1 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: Hey, everyone, Welcome to the Foundations podcast. I'm your host, 2 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: Tony Peterson. Today's episode is all about finding the best 3 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: breeder for your next puppy. You might not even really 4 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,760 Speaker 1: be in the market for a fresh recruit yet, but 5 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: that doesn't mean you can't start thinking about that puppy 6 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 1: and where it might come from. When we think about 7 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: the process of finding a litterate, we often sell the 8 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: whole thing a little short. We just focus on the 9 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: type of dog we want. But dogs, you know, like people, 10 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: they vary a lot, and there are some red flags 11 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: and some green flags that pop up all the time 12 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: in the dog breeding world. This episode is all about 13 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: how to identify it both so you can make an 14 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 1: informed decision on just who you might get your next 15 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: furry bff from. Back in twenty fifteen, I was driving 16 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: my wife and then four year old daughters up to 17 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: one of her friend's parents lake cabins. The goal was 18 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,039 Speaker 1: for the kiddos to play in the sand and probably 19 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: drink some lake water while I went out to catch 20 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: some large mouth. As we made the drive north, I 21 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 1: spotted a homemade sign in the ditch advertising twenty nine 22 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,400 Speaker 1: acres for a very reasonable price. I told my bride 23 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: to jot the number down when we came home from 24 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: our day of messing around in the lake, and she did. 25 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: I left a message saying I was interested in the property, 26 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: and then called up a buddy to see if he 27 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: wanted to split it since I couldn't afford it outright. 28 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: Long story, kind of a little shorter. We ended up 29 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: meeting the landowner, making a full priced offer, and using 30 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: a real estate attorney to guide us through the process. 31 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 1: The landowner was insistent that we could just write him 32 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: a check and everything would be good to go. Now, 33 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: on the surface, his price was stupid good, and he 34 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: said the right things and showed us all the right paperwork, 35 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: and it seemed like the kind of deal we just 36 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 1: didn't want to miss. But my buddy, he's far smarter 37 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: than me, and he insisted on the lawyer. And when 38 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 1: we got that lawyer on the process of going through 39 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: all the paper work and everything, he found out that 40 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: the landowner owed sixteen thousand dollars in back taxes. We 41 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: dodged a bullet there. We bought the property and found 42 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: out a couple of years later when I called the 43 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: dot to get a permit to build a driveway that 44 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 1: we didn't really have legal access. The previous landowner had 45 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: sold the roadway eastment rights to the county, and while 46 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: we could drive through the ditch to get there, it 47 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 1: wasn't ideal. It was a stressful couple of years until 48 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: a neighboring landowner approached us about buying the place, and 49 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: that worked out extremely well since he already had access. 50 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: It was also a good lesson that when you buy 51 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: something that is a big commitment, you want as much 52 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: information as possible so you don't do something dumb like 53 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: take on someone else's tax debt or buy a property 54 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: that on paper looks like a dreamy deal but isn't. 55 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: And if you're wondering why we didn't go back to 56 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 1: the lawyer to see why he missed that huge issue, 57 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: it was because he died of a heart attack a 58 00:02:55,919 --> 00:03:00,919 Speaker 1: few weeks earlier. Life is like that. Sometimes happens, but 59 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: avoiding stressful situations like that is always advisable. And I 60 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: think you know where I'm going with this one. Buying 61 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 1: a new dog is a big commitment, or at least 62 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 1: we should look at it that way. I talk a 63 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: lot about finding the right litter, being honest about what 64 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:19,799 Speaker 1: dog is best for you at this point in your life, 65 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: and what dog you will most likely be able to 66 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: work with as well. All of that stuff is super important, 67 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: It just is. But you got to find the right 68 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: breeder in there too. Now. Of course this goes hand 69 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: in hand with researching pedigrees and diving into bloodlines, but 70 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: you got to remember that people are sneaky, and anytime 71 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: you're dealing with someone who is trying to sell you something, 72 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: you might find yourself in a situation where they will, oh, 73 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: I don't know, lie to your face to get your money, 74 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: or at least bend the truth a great deal to 75 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: get your money. Now, this isn't an indictment on dog 76 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: breeders as a whole, but I feel like I need 77 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: to say that it's more of a warning on what 78 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: to look out for before you go deep on a 79 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: deposit and commit yourself to a litter. So let's start 80 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: with a green flag here to keep things positive. And 81 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: maybe this doesn't really matter, but I absolutely think it does. 82 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: I think you should buy a dog from a dog person. 