Co-Owning - Page 3

It is to hard to find honest decent dog people you can trust to even consider co owning IMO. It is not for me and I gladly pay to pruchase my dogs in full and I do not breed.

Even if it's someone you trust and respect, a co-ownership can be difficult and can ruin the relationship. Much like the saying that the best way to ruin a friendship is to loan or borrow money from a friend. Co-owning a dog can be a challenge as different people have different goals, interpretations, and opinions on the best way to handle something. The best thing to do is to have a very clear understanding, in writing, of how everything will be handled.

I actually have had very peaceful and pleasant co-ownerships on dogs. My "T" is co-owned with a dear friend. (not a pro) In fact, he was intitially intended to be my partner's dog, but she had family issues that came up, so she couldn't keep him. He has two mommies. :-)

I've had co-ownerships with respectable breeders, here and abroad, all worked out fine. They provided the dog from their fine programs. I provided the training and maintenance. We all enjoyed the successes and understood the less-successful results (typically in the show ring as the pups/young dogs' structure didn't mature into what we had hoped they would). To be honest, I never even put my name on the dogs' papers. So strong was our trust in one another, it wasn't necessary.

But one bad experience is all it takes to turn "co-own" into a very nasty four-letter word. If anybody ends up on the short end of the stick, or broken-hearted, you can bet your bottom dollar it isn't gonna be the professional breeder.

I have no interest in mud-wrestling anymore.
[insert Serenity Prayer here]

:-D

co-owns can work as long as both parties are HONEST with their intentions and goals.  alot of my dogs have been acquired via co-ownerships/splitting litters/exchanging puppies.  my first litter was out of a V SCH3 import, bred to a V SCH3 IPO3 import, no money down (I paid stud fee), litter was split with the owner and after that, she was mine.  I was given pick of the litter male and female, she came and picked her pups up, and I was given the 2 "left over" pups (both of which turned out beautiful and were not left overs).

again, co-owns can work and be profitable, especially for someone just starting out, if both parties are honest.

I have to agree with Shelley's post above inregards to this subject.

Good and bad on both sides of the issue.  It can get emotional and expensive...and unless you know who you are dealing with...it can get out right discouraging.  I believe most people are honest...but co-owning a dog is two people that can work together.  And work together.  And learn from each other and have a mutual respect with each other.  With out all of that...its only going to be trouble.  I do not co-own with anyone any more.  I like to be in control with my dogs...and I get very attached.  So I don't want someone coming in and telling me what to do...when I have raised the dog.  Lots of things present themselves that you don't think of.  So make sure you trust the person...have as good a contract as you can get.  (they all have loop holes, i swear) and most of all be careful of what your roll in the dogs life is going to be...and you financial responsibility is...that can be shocking or get thrown at you when you oleast expect it.  Know what you want...who you are dealing with...and make sure the agreement works well for you.  If you have any second thoughts, or bad feelings...don't do it.  It can be great...but the other side can be total HeartBreak.  So measure you decision knowing this.  JMO

As a breeder, I co-own one of my male pups.  He gets to enjoy life with a family, and I get to use him in my breeding program if I wish.  As others have stated, no matter what the situation, get everything in writing and make sure all expectations are understood before signing.

i've had 3, but I guess technically only 2 count as one was spayed.

But they've been great.  I have exceptional dogs, I never paid a cent.  They are basically my dogs and one goes back for breeding this summer, comes home to me and then goes back to have her puppies.  I train, play, love, and live with great, great dogs. 

Of course I work with people that I really know and trust, i'm doing them as big of favor as they're doing me.  If things work out as far as breeding material, they have access to exceptional breeding bitches.  If not, I still have a dog I love and they know their dog is in a great home.\

But I have heard about a few that have gone bad