Hello from Central MN!
I'm looking now and have found several breeders via the OESCA referral, but am looking elsewhere too, just in case. I've come across one called Northcrest Hills in Atlanta and Fair Oaks in MO and the timing of their next litters would be great, and they both *seem* like reputable breeders. Has anyone heard of them or had any experiences with them? (I hope I'm not breaking any rules by asking that here! If so, please feel free to slap me on the wrist and I'll correct the post) I love reading through the posts here (and had a good giggle from the Behaviour forum about the dogs who get in a tizzy about the bathroom door being shut)! Hopefully sometime in the next few months I'll have some photos to post for you, too.  |
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WELCOME TO THE FORUM...  I am not intune with that breeder. I am sure someone here can.
Good you started with the OESCA. Many here can tell you the best. Where are you moveing to??? That would help.. |
| Oh, just near our current town. No major changes in location. I have only just started looking at breeders, so I'm sure I'll come across quite a bit in the near future.
Thank you!! Thanks for having me here |
Welcome from St. Louis!!!!! Glad you found us!!!  Can't wait to see pictures.... |
| Hi and welcome!
There are a few of us in Minnesota. I am down by Mankato. Good luck with your puppy search. There just aren't a lot of litters from good breeders around us at the moment.  Like none that I know of.
I looked at the website of the kennel you listed in GA - I don't know them, and don't sound like an OESCA breeder. Just someone with a couple dogs makin' babies and selling them. There are several members here from that area, maybe they will know of them personally. |
| If I am not mistaken, Alanta and Mo. are big puppy mill states so choose wisely. At minimum a reputable breeder should have the parents hips and eyes tested, and the certificates should be available for you to see. They should also offer a health guarantee. It is better to wait for a pup you know is coming from healthy stock.
I would also make sure your SharPei is ok with other dogs. They are of guard dog origin and all of the ones I have known here have been a bit scary. Welcome and Good Luck! |
| Yeah, there wasn't much to be found from their website. We may talk with them on the phone this weekend and I have loads of questions (health certifications, etc.). is there anything specific that people generally don't think to ask? or if a breeder does not show dogs as well, should i automatically cross them off my list?
Thanks! |
wendy58 wrote: If I am not mistaken, Alanta and Mo. are big puppy mill states so choose wisely. At minimum a reputable breeder should have the parents hips and eyes tested, and the certificates should be available for you to see. They should also offer a health guarantee. It is better to wait for a pup you know is coming from healthy stock.
I would also make sure your SharPei is ok with other dogs. They are of guard dog origin and all of the ones I have known here have been a bit scary. Welcome and Good Luck! If nothing else, I've been in contact from Loehr's in Montana who may have pups for October but obviously no real idea yet. i did find her from the OESCA referral. I contacted lambluv but haven't heard back. I'm willing to wait if we need to, but I'd rather know I looked at every possible option and weeded out the not so good ones. Our Shar-Pei is awesome, we have definitely considered her in this. She is well socialized and has a great temperament in general, and has never had issues with being territorial and rarely gets grumpy. She can hardly bear her excitement when new friends come around to play, or old ones for that matter. The cat is not so thrilled with her friendliness, and a bigger playmate would be heaven. It's sad the ones you've seen haven't been as kind. Our girl has such a huge heart. Oh crap, I guess I figured puppy mills would be fairly easy to spot given the conditions their dogs are in, but are they smarter now than a few years ago? Guess I have another thing to research. I hate that people do that to living things. =/ |
| I think "most" hobby breeders give you a 2 year health guarantee...but who would return their dogs after they love them? Make sure they do not let the pups go into your home before 8 weeks. I prefer 10 if you can get them to wait as they are a bit more sure of themselves at that time. It is a big red flag if they let them go sooner.
It is a good idea if they will let you contact other homes where previous pups are living. Run away if they do not test or will not let you see the certificates. My pups breeder sent them to me before I made any committment, and the parents pedigrees were sent as well. (online) I wouldn't get a pup just because they are close to you either...make sure you find a quality breeder and know there is a big difference in costs. Any OES for under $1000.00 (this is a low price too) is also a red flag. Loehr's has beautiful quality dogs...I would recommend her as I saw one of her pups at Sheepiefest in March. One of our members here has the pup. If you pm me I will have her contact you about her experience. |
| Thank you! I'm glad I posted here before getting too deep in looking. There are things you have all mentioned already that you don't really find in some of those "questions to ask a breeder" articles!
got sheep - I missed earlier that you were from Mankato! I am originally from Waseca
Yeah, only a couple breeders in MN and one isn't going again till 2010. I haven't tried to contact the other yet (Elm Knoll in Minnetonka) - there seem to be quite a few in WI. Are there any you can speak for? I'd rather find something near me to visit in person, but eh. Like you said, not a lot around us. OH! I know where I found Loehr's, they're listed under WI but are actually in Montana. |
| Funny - small world!
I am originally from Stillwater, but I moved to So MN to go to college (UMW in Waseca  ) and got a job near Nicollet, then met my husband (from Mankato).
I will send you a PM about some breeders. |
| Terri Rhodenkirch has Janet's dogs and breeds under the Loehr pre-fix.
