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Purchasing
a Miniature Schnauzer
(c)
copyright 1999-2001 San
Joaquin Miniature Schnauzer Club.
All Rights Reserved.
Before You Fall In Love
Picking the breed that will best fit into your family is an important step.
Finding a responsible breeder is the most important step of the process.
The information contained here assumes you’ve researched the variety of
breeds and you’ve decided the breed that best fits your family’s lifestyle
is a Miniature Schnauzer. This information also assumes you’ve decided you
can spend the time required to introduce a puppy rather than an adult into
your family. Given these three fundamental decisions, what’s next? You need
to find a responsible breeder to ensure you get a healthy, good-tempered,
beautiful representative of the breed whether you’re looking for a pet or a
show dog. Do this before you fall in love.
Finding Responsible Breeders
The easiest way to meet a number of breeders quickly is to attend local dog
shows. The breeders may seem distracted when you first approach them. Their
focus until after exhibiting their dogs is to ensure they, and their dogs, are
fully ready for competition. After exhibiting, they can spend much more time
with you so arrange a time they can devote to you. Thank you in advance for
your patience!
Responsible breeders are proud of the results of their breeding programs
and are more than willing to share references to help ensure you are
comfortable with their breeding and business practices. Whether at a dog show
or by phone, ask for at least two references of both buyers and other
breeders, and check them, before you actually visit the breeder. Ask the
references why they would recommend the breeder you’re talking with. The
information you receive is invaluable in helping you find a responsible
breeder.
For help contacting Miniature Schnauzer breeders in Northern California,
you can contact the San Joaquin Miniature Schnauzer Club (SJMSC) or
visit our web site at http://www.sjmsc.com.
The club’s Public Awareness Committee is made up of active club members
committed to helping perspective buyers reach responsible breeders and receive
information about the breed. The committee maintains a current list of
screened breeders, including those who currently have puppies available. A
list of committee members is provided at the end of this document for your
information and convenience. Although the SJMSC committee screens member
breeders, always check references and conduct your own research as well.
Veterinarians are often another source to provide breeder information.
Friends may also be able to offer suggestions. The American Kennel Club (AKC)
offers referrals (1-900-407-7877). Once you’ve found a breeder, hopefully
several, you’ll want to begin dialogue before you even go look at a puppy.
Getting to Know Each Other
Dialogue is what you want. In your first conversation, you’ll be getting
to know each other and screening each other by asking basic questions.
Responsible breeders want to get to know you and will ask questions like,
Where will the puppy sleep? Do you have small children? Do you have other
pets? Do you work? Do you have a fenced yard? Will you sign a contract to spay
or neuter? And other questions. The purpose of these questions is to help
ensure you will be happy with the puppy selected, and that the puppy will be
entrusted to a loving, responsible home.
These conversations are important because they help you and the breeder
form a relationship. The relationship is important because you need to feel
comfortable in calling the breeder with questions or to provide information.
In fact, if the initial relationship is formed well, you should feel
comfortable calling years later without hesitation. Responsible breeders
encourage contact. What information should you seek to ensure you’re working
with a responsible breeder? Some of the information you’ll need follows,
along with explanations.
- What is the breeder’s breeding program? Responsible
breeders have planned breeding programs that consistently seek to improve
the breed. Improvement includes breeding away from genetic problems and
breeding dogs that are good physical representatives of the breed
according to the standard set by the American Kennel Club (AKC), including
color, temperament, and size. Breeders should be able to tell you the
health challenges of Miniature Schnauzers, like Progressive Retinal
Atrophy (PRA) and Congenital Juvenile Cataract (CJC), and how they’re
breeding away from those problems. Myotonia Congenita is a hereditary, skeletal muscle disorder that is now appearing
in Miniature Schnauzers. An accurate DNA-based screening test for the disease is easily available.
All Miniature Schnauzers used for breeding should have this test if
they are to be used for breeding. The breeder should inform you that
breeding stock are tested annually, and have proof.
- What kind of environment is provided for the dogs?
