IT'S BETTER TO DEAL WITH AN HONEST PERSON YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH THAN SOMEONE WHO LIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OTHERS AND ANIMALS.
HOW I HAVE COME TO IDENTIFY A GOOD BREEDER - REMEMBER DON'T PLACE A LOT OF IMPORTANCE ON "CHAMPIONSHIP" OR OTHER TITLES.
I base my opinions on my direct experiences. This site is an ongoing site which evolves as I learn more. This site is based on my experiences over the past eight years. I don't agree with everybody but what is boils down to me is honesty and how a breeder treats somebody. My reasons for not recommending people are based on what they have done to me. I don't care about them, their dogs, etc. It's all about ripping people off, lying about others to get ahead and taking advantage of unsuspecting people. So I hope this will help you to avoid what I have experienced. Just be wary of those willing to slander others because their "dog businesses" are being threatened.
AND REMEMBER!!!!! FOLLOW THE MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ -
YOU MAY JUST BE PAYING FOR THEIR EXPENSES; NOT THE QUALITY OF PUPPY.
USE YOUR HEART, BUY WHAT YOU LIKE, AND DON'T BE "SNOWED" BY DECEPTIVE PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK.
QUOTE: " I DON'T KNOW XXXX, PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT A SALE, A GOOD DEAL, AT THE BARGAIN PRICE! SOME PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE SPENT $50,000.00 PER YEAR (FOR 2 OR 3 YEARS) ON SHOWING THEIR DOG. THAT STUD DOG IS NOT AVAILABLE TO ANYONE BUT THE BEST BITCHES. HE MAY SIRE ONLY 3-5 LETTERS IN HIS LIFETIME. YOU DO THE MATH. 5 LITTERS BY 8 PUPPIES = 40 PUPPIES BREEDER KEEPS 2 OUT OF EACH LITTER, SO 30 PUPPIES INTO $150,000.00= $5000.00 PER PUPPY. SO THE TOP AKC BREEDERS GIVE THEIR PUPPIES AWAY AT THE BARGAIN PRICE OF $5000.00! YET THE $500.00 PUPPY BUYERS SWARM YOU WITH CALLS YET NEVER PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THERE MOUT IS! YES PUPPY MILLS ABOUND BECAUSE THE VERY PEOPLE COMPLAINING BUY FROM THEM! " UNQUOTE
The quote above was written by a popular show breeder. This same breeder sent an AKC handleer to buy a bitch from a breeder they bashed to me who was sired by untested parents because he wanted a deal from a breeder who would not sell to him. After reading the numerous articles about AKC and show breeders; I have come to the conclusion that they are the worst! They sent an AKC handler to the breeder they didn't like to purchase a bitch and them sell her to them knowing the AKC does not honor original contracts. I call breeders like this hypocritical and "scavengers". They know a breeder won't sell to them for obvious reasons and so they have to resort to "back door" ways of getting what they know are superior dogs for cheap. WHAT A HYPOCRATE!!!! Actually, based on my direct expeiences; I don't believe AKC honors anything or that registrations are accurate or worth anything. This particular breeder had a full brother sister breeding and recently had multiple litters in one year. The bitch they had the person buy came from untested parents; something they claim is so important. Don't you just love people who claim they "rescue" dogs from dead breeders and then breed them? As if they really cared about the dead breeder? or the dog? if this breeder was really a good breeder in my opinion; they would never have bought the bitch and bred her. Instead of buying puppies from this person, I would be boycotting them for their hypocriical actions. I would describe this person as "slime" and anybody who supports them is no better in my opnion. I would never deal with somebody who does these things. I prefer dealing with people who do thing in the open instead of the shadows. All my opinions. I think they are all full of you know what and themselves. These are the kind of AKC breeders who are now "infecting" the UKC trolling for more puppy sales I.M.O. Remember actions speak louder than words. I can count on one hand how many puppies I have produced. How many has this breeder pumped out? and for what reason? Hmmm, this breeder is looking like the rest of them. FOLLOW THE MONEY!!!!! Many of these hypocritical AKC breeders have bashed Kesang Camp yet you will see Kesang Camp dogs in their lines. Why is that? If they are as bad as they say; why do they want them so badly and why do they use such unethical ways of getting Kesang Camp dogs? They are not about the dogs. They are all about themselves and making money and name for themselves. This particular breeder has only been in the breed a short time and yet it is obvious to me they are all B.S. Just wanting to make a quick buck off the dogs I.M.O. I certainly wouldn't buy anything from them, much less a puppy. No way. You can disagree with somebody but I would much rather deal with an honest breeder than breeders who say the B.S. as quoted above. They are the worst in my my opinion.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE QUESTIONS I HAVE COME UP BECAUSE OF MY EXPERIENCES WITH AKC BREEDERS. SOME OF THESE SELF PROCLAIMED ETHICAL "ELISTIST" BREEDERS SAY MANY OF THESE THINGS YET ARE FRIENDS WITH THOSE WHO BREED UNTESTED, ONE YEAR OLDS AND PARTICIPATE IN WHAT I BELIEVE IS PUBLIC "HATE" GROUPS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. IT SEEMS HYPOCRITICAL IN MY OPINON BUT I GUESS THAT IS WHAT COMPETITION, MONEY, AKC, AND THEIR SELF PROCLAIMED "ELITIST" BREEDERS ARE ABOUT. IN THE END, BUY WHAT YOU LIKE AND I AM NOT TRYING TO SELL YOU ANYTHING, JUST BE CAREFUL.
