will have a passport where information about shots/titering has been noted and signed by a vet. Pay attention to parvo and distemper and ask about the medicine used to deworm the pups
- A pup that has to go abroad or is imported from abroad must have had his Rabies shot at 12 weeks and after a waiting period of 3 weeks is allowed to travel. Therefore an imported/exported dog younger than 15 weeks is illegal.
- A pup has an active, bright look with dry eyes and a mildly damp nose with clipped nails
- A pup does not wobble around and has a powerful, regular gait/jump.
How does a breeder recognise a good Swedish-Vallhund-owner-to-be?
- The new owner has extensively read and/or talked about the breed and knows about its specific characteristics and needs
- The new owner has a suitable home to offer and has a backup available if the dog cannot stay with him in case of illness, work or holidays
- The new owner is enthusiastic and happy to be informed and advised
- The new owner understands pups need sleep and is patient
- The new owner understands that the pup will need time to get used to his new surroundings and allows him time to acclimatise
- The new owner knows this breed matures late both mentally and physically and will adjust his own expectations accordingly, or will slow down an enthusiastic pup/dog if necessary
- The new owner understands that it can be hard for a breeder to say goodbye to a pup and is willing to send regular updates, especially in the early days
- The new owner understands that a breeder will feel responsible for a pup for life, even after the pup has moved to its new owner
- The new owner is willing to answer questions from the breeder, both before the transaction has taken place and after.