83 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 1: How's that for anti climatic. But what I mean by 84 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: this is that dog breeding, you know, it can become 85 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: a business, And it might become a business because someone 86 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: absolutely loves dogs and they want to share that love 87 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: of dogs and totally immerse themselves in that world of dogs. 88 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: Or it might be a means to making money first, 89 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: which is a red flag. Now let me use an 90 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: example here to put a finer point on this. I 91 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: don't know if this is true or not, but I've 92 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: recently heard that French bulldogs have overtaken the Labrador Retriever 93 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: as the most popular dog breed in the country. This 94 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,119 Speaker 1: might make them seem like they are a new breed, 95 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: they aren't. You can trace the French bulldog back, not 96 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: surprisingly to English bulldogugs, which were actually badass tough dogs, 97 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: but eventually bull baiting fell out of favor and the 98 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: bulldog went to the show ring instead. Say what you 99 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: want about show dogs, but that world has rarely done 100 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: dog breeds too many favors, considering the primary focus is 101 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,919 Speaker 1: usually on aesthetics. So once they hit the show scene, 102 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 1: the bulldogs started getting separated by size, with the smallest 103 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: being the English toy bulldog. Now, these little baby Yoda 104 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: looking dogs became popular for a few reasons, but one 105 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: particular group that really fell for them were the prostitutes 106 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 1: in Paris, France during the late eighteen hundreds. As you 107 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: can probably imagine, Paris had a pretty vibrant brothel scene 108 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: back then, and if you can imagine it, google that 109 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: shit when the kids go to bed. Anyway, the French 110 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 1: bulldogs became more and more popular with a spread of tourism, 111 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: with plenty of them making it across the Atlantic to 112 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: right here in the USA, and in the last ten years, 113 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: for reasons mostly due to the fact that we like 114 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: goofy cute animals, the breed has become extremely popular. Now, 115 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: popularity of a somewhat limited resource will almost always result 116 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: in rising prices in a free market, and that is 117 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,479 Speaker 1: exactly what has happened. But that easy good money also 118 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: drew in people who shouldn't probably be allowed to breed 119 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 1: crickets for lizard food, let alone any kind of dog. 120 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: And surprise, surprise, a hell of a lot of frenchees 121 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: have terrible behavior issues, terrible health issues, and quite frankly, 122 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 1: can be the canine equivalent of a dumpster fire. Now 123 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: that's not the case with all of them, but do 124 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: you think that a breeder of French bulldogs is going 125 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 1: to tell you their dogs often get cancer at three 126 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: years old and died, or that not a single dog 127 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,840 Speaker 1: out of their litter has ever been even remotely trainable. 128 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: They will not. To a lot of folks, a popular 129 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 1: breed of dog is just a green light to breed 130 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,359 Speaker 1: and breed and breed to make money off of each litter. 131 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: They might act like they love dogs, but asking them 132 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 1: exactly how many litters they produce in a year can 133 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: tell you an awful lot. This goes for all types 134 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: of dogs and even your favorite sporting breeds. A person 135 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: who truly loves dogs won't subject their females to NonStop 136 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: pregnancies simply because each litter is worth some decent money. 137 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: They care for their dogs, and they manage their puppy 138 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: production to produce a healthy product while keeping the dogs 139 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: that produce that product healthy as well. This leads me 140 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: to my next point, which is this, If you go 141 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: to talk to a breeder about potentially getting a puppy 142 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: from them, and they don't ask you a whole bunch 143 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: of questions about your life and what you plan to 144 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: do with a dog, that's a big red flag. This 145 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: is true for all dogs, but is a rule you 146 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: should consider following closely. If you're in the market for 147 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: a dog that will have a job like finding every 148 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: rooster in the crp and forcing it to fly so 149 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: you can shoot it in the face with a shotgun. 150 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: A sporting dog breeder that doesn't seem to care who 151 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: is buying their puppies is one that I wouldn't walk 152 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: away from. I'd run away from fast like an antelope. Seriously, 153 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: it's a signal that they aren't concerned with what kind 154 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: of life one of their dogs is going to have. Now, 155 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: that's not saying a good breeder won't let a pup 156 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 1: go to a house where it'll never hunt roosters and 157 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: will only get walks in the park, but there will 158 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: be a conversation about that at the very least, and 159 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 1: it should be a conversation where you ask a bunch 160 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 1: of questions of them as well. This is the other 161 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: part of the whole deal. And man, is it important 162 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 1: You want a dog that is going to be best 163 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: for you. And the one who knows more about the 164 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: litter than anyone is the breeder. There's no way around that. 165 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,079 Speaker 1: Ask them about how litters they produce every year, ask 166 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 1: them how they socialize the puppies before they go to 167 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 