RECENTLY MANY PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY CAN MAKE A QUICK BUCK HAVE GOTTEN ANY TWO TIBETAN MASTIFFS AND BRED THEM WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE BREED OR THE BACKGROUND ON THE DOGS THEY BRED. THEY HAVE SET UP WEBSITES AND CALL THEMSELVES SMALL "HOBBY" BREEDERS. THEY DO NOT KNOW THE TEMPERAMENTS OF THEIR LINES, THE HEALTH ISSUES AND AS SUCH, I AM THINKING THEY ARE IN FOR SOME HUGE LIABILITY DOWN THE ROAD. I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING BY ANY MEANS BUT I KNOW MUCH FROM BEING TAKEN BY LONG TIME AKC BREEDRES. I HAVE CO-OWNED DOGS THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE; KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW ABOUT SOME LINES, THEIR TEMPERAMENTS AND HEALTH PROBLEMS. IT'S A RISK YOU TAKE. THESE "NEWBIES" HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE SETTING THEMSELVES UP FOR OR THEIR NEW PUPPY BUYERS.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A BREEDER:
MAKE SURE THE BREEDER HAS PERMISSION TO BREED THEIR DOGS. ASK TO SPEAK TO THE BREEDER OF THE DOGS THEY ARE BREEDING. MANY PEOPLE WILL BUY A DOG CHEAP WITHOUT PERMISSION, BREED THE SAME TWO OVER AND OVER BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE A QUICK BUCK. GOOD BREEDERS CHOOSE THEIR BREEDING PAIRS CAREFULLY AND MAY NOT BREED FOR A WHILE BECAUSE THEIR DOGS ARE THEIR PETS FIRST. GOOD BREEDERS LOOK FOR GOOD TRAITS AND JUST DON'T BREED THE FIRST TWO TM'S THEY GET.
STAY CLEAR OF BREEDERS WHO ARE BREEDING MORE THAN ONE BREED. IT IS A SIGN OF A PUPPY MILL . REMEMBER AN AKC CERTIFICATE IS NOT A SIGN OF QUALITY OR ACCURACY. I HAVE FOUND THAT AN AKC CERTIFICATE MEANS NOTHING BECAUSE AKC IS NOT POLICING IT'S REGISTRY FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN.
BEWARE OF BREEDERS BREEDING TWO BREEDS SIMILAR IN SIZE AND COLOR. (EXAMPLE - BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOGS, GREATER SWISS MOUNTAIN AND TIBETAN MASTIFFS). PUREBRED TIBETAN MASTIFF ONLY GO INTO HEAT ONCE A YEAR, USUALLY IN THE FALL. THEY ARE MORE LIKELY MIXES IF PUPPIES ARE AVAILABLE AT OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR. CUT AND COPY THIS LINK TO READ ABOUT THIS: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/739550.shtml
Quote FROM ARTICLE: Female purebred mastiffs only give birth to puppies once a year, while other female dogs can do so two to three times a year.
In order to "help" mastiff puppies grow quickly, some people force-feed them with hormones and supplements. Many puppies are not allowed to roam or exercise, and simply sleep and eat, or have their hair dyed to look more beautiful.
There have been cases of saline water or glucose being injected into mastiffs' legs by breeders to make them look strong and powerful. Many of these poor creatures end up dying shortly after being sold to customers, according to Guo." unquote
ASK TO SEE THE HEALTH TEST OF THE DOGS THEY OWN AND ARE BREEDING.
