On 2008-03-10 21:20:26 -0400, "Judy" said:

the national breed club will have contact info for people who are
willing to talk and meet with potential owners.

Also, Breed Rescue is a very good place to ask questions about breeders!

"montana wildhack" wrote in message
news:2008031010430650073-montana@wildhackcominvalid...
On 2008-03-09 23:41:05 -0400, said:

I've never actually met a Toy American Eskimo in person either! So I'm
not sure. I wouldn't mind getting a Miniature one, when it comes down
to it. I'm just afraid that, being in an apartment, a Standard-sized
Eskie wouldn't have enough room to be herself, which is why I'm
wanting a Toy or Mini. Most of the videos I've seen of Eskies don't
have a lot of barking in them, though the smaller ones do seem to have
a bit shriller of a bark.

I would absolutely want to meet a dog of a breed I was considering before
I made a decision and I'd want to talk with people who own them. I'd
investigate any online dog groups - like on Yahoo - where owners chat.
You'll probably learn a lot about them prior to making any commitments and
you may hear more about shows near you.

While it's only anecdotal, I hear that these are very barky dogs. This is
also a breed that sheds a lot of hair.


Every Eskie I've met has barked like a fiend.
Back before they were an AKC breed I used to see them at UKC events and the
noise at Eskie shows with obedience trials could be horrible!

Beth

Maximus said in
rec.pets.dogs.breeds:

It is the internet age and most if good breeders now have
websites with contact info.

Mostly wrong in my experience. As I wrote, good breeders have
no need to advertise. The litters are reserved often before
conception, certainly before birth. If there's an unforeseen
circumstance, like a buyer backing out, there's a waiting list
or word of mouth.

I know a number of breeders, directly and second-hand, who
only post announcements and brags. Any mention of an upcoming
litter is usually itself a brag: "So'n'so being bred to
such'n'such and we hope for this'n'that." When you contact
them for a puppy, you'll be told that there maybe a future
breeding in a year or so. You might be told that first
opportunities go to current owners.

Good breeders want some personal contact, or at least some
background (friend of a friend?) on who is taking their dog.
Advertising on the web is counter to these goals.

If they have a phone number listed then call them.

That I'll agree with. If they have a website, contact them.
If you don't hear back quickly, don't assume they're bad
breeders. First, consider that they may not check email
often. Or, they may be away showing or trialing their dogs
(!). Or, maybe they get way too much email. Or, reconsider
your approach.

What I'm saying is that good breeders don't advertise dogs for
sale. Of course, there are always exceptions. Do you have an
example web site in mind?

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

Rocky wrote:
said in rec.pets.dogs.breeds:

Other than that, are there any tips for contacting breeders?

Web searches (if that's what you're doing) are last on my list
of good ways to find the right breeder. Good breeders don't
advertise puppies for sale, just brags and potential breedings.
And many don't have websites.

The best way is to meet people. Go to shows (conformation and
performance) and talk to the people who handle them. Make some
contacts - Yahoo groups can be good for general stuff and to
point you to events in your area.

And, FWIW, it's never too early to ask about health testing. I
don't know why, but many breeders' sites don't mention health
testing even when their dogs generally prove well.

I've never met a Toy American Eskimo Dog, but know plenty of
Miniatures - do their barks get shriller as their size gets
smaller?


Well the only American Eskimo I've ever known was a toy and she had a
bark so sharp & high pitched that it shot straight between my eyes and
through my skull. Then she did it again . . . and again . . . and
again. . .

To the OP, when you get your toy American Eskimo, please for the love of
god, start working on bark control from the very beginning.

Chris

ChrisJ said in rec.pets.dogs.breeds:

To the OP, when you get your toy American Eskimo, please
for the love of god, start working on bark control from the
very beginning.

Heh, I've a Miniature American Eskimo here right now. She never
barks. Apparently, she's a barker at her owner's house. Guess
what? -- the owner picks her up when she barks.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.