1: their new homes. How long do they wait before they 168 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: let their puppies go? If they say five weeks and 169 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: not something like eight, that's a big red flag. There's 170 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 1: just a window where puppies need to be with their 171 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 1: litter mats and their mom, and if you cut that 172 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: window too short, a hell of a lot of behavioral 173 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: issues can crop up later that are not much fun. 174 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:29,319 Speaker 1: Ask them to see their puppy rearing setup. This can 175 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: tell you an awful lot about what kind of breeder 176 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: you're dealing with. And while it might feel like you're 177 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 1: overstepping your bounds a little bit, you're not. In fact, 178 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: a good breeder will likely offer up a little tour 179 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 1: without you having to ask, because they will be proud 180 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: of their setup. This goes for watching the parents work 181 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: as well, if that's at all possible. Genetics are very powerful, 182 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 1: and watching mom run through some retrieving drills or spending 183 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:56,839 Speaker 1: some time around dad can tell you a hell of 184 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: a lot about what kind of a puppy you're likely 185 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: to get out of a litter. It's also a good 186 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 1: idea to think about the price of a breeder's puppy 187 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 1: a little due diligence on this front goes a long 188 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,199 Speaker 1: way toward figuring out where to get a dog from. 189 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 1: For starters, if you haven't bought a new puppy and 190 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 1: say ten or twelve years, prepare for a little sticker shock. 191 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:19,559 Speaker 1: If you haven't been living under a rock your whole life, 192 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: you probably have noticed that a lot of stuff doesn't 193 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 1: get cheaper over time. You know, this goes for real 194 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: estate and it goes for dogs. But that's not a 195 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: good excuse to go bargain shopping for a puppy. A Look, 196 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: I get in trouble every time I talk about the 197 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: cost of dogs, but I keep doing it anyway because 198 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 1: I think it's important. Bargain shopping for a puppy is 199 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,959 Speaker 1: a bad, bad idea. Now, if you want to do it, 200 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: go ahead, But understanding why dogs cost what they do 201 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 1: is important. Let's use golden retrievers here as an example. 202 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 1: You can find golden puppies for four hundred dollars or 203 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:02,719 Speaker 1: three thousand dollars, but there's such a spread. While for starters, 204 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: a show golden with total junk blood will be cheap 205 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: because that can be as simple as breeding one gold 206 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 1: into another, and that's that Now, sure you'll get a 207 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: purebred puppy, but that doesn't mean anything. A purebread dog 208 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 1: can be a dog that is chock full of incest breeding, 209 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 1: or it can be a carefully curated bloodline with the 210 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 1: best field trial of master hunt champions brought together to 211 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: produce a litter of ultra healthy, super smart, and hard 212 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: working athletic dogs cheaper than average is a red flag. 213 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: A breeder who can't sell their dogs fairly easy is 214 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: a red flag. Now, sometimes things happen, there will be 215 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,959 Speaker 1: a leftover puff that someone backed out on or something else. 216 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,319 Speaker 1: But generally, anyone who has to discount the price of 217 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: their dogs to sell them is someone who you might 218 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: not want to buy a dog from. Now, the other 219 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: end of the spectrum are the premium priced dogs. Why 220 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 1: are they so expended? Is it because of that ultra 221 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: careful breeding with limited litters per year resulting in a 222 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: three year waiting list? Is it because of the genetic 223 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: testing which is not cheap, or the fact that they 224 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,959 Speaker 1: are sourcing the best dogs in the country to produce 225 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 1: their litters. Do their pups come with health guarantees? Do 226 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 1: they come from a breeder who also trains and is 227 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,439 Speaker 1: including a bird and gunfire introduction. When that dog matures 228 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 1: a little, what is the overall package you're potentially buying. 229 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: Keep in mind that some breeders are good at producing litters, 230 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 1: but great at marketing themselves and their dogs. Is the 231 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 1: best things going. Some of the most expensive working dogs 232 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: out there fall under this category. But generally, even if 233 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: you do pay up for some of this marketing, you're 234 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: still going to get a pretty damn good dog. This 235 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:49,959 Speaker 1: is a hard lesson to learn, but you just really 236 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: don't want to go cheap on a dog just for 237 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,680 Speaker 1: the sake of going cheap. Now. I know that plenty 238 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: of you are thinking this prick doesn't know anything. My 239 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:00,040 Speaker 1: best dog ever was a farm dog I found on 240 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: the side of the road, and it could out hunt 241 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: the best bread sporting dogs out there. Sure that's possible. 242 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: It's possible to win the lottery too, but I wouldn't 243 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: use that as my retirement plan. Tom Dokin describes this 244 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 1: situation as a buy once, cry once deal. Maybe that 245 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:21,959 Speaker 1: well bred pointer is two thousand dollars for the puppy, 246 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 1: but not paying for a couple acl surgeries later, or 247 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 1: having to put your dog down at five because of cancer. 