Whether the breeder has a kennel environment where a number of dogs are
kept or a home environment with just a few dogs, the environment should be
one where puppies are well-loved, fed a balanced diet, have immunizations
regularly, and are provided with other positive social and behavioral
guidance. Physically, the environment should be clean in appearance and
smell, offer good ventilation and light, contain dogs that are clean and
smell good, and are not over-crowded. Over-crowded conditions include
keeping dogs in crates too often, and too long. If you see lots of crates
and not much space, ask questions. The kind of environment your puppy
comes from can provide you with insight into the personality, health, and
general well being of a puppy. We’ve all heard, or worse, seen, the poor
conditions that can exist in "puppy mill" environments and the
pathetic puppies that can come from them.
- Does the breeder actively show his/her dogs? One
of the ways breeders validate successful breeding programs is to enter
their dogs in competition to acquire championships. There are several
types of championships, all designed to formally recognize individual dogs
that demonstrate skill or represent conformational excellence. When
viewing pictures or discussing "wins" with the breeder, make
sure the efforts are represented ethically by asking if the dogs were
actually awarded points for their efforts.
The Puppy Package
Once you’re satisfied you’re working with a responsible breeder,
you’re almost ready to fall in love. Through your conversations, the
breeder has developed understanding about the kind of puppy that you want as
part of your family. Based on this, the breeder may recommend a particular
puppy, or a couple to choose from. This is a way to help ensure a happy match
and is in no way intended to limit your choice. Now you can fall in love. Once
you’ve reached agreement with the breeder on the purchase, you’ll take
more than your new puppy home with you. You’ll receive:
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The AKC Registration Form: The form will have the limited
registration box checked if you are purchasing a puppy that is to be spayed
or neutered. AKC will not register puppies born from parents with limited registration.
If you purchase a puppy and the full registration box is checked,
you may be purchasing a potential show puppy. Responsible breeders do not sell
companion dogs with full registration. AKC is a registry organization.
It is up to the individual breeder to ensure the health, quality, lineage, and accuracy of
that lineage.
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Contract: The purchase contract describes the terms and conditions of the breeder’s sale of the puppy to you, the purchaser. This is an important document because it outlines the accountability
and responsibility of both the breeder and you. For companion puppy purchases, it should include the requirement to
spay or neuter your new puppy by a certain age, typically by 6 months for females and 10 months for males.
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Registration Disclosure: In accordance with Veterinary Public Health law, section #122310, all dogs sold with any representation
that the dog is registered or registerable are to have a fully completed registration disclosure statement included as part of the purchase, separate
from any other statement
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| Health Record: You should receive a current record of
health and history of shots for your puppy. |
| Pedigree: You should receive a pedigree from the breeder
that shows several generations of your puppy’s lineage. |
| Care Instructions: The breeder will provide you with a
variety of instructions to help you introduce the puppy into your
family. Breeders often belong to programs sponsored by dog food
companies that provide breeders with "puppy" packages that
include samples of food and other information to help you and your new
puppy get started. |
| Breeder: The breeder is part of the puppy package and
should be available to answer questions and counsel on any problems.
Please don’t hesitate to call for help. |
These are the basic items you should receive with your puppy, and
there could be more. Some breeders give written guarantees or provide other
kinds of health and information documentation.
What should you do to ensure your puppy gets started right?
- Do take your new puppy to your veterinarian for a
"well check" within 72 hours of purchase.
- Don’t take your puppy to public areas until four
months of age and the series of four puppy shots are given. Puppies are
extremely vulnerable until they receive adequate immunization and age to
combat disease.
Special Considerations
There are other considerations that may be unique to your purchase.
If you will be taking your puppy across state lines, a health certificate is
required. If you will be flying with your new puppy, there are all kinds of
issues that must be dealt with to ensure your puppy can travel safely. Work
closely with your breeder to make arrangements and reach agreements so that
you don’t encounter problems.
And Finally…
Finding a responsible breeder is the most important step in buying a
Miniature Schnauzer. A responsible breeder aggressively maintains a sound
breeding program that contributes to improving the breed; honestly presents
information; conducts business in an ethical way that stands up under the
scrutiny of other responsible breeders; and fosters ongoing relationships with
buyers to ensure they and puppies are happy. Take your time, talk to breeders,
and check references. Once you’ve found the breeder for you, your biggest
challenge will be deciding which puppy to fall in love with! For more
information, please call our public education contact, Brenda Couey, at
707-928-4350 or send an email to Carlenasms@yahoo.com.
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San Joaquin Miniature
Schnauzer Club |
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Contact |
County or Geographic Area |
Telephone Number |
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Brenda Couey |
North Bay |
707-995-6004 |
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