Co-Owning - Page 2

sucks. 

Two words:

NEVER AGAIN!

Have co-owned dogs in the past, and as long as both parties honor their contract/obligations and are not dishonest cads who take advantage of you in the end - it works out just fine.  Just be sure the contract is clear and even if it's a handshake deal, that everything is clearly understood and "what if" scenarios are worked out and agreed upon.

I just imported a young female for breeding, and she is such a wonderful dog that I thought it would be great to find a permanent home for her where she could live with a family, while I kept her for breeding.  That way she doesn't have to live in the kennel for the next 5 years - though the "kennel environment" is not a bad life for the dog, a family home is of course more ideal.  So I found a family who wants her - older children who already train in obedience, agility, and show conformation in the AKC ring - they will keep her in their home as a part of their family and I will get her back 1-2X per year for breeding and whelping her litters.  Once she is retired she will live with that family "forever".  Works out great for both me, the dog and the family who are getting a VERY nice dog for "free".  Of course contract will be written, read, agreed upon and signed, for the protection of all parties including the dog.

It can work, just be careful and make sure everything about the deal/contract is comfortable for you.

I don't have time for a cat fight, and I don't breed dogs anymore.
I wish more people would either make the same decision or at least scale WAY back on their programs, add rescue and fostering needy dogs to their daily routine, so fewer fine dogs would take their last breaths in a cold, impersonal pound at the hands of someone who never probably thought twice about them.

Seeing and knowing the quality of some of the dogs we see in high-kill shelters every single day in this miserable economy, many of which we ourselves would be proud to have produced, makes me sick. Want the perfect dog for your family? Want to compete in working dogs sports? Don't care about breeding puppies? Call the local GSD rescue. They have dozens that will fit your lifestyle beautifully, just dying to meet you, no strings attached.

Catfight

As a buyer not a breeder I would never do it, I see absolutely no advantage to me, not having full rights to a dog that *I* am training, showing, trialing, feeding, and vet-ing.  If I can't afford to purchase the dog outright, then I can't afford to purchase the dog.  I will save up longer or get something I can afford.  I could never own a female dog and allow someone else to breed it.  When I get a dog I assume all resonsibility for that dog and I couldn't imagine someone else making such important decisions about the dog.  If I want to breed dogs I will get breedworthy dogs and seek the help of mentors that I trust, not house someone else's brood bitches.  The only co-owner my dogs will ever have is my own husband, so he can properly place them if something happened to me (and he already knows my wishes with regard to each dog).

Shelley, may I commend you on your decision to act in a mature fashion? Well done, well done indeed.

VKGSDS, I would NEVER again co-own a dog with a spouse, no matter how secure I believed the relationship to be, unless the dog was solely a family pet; otherwise, if the marriage goes bad, you can be left having to fight (or pay) for your own dog.  My dogs are MY dogs, and no one else's, no matter who else shares their lives.  There are other ways to legally provide for your spouse to have the necessary authorization to rehome the dogs if something should happen to you, while still preserving your full ownership of them in the event something happens to the marriage.

to each their own -

in my situation I own a SUPER female and the people getting her are getting this SUPER female for FREE.  So they would have had to pay $8000 or thereabouts for a female such as her - and they are not breeders, I am.  I want her for breeding, they will have a great time doing things with her like obedience, agility, rally, and conformation showing.  The two kids are heavily involved in all of the above and the 9 year old boy has been wanting a GSD, he has even started Junior handling (showing conformation ,but the handler is judged not the dog).  It sounds like a great deal for all involved including the dog.  They have a great dog, I get her back for breeding and have a great dog in my program.  Win-Win in this case.

In another case I co-owned a female with another party - she lived with his family most of the time, she came back here for breeding/whelping, we split the litters.  She was retired/spayed and now lives with the family for the rest of her life.  Another win-win.

The lose-lose part comes when one party doesn't hold up to their end of the contract/bargain/deal.  And yes that can certainly happen and has happened to me.  It makes you learn to be very careful, cross all the T's and dot all the i's.  Don't trust anyone you don't know VERY well.  Check out references, and for God's sake Believe those people who warn you not to deal with said person!  Don't ignore or assume the person wouldn't "do that to me".   Make contracts and make sure both parties agree on even the smallest details and "what ifs".  Make sure the contract will hold up in court if one party renigs on the agreement.  Make sure that whatever happens, the dog is not the loser in the end.

molly

Don't be surprised if the next good-looking dog I title cost less than $100., bears the name of the kill shelter he/she came from instead of some big-name kennel, and proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to have a great time in the sport and a fantastic companion when you get home.

If I can find out who bred that dog that ended up dumped and unwanted,  no longer interested in him/her after the sale was complete, more the better. I'll see to it they get the credit they deserve every time we step on the field.

hexe, if things went sour with the DH, the ownership of the dogs would be the least of my worries, lol.  Home, vehicles, student loans.... I co-own with the DH so we can get around the stupid USA rule and each be a member of whatever organization we want without the dogs not being able to compete.  He can join one, I can join another and voila! I can compete in whatever trials and shows I want.  Where I live possession is 9/10ths of the law (police and AC don't give a flip about "papers") and my DH would know better than to try to physically take my dogs from me if it got to that!

Molly I think it can and does work well just not for me.  I reserve the right to move across the country (or out of the country) or change my mind about doing this or that with my dogs.  I know what is best for my dogs and don't jump through hoops for anyone but them.  I don't buy a dog I can take the best care of by myself or a dog I couldn't make decisions for on my own.  I'm a control freak so this is not limited to dog ownership.  DH and I plan to adopt children and will not be entertaining open adoptions either.