Purchasing a Shelpin Puppy
Why we do Puppy Allocations:
As a breeder, I am constantly monitoring my puppies; I observe the litter over the first 8 weeks of their lives I pay close attention to each puppy's behaviour and reaction to new experiences, to their siblings in the litter and the way they react to new people who visit our home. Once the puppies have had their first vaccination, I like to have a 'Meet and Greet' appointment with each new family. I will contact the new owners and arrange a time for you to come visit my home, meet me and meet the whole litter. This gives the puppies the opportunity to meet lots of people before going to their new homes. Puppy allocations are based on the information provided to me by each of the families and what is seen at the meet and greet.
When visiting the puppies in a litter take notice of how the puppy reacts when handled, whether with fear or with acceptance. Also consider the time of your visit - the puppies may all seem quiet and sleepy which may be a result of just having been fed or may be sprightly and full of mischief having just awoken from a nap. Watch the pups play with their litter mates as some will be very forward and rush headlong into exploring, one may try to dominate the others by standing over them and pushing them to the ground, they may roll over and be submissive to another pup or may seem to get along easily with others being calmer and perhaps more reserved or they may be playful and enjoy interacting with toys. Try to take into account all these things when visiting the litter and take time to consider your preferences. By noticing these things, you get an impression of what sort of personality each pup has, and which one may make the best fit for you and your family.
Preference puppy from the litter:
Depending on the number of puppies in the litter, new owners may be given the opportunity to put forward a puppy preference along with their reason as to why they've chosen this particular puppy. We ask for this reasoning because it is important for new owners to consider their lifestyle now and in the future when selecting a preferred puppy. This information is also taken into account when I am allocating puppies.
Most people still feel the best way to choose a puppy is by choosing the one that comes to them first, however this is not the best way to choose. Over the years I have found that when new owners come to meet the puppies it is most often the most confident puppy that will be the first to greet families and this personality type may not be the type to suit your lifestyle now or in the future. Just because a puppy may take a moment to come to you, this should not be the basis for excluding this puppy for your preference. A puppy's personality on the meet and greet day is not a sign that this puppy is unsuitable for you. In fact, this puppy may be the best suited to your current and long-term needs. Every pup in the litter has a personality; the combined attributes of behaviour, emotions, thought processes and temperament and this is what makes each one individual and why we observe them all closely.
*Please Note: As a breeder who breeds for the betterment of the breed and showing I will always reserve the right to choose the pick puppy or puppies from a litter. The basic principle of breeding is to improve the breed, and this is done by choosing a puppy that closest meets the standard of the breed. This puppy may then be trained for showing and or may be a part of our future breeding plans. It is not my intention as the breeder to sell every puppy I breed, often as the breeder I may keep several puppies and wait until they are older before making any final decisions. My pick puppy will be the one that best appears to meet the breed standard and has a suitable temperament for the show ring - a strong natured and showy pup for instance. This may mean that the one pup you had your heart set on is the one that is cosidered to be pick of the litter and therefor isn't available for purchase. These final decisions do not usually occur before 7 weeks of age... so have a couple of puppies in mind when choosing a pup from the litter so that you are not disappointed.
Gender: Dog or Bitch / Boy or Girl?
When choosing a puppy, the first question to ask yourself is whether you want a girl or a boy. I can direct you in this decision. But if you have your heart set on one specific gender you may not be allocated a puppy from a litter if the litter happens to be all girls or all boys. To me, the personality of the puppy is the most important consideration.
If you already have a dog, the choice is probably easier for you - your new puppy should probably be of the opposite sex. Although you can have two or more dogs of the same sex, this can lead to personalities clashing. Generally speaking, you should aim (regardless of gender) to have a pup with a personality that is opposite of the one you currently have for example, match a quieter dog to a livelier and dominant dog and visa versa.
If you want to introduce a dog of the same sex, it's advisable to introduce a puppy to an older dog - ensure that there is a good age gap between them. Two dogs or bitches of the same ages and personalities are more likely to clash and fight. Never put two dominant dogs together. The goal is to match the new puppy to the personality of the first dog.
Contact Details
Shellie GalpinDelaneys Creek, QLD, Australia
Phone : 0404887457
Email : [email protected]