Selecting a Breeder
Selection of a Breeder
Once you have spoken to several breeders, you will know a bit more about breeding philosophies, bloodlines available in the UK and generally more about the breed. Selecting the correct breeder is important. Selection should be based on the type of hound you are looking for and the breeder must be someone who you feel comfortable and happy with. The breeder should be knowledgable in the breed and should be able to evaluate the pups within a litter to select the best puppy for each puppy buyer. Your selected breeder should offer lifelong support and guidance to you and your puppy. If you do not feel comfortable with an individual, trust your instincts and walk away. The relationship between yourself and the breeder should be a long one.
All breeders will expect to be asked questions and likewise you should be expected to be questioned by the breeder. Some suggested questions are listed below, however make your own list and interview a breeder before visiting a litter of puppies.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Are you a member of the BMHS?
If they are not a member, ask for their reasons. Breeders who co-operate with the BMHS abide by their rules and regulations as well as the ethics and welfare guidelines for owning and breeding. Any breeder who co-operates with the BMHS also agrees to for themselves or any owners to reveal any health issues and report them to the health co-ordinator .
How long have you owned Bavarian Mountain Hounds, how many have you owned and how many do you currently own?
The knowledge and experience of the breeder will be shown by these questions. If they have had the breed for a number of years, with several dogs and litters, the likelihood is they will have a good firm knowledge of the breed and will be able to evaluate a litter more accurately. If the breeder has little experience in breeding the breed, then be prepared to do your research and their knowledge is likely to be limited. Those breeders who have owned a number of hounds, will have an idea of the different characteristics and training methods for individual hounds. If breeders have given up adult dogs after a few years, ask why. Any responsible breeder should be able to answer this honestly.
What are the pros and cons of Bavarian Mountain Hounds?
A good breeder should be able to tell you all the pitfalls about a breed aswell as all their good attributes.
What are the strengths and weaknesses within your lines?
Each breeder will view each strength and weakness differently, and will be open about them within their breeding. By speaking to several breeders you will be able to find a line that will suit you.
Are both the Sire and Dam Kennel Club registered?
Any reputable breeder will only breed from registered stock to keep the lineage known. Breeders who do not register generally have done little research in to lineage compatibility, have breached Kennel Club rules or regulations or breached breeding restrictions placed on their hounds.
Have both Sire and Dam been health tested?
Both sire and dam should have been BVA Hip Scored at the very least and the breeder should be able to provide you with a copy of the parents certificates. Alternatively, you can now check online by visiting: The Kennel Club Health Test Finder
Some breeders may wish to also have their hounds BVA Eye Tested, BVA Elbow Scored or Heart Scored. Breeders should also be able to inform you if epilepsy has been known in their lines.
Have both Sire and Dam got working certificates?
Both sire and dam should hold the BMHS Level 1 Schweisshund Certificate as minimum. If tests were carried out abroad, only those hounds passing tests under the ISHV or JGHV are recognised in the UK. Any reputable breeder should be able to provide you copies of working certificates.
How old are the Sire and Dam?
Neither parent should be bred from until they have reached 30 months of age and should not whelp a litter after their 8th Birthday.
Have the sire or dam been bred before?
Is this a first mating for either or have they been bred to other hounds in the past? If they have had previous litters, ask how the pups have turned out, how they have performed in the BMHS Level 1 and what health problems have arose.
Ask to meet their hounds
If you live close enough to the breeder, ask to visit. Their hounds should be full of health, sound temperament and well cared for. If at all possible, it is also wise to ask to see their dogs work.
How do you intend to socialise you litter?
An knowledgable breeder should be able to tell you where and how the puppies will be raised, what human interaction they receive and how frequently and what other stimuli they will receive. If the litter is the breeders first, it is wise to ask who will be helping to guide them through the process of socialisation. The breeder should also be able to tell you what happens if puppies do not sell and at what age they are placed in their new homes.
What preventative health treatment does a puppy receive before leaving?
Normally it is recommended that a breeder worms pups at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age with a broad spectrum wormer. Breeders may or may not decide to inoculate pups as their vets vaccination may not be compatable with the vaccination that the new owners vet uses. In the UK, it is illegal for anyone other than a veterinarian to buy and administer a vaccination.
Will the pup be microchipped before leaving?
All Kennel Club Assured Breeders should have their puppies microchipped prior to leaving at 8 weeks of age. Some breeders may also wish to tatoo puppies.N.B. Microchipping will become compulsary from 6th April 2016. This includes keeping all information relating to the chip up to date.
Will the pup be endorsed?
The BMHS encourage all responsible breeders to endorse their litters 'progeny not eligable for registration' and 'not for export'. These show up as 'X' and 'R' on the kennel club documentation. Endorsements are a way of protecting the breed to prevent registration of poor breeding practice. Most breeders are happy to lift the endorsments once certain criteria have been met. This is normally satisfactory hip scoring and pass of a working test.
What kind of support do you offer to owners after the purchase of a puppy?
All litters of BMH should come with a puppy pack from the breeder that includes copies of dam and sire health and work certificates, contract of sale for the puppy, preventative healthcare of the puppy, details of the breed and details of the society. Breeders may wish to include additional items in their puppy pack.If this is your first BMH, you may want the support and regular contact of a experience person within the breed.
What happens if I need to give up my Bavarian mountain hound?
Many reputable breeders will have a clause in their puppy contracts that state along the lines that they get first refusal to take dogs that they have bred back and find them a new home.
How much are you asking for a puppy?
A reputable breeder who is experienced, should be able to explain to you how they arrived at their asking price.
Finally, be prepared from the breeder to ask you many questions as they figure out if you are a suitable owner for one of the hounds.
