|
WASSA Sheltie Referral Program
You’ve decided to welcome a Sheltie into your family.
Congratulations! You have just made a decision that
will be sure to enrich the lives of your entire family
as you enter into the wonderful world of Sheltie
ownership. And now that you have made that decision,
finding the right breeder is essential to finding the
right Sheltie for your family.
So where do you begin?
Whether it is a puppy, adult, or perhaps even a rescue,
we are here to help!
WASSA is proud to offer a Sheltie Referral Service,
where a non-breeding member of our club will provide you
with information about Shelties that are available
within the Winnipeg and surrounding area.
This may be something as simple as
-
Helping you make the decision about whether a
sheltie is right for your family;
-
Putting you in touch with local breeders or our
rescue coordinator (once that decision is made);
-
Even just lending an understanding ear if your
sheltie has recently crossed to the Rainbow Bridge
and you are not sure the timing is right to add
a new sheltie to your family.
This service is provided free to the general public.
Please email: wassasecretary@mts.net
Breeders can also be contacted directly through our
Sheltie Links
page, or, if you are interested
in a adopting a rescue, through our
Rescue page.
Please note that links to our members through our
Sheltie Links Page, as well as to our Rescue Page is
intended as a courtesy only. All breeders listed are
members in good standing with the Winnipeg Area Shetland
Sheepdog Association, however, in listing them on
this site, WASSA itself, does not in any way guarantee
the suitability, quality or health of any dogs purchased
via our puppy referral program or from any individual
WASSA member or breeder.
It is important to have a good and comfortable
relationship with your sheltie's breeder and a full
understanding of any contracts you may enter into with
them in regards to purchasing your sheltie.
Some things to consider when choosing your Sheltie puppy:
First and foremost is the health of your puppy...
· Does
it appear healthy?
· Are
the eyes and nose clear and dry?
· Is
the coat soft and shiny?
· Has
it been checked and certified healthy by a
veterinarian?
· Is
it up-to-date on vaccinations and already dewormed?
· Are
there any guarantees regarding both the short term
health, (the first few days at home), and long term
health of your sheltie?
· Have
you seen the parents? Do they appear healthy?
Genetic testing is important! Although it does not
ever guarantee that your puppy will end up with a
genetic disorder, it does give you a fighting
chance, a head start, so to speak,
that indicates that reasonable precautions have been
taken to ensure the long term health of the puppy.
There is less likelihood that the puppy will end up
with a genetic disorder later in its life if
the parents have been cleared genetically of
hereditary defects known to affect the breed.
Next, and equally important is temperament
Sheltie puppies should be happy and outgoing,
curious about their environment, eager to learn, and
easy to train. Some breeders may already have
started the housebreaking training, depending on the
age of the puppy.
Meet both of the puppy’s parents if possible.
Always see the mother (dam). If you like the
parents, chances are you will like the puppy. Keep
in mind however, that many breeders select sires
from breeding kennels which may be some distance
away, and the sires therefore may not always be
available for viewing.
Talk to the breeder about socialization and early
training. Select a breeder who raises puppies on
his/her premises, in the house, as opposed to a
kennel environment. Ask what techniques are used
for socialization.
· Avoid
excessively shy or aggressive pups;
· Follow
your breeder's guidelines to avoid problems;
· Look
for someone who is proud of his or her dogs and is
willing to give references.
CHOOSING A BREEDER
· A breeder
will be happy to meet with you and discuss your
needs;
· Most
reserve the right not to sell a puppy to you if they
don’t think a sheltie is right for your family;
· Most
go through an interview process to ensure that the
puppies they place are going to the right homes;
· Some
breeders will even ask for references. This is a
good thing. Breeders SHOULD CARE about where their
puppies are placed to ensure the best welfare of the
puppy. This is important to make sure you get the
best suited puppy for your family!
When choosing your breeder, some of the most
important things to consider are
· The
genetic testing of the parents and other dogs in the
pedigree;
· Health
and temperament of the puppy;
· The
guarantee the breeder provides;
· The
housing environment where the puppy is raised, as
well as the kennel environment of where other dogs
are kept, (for instance a clean environment,
adequate shelter and space, indoor and out etc);
· The
socialization and exposure to outside stimulation
the puppy has received;
· What
after sale support you receive in respect to helping
you raise your sheltie… grooming, feeding, training
information etc;
There is so much joy associated with owning a
sheltie… but take time with your decision.
Do not buy on
impulse! Don’t buy the first puppy you see
just because it is cute! They are all cute! They
are all adorable! Take time making your decision.
Visit more than one breeder, make sure you have
established a good relationship with the breeder and
feel comfortable with their dogs and what they are
offering.
The condition of the kennels and dogs should be the
first thing you notice.
· Are
the facilities clean?
· Do
the dogs appear clean and healthy?
IMPORTANT:
Check the housing condition of the other dogs on the
premises. Are they kept in the same condition as
the puppies and dam? IF NOT, LEAVE!
