I can well appreciate where you are coming from with the pet dog and the expensive price. Some of the best dogs I've had were given to me. In fact, there are three in my back yard now who are shelter dogs. They love me just as much, look like their breed, and act like their breed. The major expense with them has been their spay and their food. I really liked the statements where it was pointed out that the love was there for your maltese, and the knowledge was there that your dog was not show quality.
Now, the one thing I would like to point out on this topic, from a breeder's standpoint, and from the aspect of someone who is working to produce top dogs....
You would be surprised at the number of inquiries that start out as "just wanting a pet", but the more you talk with the people, the higher their expectations go. They want a certain size, a certain look, certain qualities in coat, all the health testing done, and oh, "please just let me breed one litter for my children". Before long, what it amounts to is the person wants to pay a low price, but expects the same as if the dog were show quality. Last week was a joke. My friend got three inquiries in one day, asking for a two or three hundred dog, because they just wanted a pet. I got two the next day for $200. All were wanting females.
What I'm trying to say, in a nice way, is that you can't have your cake and eat it too. If you want a pet, then be willing to have a dog who may be a little long, have a not so perfect tail set, may not have extensive health testing, or may have a cotton coat. It is doubtful that you would get this from a top breeder, as they have pretty well set the standard for their breedings, and they have so much money involved in the process of doing this that they would need to charge a higher price, just to break even. Like Charmypoo said, the other dogs are out there, they just come from different sources.
Last month, I had some family issues that took up a lot of my time. It was obvious that I would not be there for someone I had planned to sell a pup to. I sent them to a friend who was willing to sell them a show quality pup for the same pet price I quoted, just to help me; however, before long, the questions being asked began to make my friend feel her integrity was being questioned, and she did not feel they would provide the best home for the dog because of what they were asking. She decided it was not in her dog's best interest to go live with them. And, because they questioned her, when I got things resolved here, I did not contact them. I would rather give a pup away than deal with people who set their standards so high for pets that I know they will never be happy with what they obtain.
So, for those of you looking for a new pup, outline your expectations, then be realistic when you contact breeders searching for your pup.
And, on another note, I know some of you have gone to places defined as "show homes" to purchase pups with good pedigree. Some of these are people who have purchased dogs with finished championships from other breeders, but they are not actively involved in showing their own dogs. There is a difference. They have a lot less invested in them than those of us who actively show our own dogs.
This may be a good place to get a nice dog, but I've seen that some of them are charging the same or more than some of us who actively show our dogs.
Now, the one thing I would like to point out on this topic, from a breeder's standpoint, and from the aspect of someone who is working to produce top dogs....
You would be surprised at the number of inquiries that start out as "just wanting a pet", but the more you talk with the people, the higher their expectations go. They want a certain size, a certain look, certain qualities in coat, all the health testing done, and oh, "please just let me breed one litter for my children". Before long, what it amounts to is the person wants to pay a low price, but expects the same as if the dog were show quality. Last week was a joke. My friend got three inquiries in one day, asking for a two or three hundred dog, because they just wanted a pet. I got two the next day for $200. All were wanting females.
What I'm trying to say, in a nice way, is that you can't have your cake and eat it too. If you want a pet, then be willing to have a dog who may be a little long, have a not so perfect tail set, may not have extensive health testing, or may have a cotton coat. It is doubtful that you would get this from a top breeder, as they have pretty well set the standard for their breedings, and they have so much money involved in the process of doing this that they would need to charge a higher price, just to break even. Like Charmypoo said, the other dogs are out there, they just come from different sources.
Last month, I had some family issues that took up a lot of my time. It was obvious that I would not be there for someone I had planned to sell a pup to. I sent them to a friend who was willing to sell them a show quality pup for the same pet price I quoted, just to help me; however, before long, the questions being asked began to make my friend feel her integrity was being questioned, and she did not feel they would provide the best home for the dog because of what they were asking. She decided it was not in her dog's best interest to go live with them. And, because they questioned her, when I got things resolved here, I did not contact them. I would rather give a pup away than deal with people who set their standards so high for pets that I know they will never be happy with what they obtain.
So, for those of you looking for a new pup, outline your expectations, then be realistic when you contact breeders searching for your pup.
And, on another note, I know some of you have gone to places defined as "show homes" to purchase pups with good pedigree. Some of these are people who have purchased dogs with finished championships from other breeders, but they are not actively involved in showing their own dogs. There is a difference. They have a lot less invested in them than those of us who actively show our own dogs.
This may be a good place to get a nice dog, but I've seen that some of them are charging the same or more than some of us who actively show our dogs.