Yes there is a greater concentration of breeders in WI than in MN. Dawn and I were surveying some of them not too long ago because someone else in MN was looking for a puppy and we were hoping someone had a litter planned. The sisters behind Elm Knoll are very nice. They have (essentially) Jere Marder's Lambluv dogs. You may also want to give Jane Collen/Barkshire a call. She was (duh! sorry, Dawn! ) absent from the show Dawn & I were at recently because she was expecting a litter. The puppies may all be spoken for, providing all went well, but I would definitely give her a call. She's on the list as well.
You should also try to attend the Twin Cities OES Club specialty in June. Dawn - details? That will give you a chance to meet a bunch of breeders and some of their dogs as well. Kristine |
| LOL - well you just posted the PM info I sent...
The Twin Cities OES Club show is Friday June 5th, held in conjunction with the Lake Minnetonka Kennel Club show that weekend (June 6-7). There will be lots of OES (we hope!) all 3 days. It is held at the Scott Co Fairgrounds in Jordan. It's a nice show, good family time. OES judging times will be available closer to the time of the show. - and I will post them! |
| Hello and welcome!!!!
I would not recommend the "breeder" in Atlanta. The ladies up there should be able to help you in your search! Good Luck! |
| ^^^
You both just posted the advice I pm'd as well - minus the local breeder knowledgs |
| I checked out the MO kennel -
They call some "retired" - assuming they are not being used for income (puppies) anymore. Sad...
Most of us call ours "retired" when they are done showing, competing in a sport - obedience, rally, agility, herding, etc. - or being a therapy dog. |
| Oi, I'd been looking at so many show/breeders I hadn't even thought of a non shower using that term. That is sad
She wants $900 for them and $1000 for a blue eyed. =/ The more I look the more I think I'm sticking to the OESCA list!
Thanks for the info on the show next month. Hubby and I are really looking forward to going! And I feel like I'm saying "thank you" way too much but really, you guys have been wonderful and it's only my first day!  |
| Even advertising for a blue-eyed pup should be a red flag. A reputable breeder would rarely even mention eye color, let alone charge more for one with blue eyes. |
| yeah another in my "NO" folder!
at least she was upfront about it, but sheesh. I couldn't care less the eye color. Just want a healthy dog, from a good breeder. Not as easy to find as I'd hoped lol. |
| Dawn (may I call you that?) mentioned Ms Collen, by the way, and we're going to give her a call this weekend to see if she has any pups that are not already spoken for. If nothing else, at least if Loehr's winds up with a litter on the way for fall, I'll know well in advance! Ha. |
| Yes, you can call me Dawn. Most people here are OK with using their names if they have them listed with their posts.
Good luck with the puppy calls this weekend. |
| Just a hint for calling show breeders: week nights, especially Tuesdays, Wednesdays are on average better. Many weekends they're showing.
Jane may be entered this weekend as there's a fairly local show. That means she'd be driving to the show each day if so and not on the road, but it also means you tend to come home a zombie. Not saying don't call her (or others) on a weekend. But don't be surprised if it takes a few days for them to get back to you. Especially if they're at out of town shows. Dawn & I are at a wedding this weekend. A fellow show person. Probably singlehandedly destroyed the Oshkosh Kennel Club Entry with her scheduling I voted for her to get married in the show ring after Best In Show judging, but oddly enough the wench shot that idea down
Best of luck. Kristine |
| Welcome! |
| I knew the date was in May but wasn't sure of the exact date! Congrats to all & hope everyone has a grand time! I like the "destination wedding" idea! Only you, Kristine, would think of that! |
| Thank you!
Regarding weekends - noted, thanks! I didn't realize
We're in no hurry, so I don't mind people getting back at their convenience. |
ChSheepdogs wrote: I knew the date was in May but wasn't sure of the exact date! Congrats to all & hope everyone has a grand time! I like the "destination wedding" idea! Only you, Kristine, would think of that!
Thanks, Marilyn! It's tomorrow and I'll pass your message along. She has Luca and Ruby and her Havanese, Ali, in the wedding party. I suggested that in lieu of releasing doves we all bring our OES and release them at the opportune moment, but she says no doves and no OES free-for-all. She even vetoed my idea of skipping the dancing and running our OES in agility instead! I don't know when she became such a party pooper!  
(I can't understand why no one will hire me as a wedding planner????  I mean, come on! )
Evidently she foolishly insisted on inviting non-dog people  For all that I'm sure it'll be lively and I'm sure stories will trickle out... 
Kristine |
notisolde wrote: Thank you!
Regarding weekends - noted, thanks! I didn't realize We're in no hurry, so I don't mind people getting back at their convenience. Hi, again, Tristan. Sorry about hi-jacking your thread. At least I can say with certainly that OES people in the midwest are fun.
Though she and the person she breeds with are in MI/OH, so a bit further from you, you may also want to chat privately with Marilyn (above) One way or another hopefully you'll have an OES to bring to Sheepiepalooza (St Louis) next year. That's typically Memorial Day weekend. Kristine |
| Haha, it's no worries! I'm horrible for accidentally hijacking threads
Hope you guys have a nice wedding today! I'd love to do Sheepiepalooza, sounds like fun! We're excited just to go to the show that was mentioned here in June, let alone sometime have our own to bring along! |
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