Occasionally we are asked, "How can you sell dogs you have owned for 2+ years?" We would like to explain to those of you who have also wondered this.

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The rules a breeder must follow are a little different than those of households who have only 1 or 2 family pets. A breeder is constantly striving to produce the best quality dogs so they may be exhibited in the show ring. Showing dogs is the "proving ground" where breeders showcase their hard efforts. It's where we all come together to compete on friendly terms in hopes of having the dog that most closely resembles the standard of perfection. Part of the process involves having puppies of course. Most puppies will not turn out to be of high enough quality for the show ring. These puppies are placed in loving homes at about 8-13 weeks of age. The few we keep are the ones who are good enough to show, and hopefully, if we are very lucky, they will eventually reproduce themselves in future offspring. So, we keep, show, finish, and breed these individuals. They will produce the next generation of hopefuls, and so it continues on year after year. Again, if we are lucky, we will have a number of individuals who are good enough to carry on our line and our hard work. But, as time goes by, the number of good dogs we keep increases (if we are doing the right thing in our breeding program) and eventually we find we are over the number of dogs we can care for in fair and healthy manner.

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Every good breeder knows what "number" of dogs they never go over without having to sacrifice the attention and care each dog is given. If there is additional help in a given kennel/household, a larger number of dogs may be kept. If the situation is just 1 or 2 people caring for the dogs, the number of dogs MUST be kept small out of fairness to the dogs . Each dog requires love, care and most importantly TIME SPENT with them - they should NOT be asked to sit in a cage the majority of the time. If we kept every dog we loved, we would keep them all - but love is not enough. You just cannot divide the time of 2 caretakers amongst too many dogs. There are just not enough hours in a day. Therefore, breeders must care enough for the dogs that have worked hard to help us improve the breed, to know when it is time to retire them into a single-dog family home where they can have 100% of the love and attention they deserve.

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The benefits of taking an adult dog are many. Puppies are wonderful, but they require a tremendous amount of time training, especially in the area of housebreaking. An adult dog has already been trained, so it is excellent for people who work. With an adult dog, you have the benefit of knowing all the good and bad habits they have ahead of time (I always tell people EVERYTHING about a dogs' habits, as I want to make sure I match the right dog with the right people). When you buy a puppy, you never know how it will turn out (personality, looks, etc.) With an adult, what you see is what you get. Older dogs make excellent pets for older individuals too. Many older adults are not able to handle the rigors of puppy-hood, but welcome a polite and well-trained adult into their homes easily.

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Do I cry when an adult leaves? Absolutely, and no less than for 3 weeks straight. If you think a breeder is not bothered by seeing a good friend carried away from the only home they have known, you are sadly mistaken. Even though I know I am doing the right thing for the dog, part of me wishes it did not have to be this way because I love them all so much. The only way I personally can sleep at night without worrying myself sick is knowing that I am 100% sure of the people I have chosen to take one of my adult dogs. When I hear about what an easy transition a dog has made, that he/she is being treated like a king or queen, eating ice-cream, going for long walks, sleeping in bed, traveling with their new owners, I am reminded that I have made the right decision. Then I can put my mind at ease.........until the next time, when it all begins over again.

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Do I place *EVERY* dog I have that gets older? No, I only place dogs that I feel can easily make the transition to a new home. Most dogs can, but some dogs do not adapt easily to change. I only place healthy dogs that can add happiness to their new owners lives. A dog that would pine away for its former home is not a good candidate for placing in a new home. These dogs must stay with us for their entire lives, which also means at any given time I will have one or two very old dogs here along with the younger generation.

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So, next time you question a breeder selling an adult dog - think about the reality of their situation. It is not by any means an "unwanted dog", it is a very much loved dog that the breeder has cared for and enjoyed, but now wants this dog to have the love of a family where he/she will be the "one and only".

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We know it takes a special person/family to take a dog that is older, but your letters and calls always remind us that we have done the right thing.