SPEAK TO RESCUES LIKE BLUE LION IN COLORADO AND TIBETAN MASTIFF RESCUE. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ON THE TEMPERAMENTS OF SOME LINES AND THE BREEDERS THEY ARE FROM.
To avoid all the heartache of these vicious AKC breeders I recommend the following:
1. Never buy a puppy with a co-ownership. People will offer you a dog at a reduced price or free in exchange for breeding it and them getting a puppy back. Don't do it! This is called a pyramid scheme. The breeder offers you a puppy at a reduced rate or free in exchange for you breeding the dog and giving them their "pick". You are basically financing their business. You are the one paying for all the vet bills and in the end for all your hard work; they will wind up with the "PICK" without having to pay a dime or do any work.
2. Never buy a puppy with the conditions that you show or breed and owe puppies back.
3. A registered puppy is not a sign of quality or even a guarantee of pedigree.. Why give them the money? If you want to breed the dog, you can just use a different dog's pedigree to register it. People do it, so why pay for it?
4. Be sure to ask the breeder every question he asks you. After all it is your right to "turn the tables" on them.
5. How many dogs do you think somebody came properly socialize? If the breeder goes beyond your threshold take a pass. Remember you are the customer. You have rights.
6. Remember the Tibetan Mastiff is no longer a rare breed. You can buy them for $400.00 to $500.00 dollars. With such a small gene pool; you will probably get a similar pedigree to a more expensive dog.
7. HERE IS A BIGGIE. HOW LONG HAVE THEY OWNED TIBETAN MASTIFFS? HOW MANY TIBETAN MASTIFFS HAVE THEY HAD? I HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN RECENTLY. SOMEBODY BUYS ANY TWO TIBETAN MASTIFFS AND BREEDS THEM CALLING THEMSELVES A "SMALL HOBBY BREEDER" AND HAVE NO IDEA OF THE HISTORY BEHIND THEIR DOGS. IT'S TEMPERAMENT, IT'S HEALTH ISSUES, ETC. ASK TO SEE THE HEALTH RESULTS OF THEIR DOGS. IT'S EASY TO "ACT" ETHICAL. MICRO CHIPS ARE CHEAP. DID THEY SPEND THE MONEY TO TEST THE SIRE AND DAM BEFORE THE BREEDING? ASK TO SEE THE RESULTS FOR HIP AND ELBOW DYSPLASIA AND THYROID.
8. Tibetan Mastiffs are not for everyone. They are extremely guardy and require lots of socialization. Go to the breeders home. See how their dogs are kept. Are they integrated into the family and live in the house. If not, I personally would not recommend buying from them. This is all my personal opinion based on my direct experiences.
9. Make sure the breeder is the owner of both the male and female used in the breeding. If not, speak directly to the person who owns the dogs. ASK TO SPEAK TO THE BREEDER OF THEIR BREEDING STOCK. IF THEY ARE NOT ON GOOD TERMS WITH THEIR BREEDER; IT IS NOT A GOOD SIGN.
10. Based on my personal experiences I have found that people who breed more than one breed of dogs, and have in excess of 10+ dogs are the ones you want to really stay away from. Ask yourself why would anybody want that many dogs? How can they properly socialize them? Finally, it is obvious to me that they are "BREEDING FOR A LIVING". I only know of a few breeders who do this well. They have been in the breed for many, many years. Are they retired? What does this mean for you? It means that if you question them, or they do something to you, you will be attacked on one of their or friend's SOCIAL MEDIA HATES SITES because people who breed for a living are desperate to sell the dogs to make their mortgage payments and WILL GO TO ANY LENGHT TO SLANDER ANYBODY WHO IS "PERCEIVED" AS A THREAT TO THOSE SALES! THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO BOUNDRIES.
11. Make sure the hip, elbow and thyroid tests have been done on the breeding couple and DNA on file with a reputable DNA registry. Vetgen is one example.
12. Avoid breeders who breed untested one or two year old breeding pairs.
13. Ask for the names of all previous puppy buyers | co-owners, and call them. If they will only give you those they have "cherry picked" go somewhere else. If they have so many they can't keep track; probably best to pass on that breeder.
14. Avoid getting a puppy at a reduced rate or a contract requiring you to breed your dog and give the breeder puppies back. I have found this popular with many "high volume" breeders and I have not had very good experiences with these types of "deals".