Sooo Confused!!!
I've been lurking about reading all the posts, etc. I've even contacted a few of you via private e mails. I am looking for a puppy. This would be my second OES. My first was with me for almost 15 years. We showed in obedience and actually did get our CD title. We did pet therapy too. My OES is gone now and I've been "dogless" many years. Time just wasn't right. Now it is! I know everyone says go to the OES club breeder referral list. I did that. Some replied and some didn't. I went to the rescue sites and inquired for reputable breeders as well. Funny thing is, some of the rescue people gave me names to stay away from and those very names were on the breeder referral list! Now I am totally crazed!!! You can contact me through the forum's email or PM system, so if anyone has comments on breeders one way or the other, could you let me know? Thanks!!! |
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| I would contact Tarja Koistila at oescrazy2 @ yahoo.com who runs the referral program for the Old English Sheepdog Club of America to see what her take is on anything that you've heard. Tarja is totally unbiased as she is not a breeder.
I would hope that what you are hearing from the rescue people is based on facts, not just rumors/gossip. Many of the people on the OES of A referral list are people who have been breeding for over 30 years & totally immersed in the breed. Also know that MANY of them do not respond to email on a regular basis so it would be wise to make some phone calls. I learned of this first hand in talking to a couple of breeders at the US National that they haven't checked their email in months! 
Everyone has their opinions about people they know. I hope you get the accurate info that you need to make the right decision about your new dog. Welcome the the forum & we can't wait to hear about your new addition!  |
| I ditto what Verve said about contacting them via phone. We stood, open mouthed, when some of the greatest people to ever buy a puppy from said that they hadn't even looked at their computer, let alone their e-mail in months!! While most of us are children of technology, most of the great breeders forget how to turn their computers on!! Definitely call!!!
Tarja can tell you if a breeder is on the OESCA list, if they have a signed code of ethics, if they have any pending complaints against them and if they have puppies available. I would ask the people who gave you the NO list, why that person is on the list. Ill dogs, unhappy owners, unwilling to rehome one of their dogs, or what the general problem with the breeder is. There may be a personal issue or heresay rather than documented facts. You never know if somebody got on that list for a dumb reason or a real and horrible problem. Take your time in researching and deciding where to get your pup from. I'm sure that you already know that pet stores, puppy mills and backyard breeders are absolutely out. (No health testing, bad temperaments, unwilling to support you with answers to your questions, etc.) I do know that 2 of the breeders on the OESCA list are planning litters for late winter/early spring delivery. So just because someone that you contact doesn't have a puppy for you right now doesn't mean that there isn't one coming. Also, some breeders are old and jaded  and don't hand hold well. If they are gruff or more than straightforward, it's just their love for the dogs not a reflection of their true attitudes. (Just like rescue people get burned out, these guys get burned out too!  )
We can also help if you get keep getting stuck. Not that we can yeah or nay any one specific person for you but if you have any specific questions about what someone said, or told you we could interpret for you. Good luck and let us know how it's going! |
| Very good luck. Phone is the way to go.
I got numbers from Tarja, called several of them, got other numbers from the people I called, and eventually found a very reputable breeder this way. It took a bit of digging on my part but it is SO WORTH IT in the end. E-mail didn't work for me. I'm glued to my computer more than my phone, but for some of these breeders I ditto what has already been said! |
| Thank you all for your help. I did contact Tarja and am awaiting her reply.
You are all probably right. People say things for their own reasons sometimes. I'm still contacting, and will do so by phone. I don't mind waiting either. I know its worth it! I have to ask...did the majority of you pick the puppy out yourself or did the breeder select one for you? And did you ship puppy home? I am so nervous about doing that...Thanks. |
| We drove to California (live in Arizona) to see the puppies before we bought and then to pick him up.
We were supposed to get 3rd pick out of 4. But we liked the markings on one and had told the breeder. So when we got there were didn't really get to compare the last two since she had given it away. All that was left was the one with the markings we liked. It is probably best if you can look at them all first so you can pick out the one you like. But that isn't always possible. Some people have great success with it and sometimes you are shipped one that you wouldn't have picked out yourself. Its a toss up. |
| I live in Pennsylvania and had my first show dog shipped to me from California. He made the two leg flight just fine, no problems at all. (Except the woman with the major attitude at the flight counter. She was just asking for a beating!) He was happy, had no problems in the crate and didn't even seem the least bit scared. We used Delta to fly him in. They suck at people service but they do great with dogs.
Another thing is that the breeder has lived with these pups since the moment they took their first breath. They would probably know which one is best suited for you, ie. personality, energy level, cuddliness. You never know if you might have that hallmark, magic moment when you see your puppy and the music starts playing and all that but best to hedge your bets and let the breeder help you decide. |
Ashley wrote: I have to ask...did the majority of you pick the puppy out yourself or did the breeder select one for you?
Most of the OES of A breeders don't really let you pick. They sometimes will give you a choice of a handful of them. The breeders usually will take "first pick" so they can show it & possibly use it for breeding stock down the line. My breeders dogs all seemed to have the same exact temperament so there wasn't a shy one, or a crazy one or anything like that. |
VerveUp wrote: My breeders dogs all seemed to have the same exact temperament so there wasn't a shy one, or a crazy one or anything like that.
You've met Suzi, right? |
Maxmm wrote: You've met Suzi, right?
At 8 weeks old I mean!! And I've only seen Suzi's sweet side. She had every right to beat up on Frank when she was here since he wanted to be on top of her!  |
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