RETURN
Once you have spoken to several breeders, you will know a bit more about breeding philosophies, bloodlines available in the UK and generally more about the breed. Selecting the correct breeder is important. Selection should be based on the type of hound you are looking for and the breeder must be someone who you feel comfortable and happy with. The breeder should be knowledgable in the breed and should be able to evaluate the pups within a litter to select the best puppy for each puppy buyer. Your selected breeder should offer lifelong support and guidance to you and your puppy. If you do not feel comfortable with an individual, trust your instincts and walk away. The relationship between yourself and the breeder should be a long one.
All breeders will expect to be asked questions and likewise you should be expected to be questioned by the breeder. Some suggested questions are listed below, however make your own list and interview a breeder before visiting a litter of puppies.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Are you a member of the BMHS?
If they are not a member, ask for their reasons. Breeders who co-operate with the BMHS abide by their rules and regulations as well as the ethics and welfare guidelines for owning and breeding. Any breeder who co-operates with the BMHS also agrees to for themselves or any owners to reveal any health issues and report them to the health co-ordinator .
How long have you owned Bavarian Mountain Hounds, how many have you owned and how many do you currently own?
The knowledge and experience of the breeder will be shown by these questions. If they have had the breed for a number of years, with several dogs and litters, the likelihood is they will have a good firm knowledge of the breed and will be able to evaluate a litter more accurately. If the breeder has little experience in breeding the breed, then be prepared to do your research and their knowledge is likely to be limited. Those breeders who have owned a number of hounds, will have an idea of the different characteristics and training methods for individual hounds. If breeders have given up adult dogs after a few years, ask why. Any responsible breeder should be able to answer this honestly.
What are the pros and cons of Bavarian Mountain Hounds?
A good breeder should be able to tell you all the pitfalls about a breed aswell as all their good attributes.
What are the strengths and weaknesses within your lines?
Each breeder will view each strength and weakness differently, and will be open about them within their breeding. By speaking to several breeders you will be able to find a line that will suit you.
Are both the Sire and Dam Kennel Club registered?
Any reputable breeder will only breed from registered stock to keep the lineage known. Breeders who do not register generally have done little research in to lineage compatibility, have breached Kennel Club rules or regulations or breached breeding restrictions placed on their hounds.
Have both Sire and Dam been health tested?
Both sire and dam should have been BVA Hip Scored at the very least and the breeder should be able to provide you with a copy of the parents certificates. Alternatively, you can now check online by visiting: The Kennel Club Health Test Finder
Some breeders may wish to also have their hounds BVA Eye Tested, BVA Elbow Scored or Heart Scored. Breeders should also be able to inform you if epilepsy has been known in their lines.
Have both Sire and Dam got working certificates?
Both sire and dam should hold the BMHS Level 1 Schweisshund Certificate as minimum. If tests were carried out abroad, only those hounds passing tests under the ISHV or JGHV are recognised in the UK. Any reputable breeder should be able to provide you copies of working certificates.
How old are the Sire and Dam?
Neither parent should be bred from until they have reached 30 months of age and should not whelp a litter after their 8th Birthday.
Have the sire or dam been bred before?
Is this a first mating for either or have they been bred to other hounds in the past? If they have had previous litters, ask how the pups have turned out, how they have performed in the BMHS Level 1 and what health problems have arose.
Ask to meet their hounds
If you live close enough to the breeder, ask to visit. Their hounds should be full of health, sound temperament and well cared for. If at all possible, it is also wise to ask to see their dogs work.
How do you intend to socialise you litter?
An knowledgable breeder should be able to tell you where and how the puppies will be raised, what human interaction they receive and how frequently and what other stimuli they will receive. If the litter is the breeders first, it is wise to ask who will be helping to guide them through the process of socialisation. The breeder should also be able to tell you what happens if puppies do not sell and at what age they are placed in their new homes.
What preventative health treatment does a puppy receive before leaving?
Normally it is recommended that a breeder worms pups at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age with a broad spectrum wormer. Breeders may or may not decide to inoculate pups as their vets vaccination may not be compatable with the vaccination that the new owners vet uses. In the UK, it is illegal for anyone other than a veterinarian to buy and administer a vaccination.
Will the pup be microchipped before leaving?
All Kennel Club Assured Breeders should have their puppies microchipped prior to leaving at 8 weeks of age. Some breeders may also wish to tatoo puppies.N.B. Microchipping will become compulsary from 6th April 2016. This includes keeping all information relating to the chip up to date.
Will the pup be endorsed?
The BMHS encourage all responsible breeders to endorse their litters 'progeny not eligable for registration' and 'not for export'. These show up as 'X' and 'R' on the kennel club documentation. Endorsements are a way of protecting the breed to prevent registration of poor breeding practice. Most breeders are happy to lift the endorsments once certain criteria have been met. This is normally satisfactory hip scoring and pass of a working test.
What kind of support do you offer to owners after the purchase of a puppy?
All litters of BMH should come with a puppy pack from the breeder that includes copies of dam and sire health and work certificates, contract of sale for the puppy, preventative healthcare of the puppy, details of the breed and details of the society. Breeders may wish to include additional items in their puppy pack.If this is your first BMH, you may want the support and regular contact of a experience person within the breed.
What happens if I need to give up my Bavarian mountain hound?
Many reputable breeders will have a clause in their puppy contracts that state along the lines that they get first refusal to take dogs that they have bred back and find them a new home.
How much are you asking for a puppy?
A reputable breeder who is experienced, should be able to explain to you how they arrived at their asking price.
Finally, be prepared from the breeder to ask you many questions as they figure out if you are a suitable owner for one of the hounds.
RETURN
