Before You Buy ....
| |
Before You Buy .... |
If the result of your research is that you have decided the Bouvier is indeed the breed for you, you should then decide the following things before making any commitment to buy a Bouvier.
Rescued Bouviers
In the process of locating a Bouvier to purchase,
you may hear of a rescued Bouvier needing a home, or you might find one
in an animal shelter. The National and Regional Bouvier Clubs do their best
to place Bouviers that, through no fault of their own, end up in Pounds
or are destined to go there. Rescued Bouviers may not have registration
papers, and are generally placed with the requirement that they be spayed
or neutered (f that has not already been done). A small fee may be asked
to offset the expenses of rescuing.
Adopting a rescued Bouvier will give you a companion at a reduced acquisition price, but prospective rescue owners should understand that there may be some things to consider. Rescue Organizations do a very thorough job screening the dogs, but there are occasionally behavioral or medical issues that are not readily apparent (on the other hand, rescued dogs with known behavioral problems are generally not placed to the public at-large). While the initial outlay can be lower, the cost of maintaining the Bouvier will be the same as if it were puchased directly from a breeder. Medical treatment for some rescued Bouviers is a definite necessitity, as it is needed to get a neglected dog in shape.
On the other hand, most all rescue dogs turn out to be devoted family pets when given the attention and care a Bouvier deserves, and those adopting a rescued Bouvier will have the satisfaction of giving a home to one who really needs and appreciates it.
We strongly support the Rescue organizations. You should give serious thought of obtaining a rescue Bouvier before considering other opportunities.
Puppy vs. Adult
Raising a Bouvier puppy is a pleasure that most
owners should experience at least once.
However, young puppies require a lot of care, from housebreaking
through socialization/obedience training, and sometimes ear taping. Someone
really should be home with the puppy to give it guidance and training; therefore,
young puppies are not good choices for a household where the entire family
is away for most of the day.
We occasionally have older puppies, adolesents, or adults available which may be better choices for older persons or working families unable to be home during the puppy periods. These Bouviers are usually past the "destructive" stages of puppyhood, and are leash-trained and housebroken. They have been well-cared for and well-socialized while growing up, and theses older Bouviers will bond nicely to their new owners.
Show Prospect vs. "Pet"
First off, we don't like the term "pet",
when contrasted to potential show prospects. All of our Bouviers are placed
as companions, as loving parts of the family. We consider all our Bouviers
to be pets in the broadest sense, but we are using the word selectively
here to highlight some differences between some of the puppies.
We (as many breeders do) grade our puppies according to
the Bouvier standard. Those puppies coming close to the ideal will be identified
as show/breeding prospects. Others, whose imperfections may often be hard
to notice by the average person, will be graded as "non-show"
puppies, or "pets".
You should purchase a show/breeding prospect only if you are truly interested in the sport of showing dogs in the conformation ring and perpetuating the finest qualities of the breed in your own carefully-planned litters.
If you are not interested in breeding or showing your dog, you may alternatively consider one of the "non-show/breeding" dogs. You will not be getting an inferior Bouvier for companionship. We give all our puppies the same love and care, so that show or pet, our puppies are all healthy and well-socialized.
Bouviers As Companions
All our dogs are sold as companions, whether they be "show" or
"pet" quality. All of our puppies are "home" raised,
getting the stimulation and socialization that Bouviers need. We work from
the best of the traditional bloodlines, and are confident that they will
be well raised and loved by their prospective families.