What DO people want ?!? - Page 2

I'm hearing that after all the flak about "hock-walkers," sloped backs, poor health, etc. after Rumor won Westminster, some of the show people are looking at importing working line blood into their lines. This could be driving up prices, especially if some kennels/breeders are marketing to the show market.

And after all the publicity about puppy mills and pet stores selling puppy mill puppies, more people may be seeking out quality breeders for pet purchases. This could also be putting upward pressure on prices, too.

puppy sales is all about emotion, and also about rumours/reputations

Anrebri dogs having nerve issues is old story and dont apply to the dogs they breed today,altough they are not all super, but that is same for every other breeder in the world, there are some nice Anrebri dogs out there as we speak

if one didnot have pups for 20 years it might be harder to sell pups now, till now I breed about 2 litters per year and still get request from previous buyers where their dog passed away and relatives of dogowners etc. and it is not allways about price.

 

so I think if your pups are sold and people are happy, the next litter might sell more easy 

First of all people interested in a workingline puppy want to know about the working abilities of the parents - videos, official results...
and, very important, they want to know about health results...
What is special about sire and dam?

Nobody wants to google - these facts have to be part of the ad.
Further on pictures of the parents, and very good pictures of the pups are important.

Your litter is a 2/3 linebreeding - difficult for everybody who wants to compete within SV.
Breedsurvey of the parents?

Don't get me wrong, your pups may be outstanding, but the workingdog market in the US is very small -
You either need to be present ( competing ) with your dogs = you need to have a very good reputation, or the breeding in itself has to be that outstanding that potential buyers believe in genetics only

Good luck! I really hope your pups will find the best forever homes available.

Do people still believe in giving incentives for working homes or co-owning some of the nicer puppies to working homes? It seems like now, people have to have incentive to do something with their puppy, or working people want to see that you have a track record of producing working dogs. And, if you don't get your pups into working homes then working people will never be able to see that. So then you have to really get to work on marketing, etc.

I do co-ownerships all the time and give people basically a "free puppy" to raise. Now I do have to have a relationship with those people and see something in them. I don't just give that anyone. Usually it's young super talented female handlers that come to my shop with either an older dog or a dog that "just isn't it" but they want more. After a while, when I get a feel for them, I simply ask "Hey, do you want to raise a pup for me."

What they do with them is up to them. If it's Ring, just Nosework, SAR, IPO or simply Barnhunt is up to them. I don't talk much into what they do with the dog as long as they do something with them. It's worked very well for me so far.

One dog is in California, one dog is already titled to IPO1, one puppy is going to Texas this weekend for IPO (Co Owner has a son out of my male doing Mondio/Ring and wanted a puppy out of my males sister), one pup will stay local on a trial basis with a new young female handler that's never had a shepherd before but holy moly she's talented.

So I have a bunch of dogs in sport/working homes and I give people a lot of freedom and seek out the young talented ones. Whether they stick and title really, that's a gamble, but so far, it's worked out.

I know a breeder that donates a puppy out of every litter to a PD, veteran's service dog organization, or seeing eye dog charity, depending on temperament of the litter and the specific puppy.  Win-win for everyone, including the puppy

 

 

OK, since I seem unable to keep my mouth shut, you ask a question, so I want to ask you some questions/make some comments.

1. i checked your ads, you describe your dogs as "sweet". do you really think that people wanting a real w/l dog are looking for "sweet"

2. there have been 3 or 4 people on this forum that I would consider a dog from if I was interested. naming names, joanro, jenn, duke and actually a couple of show people. none of them advertise "sweet" dogs.

3. do a survey of how many people in the U.S. have gotten strong dogs from this kennel. maybe you will get an idea and maybe I am wrong in the limited number I have seen up close and personal.

4. decide what you want to be and prove it. if you only want the consumer/pet/puppy market, go for it. if you want a higher level, keep one of these pups and prove it to a higher level than "sweet"

jmo,
Rik

Duke your post about Anrebri is right on......and I’ve seen over 80 dogs out of a Frankie son with five different females that I have selected for the male. Doesn’t mean I know everything about Anrebri dogs, but does prove at least to me that when paired with right females the results were very good!