248 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: Is worth that price of admission with breeders, figure out 249 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: what you're actually paying for for that puppy. Now, one 250 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: last thing I'd like to say about this involves making 251 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: an impulsive decision on a breeder. If you find yourself 252 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 1: suddenly stressed because you want to dog this spring and 253 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: you really haven't done enough research, then you'll open yourself 254 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: up to too many concessions in the process. You want 255 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 1: to know how I know this. Once, when my wife 256 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 1: was super pregnant with a litter of babies, we couldn't 257 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: really decide on what to do with childcare. I don't 258 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: know if you've heard or not, but daycare for newborns 259 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 1: is like the financial equivalent of being hopelessly addicted to 260 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: pure cocaine, Italian sports cars, and private spaceflight all at 261 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:15,559 Speaker 1: the same time. So we drug our feet, which in 262 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: hindsight was not very smart, and we got into a 263 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: situation where we thought it would be cheaper to get 264 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: a nanny, which seemed like it would work out better 265 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: since our next door neighbors, who we were good friends with, 266 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: also needed a nanny for their daughter. We figured we 267 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 1: could combine forces, and the woman they found to be 268 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: the nanny she seemed good enough, but we were desperate, 269 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 1: and then they backed out and we went with this 270 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: nanny anyway. She ended up being late a lot, and 271 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: when she left her Facebook page up on our computer, 272 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: which tells you how long ago this was, I realized 273 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: that the person watching my kids for twenty hours a 274 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: week was a total dipshit who probably wasn't qualified to babysit. 275 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 1: A relatively independent hamster lesson learned, desperate times and all 276 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 1: that jazz, the urge to get a new puppy can 277 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: come on strong, and when it does, that litter advertise 278 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: on the flyer at the local cafe might seem like 279 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: it's good enough, but it probably isn't. The truth about 280 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 1: good breeders, and they're equally good dogs, is that it's 281 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: not like going to a grocery store to get a 282 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,360 Speaker 1: gallon of milk or a loaf of bread. Those good 283 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: dogs just don't exist at all times and in such 284 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 1: a way that when the mood strikes you, you can 285 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: make a phone call and eight weeks later pick up 286 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: your new quail dog. It just doesn't work like that. 287 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 1: But what's worse is that there are dogs out there 288 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: available at all times the market does have you covered 289 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: in that aspect, but that doesn't mean that at the 290 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 1: moment you want a dog, the kind of breeder you 291 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: want to give your money to in exchange for a 292 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: twelve year commitment is going to be waiting for you. 293 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: The more time you give yourself to find the right breeder, 294 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: the better off you'll be. You'll get to know what 295 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: their program is really like, hopefully see their dogs work, 296 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: and get a feel for what they really are offer, 297 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:04,119 Speaker 1: not only as the producers of litters, but the handlers 298 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: of those dogs in the extremely important formative weeks when 299 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 1: they hit the ground, but before one of them ends 300 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: up in your care. And on top of that, a 301 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: good breeder might be able to connect you with the 302 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: right trainer if you need it, or just be there 303 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 1: when you have questions about your dog. The right breeder 304 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: has the exact same goals as you with the dog. 305 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: They want to see it thrive, to have a great life, 306 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: and to just be that super special addition to your 307 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: family and your life that they are just meant to be. 308 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 1: It's honestly a pretty badass partnership and one that you 309 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: really don't want to get wrong. So think about that, 310 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: think about coming back in two weeks because I'm going 311 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: to talk about the other end of the spectrum, which 312 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: is dealing with an aging dog. This is something I'm 313 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: going through right now and it sucks a lot, but 314 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: it's also an opportunity to do right by a dog 315 00:16:55,560 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: that has likely given you so much. That's it for 316 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:04,159 Speaker 1: this week. I'm Tony Peterson. This has been the Houndation's podcast. 317 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,880 Speaker 1: As always, thank you so much for your support Cal 318 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,640 Speaker 1: and I here on this feed. We appreciate it so much, 319 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:12,880 Speaker 1: and so does the Greater Meat Eater team. We would 320 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 1: be nothing without your support and your loyalty, so truly, 321 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: we appreciate it. If you find yourself bored out of 322 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 1: your mind, you need some more entertainment, You want to 323 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: learn something, you want to find a recipe, maybe you 324 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:26,439 Speaker 1: just want to listen to some more podcasts, go to 325 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 1: the meadeater dot com. So much good content up there. 326 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 1: We drop hunting videos all the time. There's new podcasts 327 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 1: from Clay, newcome from Brent Reeves, this Country Life, whatever, 328 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:43,199 Speaker 1: so much stuff going up. Check it out at the 329 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 1: medeater dot com.