Refer to the Code of Practice (link below)
for Canadian Kennel Operations, published by the
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and the
Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.
www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/foodsafety/chiefvo/pdf/csf12s11.pdf
This is an excellent and exhaustive document about
the care, management, and breeding of dogs.
A
GOOD BREEDER WILL
· Have
a copy of the breed standard on hand, and should
know and tell you the problems to look for in a
sheltie;
· Know
all about the pedigree of the puppy - including
grandparents and great-grandparents;
· Want
to know all about you, your family, your lifestyle,
and where the dog will be living;
· Will
ask what socialization and training techniques you
are planning to introduce to your puppy;
· INSIST
ON A FENCE OR DOG RUN for the safety of your
Sheltie.
AVOIDING HEALTH AND GENETIC PROBLEMS
Avoiding unnecessary and expensive health and
genetic problems is easier if you follow these
guidelines:
· Ask
the breeder if the parents of the puppy you are
considering are tested and clear of genetic
problems. Deal only with breeders who test their
dogs and ask for copies of the test results;
· NO
TESTS = NO SALE!
· Be
certain to get a record of inoculations when you
pick up your puppy;
· Arrange
to take your puppy directly to a veterinarian of
your choice. This allows you to have the health of
your puppy checked before there is any emotional
attachment.
DO NOT BUY YOUR
SHELTIE FROM A PUPPY MILL OR ANYONE WHO MASS
PRODUCES DOGS. Good breeders, are those with
the welfare of the breed at heart, and they do not
typically produce more than 1 or 2 litters per year.
THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
· Do
business with someone with whom you are comfortable;
· Get
everything in writing and signed. A sales contract
should indicate the breed of dog, the terms and
condition under which the dog is sold, health and
genetic guarantees, and return policy. It should
also state that the dog is purebred and eligible for
registration by the Canadian Kennel Club;
· Ask
about the return policy. Get a guarantee against
genetic health problems. A good breeder will not
hesitate to deal with problems after the fact;
· Look
for breeders who sell their puppies with the
Canadian Kennel Club non-breeding agreement, and/or
a spay or neuter condition in the contract. Both
are good signs. A non-breeding agreement must be
signed before you leave with your puppy and can be
lifted by your breeder if the puppy grows to be
acceptable breeding quality.
BE AWARE THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL A DOG IN CANADA
AS PUREBRED WITHOUT SUPPLYING REGISTRATION PAPERS AT
NO EXTRA COST TO THE PURCHASER. IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SELLER TO REGISTER THE
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE DOG. IT IS NOT THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUYER. THIS RIGHT IS
PROTECTED BY FEDERAL LEGISLATION KNOWN AS THE ANIMAL
PEDIGREE ACT.
Under the Animal Pedigree Act, the person who sells
you the dog is responsible for registering the dog
with the Canadian Kennel Club - Not You! In Canada,
purebred dogs are governed under the Canadian
Pedigree Livestock Act, which states that any puppy
sold in Canada as purebred MUST be sold with
Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) registration papers
provided at no extra charge to the purchaser.
In other words, the breeder of your sheltie MUST
provide registration papers to you at no additional
cost.
Please beware of breeders who do not comply with the
Livestock Pedigree Act. They should not be selling
their puppies at one price with papers, and another
price without. The cost to register a dog within 6
months of birth is only
$40.00 for
non-CKC members. Don't let a breeder charge you
hundreds of dollars extra for registration papers.
A breeder who sells their dogs/puppies as "purebred"
but does not provide CKC registration is in
violation of the Pedigree Livestock Act and may be
charged by the RCMP with a violation under that
act.
MAKING YOUR PUPPY A GOOD NEIGHBOUR
Take your puppy to training classes - start with
Puppy Kindergarten! Begin housebreaking the day you
get home. Spend time with your puppy, teaching him
all that you want it to learn. Provide lots of
positive experiences with people, places, and other
animals. Touch your puppy all over, so it gets used
to being handled for grooming and nail clipping.
Puppies learn by repetition, and will repeat
behaviours - good and
bad. Socialization is an important aspect of your
puppy's upbringing. The more different, positive
experiences your puppy has, the more confident it
will become as it grows and the more trust it will
have in you as it's leader.
There is so much joy associated with owning a sheltie and we
hope the information on this page has helped in your
decision and selection of a Sheltie. This
information has been provided courtesy of the
members of the Winnipeg Area Shetland Sheepdog
Association, and has been adapted in part, from the
Canadian Kennel Club's Purebred Puppy Guide.
BREEDERS
OATH...
Caring for the Breed We Love!
We will, in everything we do, be aware that we are the
caretakers of the future of our breed.
Each action we take, every decision we make, can and
will affect Shetland Sheepdogs as a breed, not only
today, but for all years to come.
As the caretakers of our breed, we will protect not only
the dogs that are living today, but those that are not
yet born.
It is our duty to see that Shetland Sheepdogs will go on
in future years to be all that the breed was intended
for.
Nancy Walton
Wildrose Shelties, Tennessee
Back to Top
|
|
