My puppy was killed
There aren't any other Chow breeders in a reasonable driving distance other than ones with only a couple of dogs (and I don;t trust them). This breeder has dogs with wonderful temperaments, which is really important in a Chow.
I found out that the older puppy was not born until sometime after Sept 20th (that's when the female was moved into the "maternity ward"), so if he was born the last week in Sept, he would just have turned 6 weeks old this weekend and if she was in there for more than a few days before giving birth and he was not born until the week after (as frequently happens), he would not even be ready to go home with someone until THIS weekend. So even the "older" one is still very young (which makes me happy).
I have to admit that I find it a little disappointing (but not surprising) that they held back a red male for themselves rather than giving him to me as a replacement for Khan.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
I am very sorry of your lose. Please find a different breeder so you won't miss the ever important puppy phase. Take the time and get a puppy. Puppy stage is a very crucial time in the bonding of the two of you. It's hard to start the search again, but you will not regret it! As a breeder, dog lover and trainer I can not stress...start again...get a puppy! So sorry
I found out that the existing puppy they have was not born until sometime after Sep 20th, so he is only 8 weeks old at the most, and perhaps a week younger. I was afraid the one they had was 3 or 4 months old. So, either way, I should end up with a puppy by the end of the year.
Just FYI, I would never take a Chow that was already 4+ months old, just because of the extra importance of bonding with Chows who bond primarily with a single person and who are so very protective of their family.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
Are you 100% sure that you believe her? The way she has treated you in the past would not surprise me if someone hasn't made her a cash offer for your puppy and she's taken it - giving you a story ...
If not, she is not very careful is she?
I agree with the others, I wouldn't take a second hand puppy - has she been socialising him etc or is he stuck in a kennel all day? Trying to housetrain an older dog is a NIGHTMARE ... You have to unbreak habits and then teach new ones!
I'm sorry about all this, Lora because I know how excited you were about Gus ...
Proud Feminist, Atheist, LGBT friend, and Democratic Socialist
It turns out that the existing puppy is still quite young (just now -- or not even yet -- ready to go to a permanent home), so even if I get him, it would not be one that had to be re-trained. I would never accept a Chow puppy that was 4+ months old. The bonding is too important. I was just concerned about missing the period from 6-12 weeks when they are such cute little balls of fluff that roll when they walk!
They actually have very nice facilities and really do care for the dogs quite well. I have seen the maternity ward and kennels for new mothers and puppies on a number of occasions, and cannot figure out how he got from one area to the next unless there is a small gap where the side of the fencing meets the front and he somehow managed to squeeze through.
She has no reason to lie to me, especially if they end up having to give up a red male that they wanted to keep for breeding. If they decided to keep him (especially knowing that I was waiting for one), he must have been a good looking puppy... or they were afraid there wouldn't BE any more red males before Spring... and were willing to let me wait but not willing to wait themselves (and clearly they need additional red dogs to breed since there is such a shortage of red ones and such an abundance of black ones). They added two red females last year, but still have only 2 red males (out of 10+ males)
Who thought getting a new puppy would be such an ordeal?!?
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
It's very common for a breeder to keep the best male in a litter. The breeders are willing to give him up for the other, that shows a good breeder. They could very well be giving up their next champion! If he's just ready to go now... that's great, I am sure the breeders are very upset and well...these things are accidents. Best of luck and go with your heart.