The Top Breeder’s Best Friend is a good puppy buyer – How to Build up a Team?
Written by Juha Kares
Breeders do need good homes for their puppies. This January 2016 I got my 500th Champion. These kind of results are only possible if the breeder realizes how important the ordinary families are in their breeding. I would say at least 100 of these Champions went to live in average families who never were originally interested of showing.
Help the family get started. It is the breeder’s job to inspire. It is simple really. Go and see the puppy as it is growing up. Or invite them to your house. Make sure you see every potential show puppy as they have matured a bit. If the puppy looks very nice, tell the family what a special puppy they have. Ask them to go a dog show. Make sure you or some other puppy buyer of yours is there. So they will have a nice day in a show. Make sure the judge is nice.
There are many judges who do not have patience or understanding for beginners. Usually the judges who breed themselves, and try to get average people interested of showing, understand beginners much better. So the first judging is really important. The first time showing is an opportunity to create inspiration or destroy it totally.
Use positive feedback a lot. Remember to tell people that this is not so serious. A good sense of humor is best way to build up a strong connection. It is like a marriage. If you want it to last, and the same sense of humor is a must.
The first shows and judging is very important. It is breeder´s job to pick the right show and judge to make a good start. If all goes well the day will be nice. Judging is a pleasant experience and there will be some positive feedback. Remember to tell yourself what a nice job the family has done. Very often the family will get interested by themselves. If not, invite them to another show.
In many cases, families will get interested in showing. Not, of course, all families get interested and that is fine. However in my experience some 70% of the families get interested of showing to some degree. Families with young or teenage children are very good. It is often the teenagers that are interested of showing. These people are also the future of the hobby.
Too many breeders are lazy and do not understand the great potential of involving families
Too many breeders are lazy. They do not understand what great potential lies in ordinary families. If the breeder is willing to make an effort there may be a great response. I have made lifetime friends and supporters already 30 years ago. Some of these families still have dogs from me. As their children move away from home. They often want a dog from me for their new homes.
Many of these people understand what a nice dog they have. Often they are not interested of breeding themselves. So they let me plan the pedigrees. I can use their best dog for breeding. The family is happy and I am happy. It is really a win-win situation. Over the years great trust and friendship is built up between families and a breeder. These people are the key to future top breeding. By accident my kennel turned out to be a team.
Breeders must develop himself and need to have something to offer. The breeder must have something to offer for every puppy buyer. Otherwise you are not interesting. Every good and lasting relationship is about give and take. Breeders can offer knowledge and inspiration. The family offers good homes, good company, support and advertisement with their new Champions. A good breeder must develop his know how all the time. So that even the most experienced puppy owner will learn something new every now and then.
As some families really get close to you it requires time to take co-operation to next level. I have learned this, and if you trust the people they will trust you. They also respect this trust a lot. It is wonderful to plan future generations together. There are more eyes and ears available to learn and hear. Soon you have much more resources available to be used in breeding. At the moment about half of my litters are born in my families. This makes my life much easier. I can breed more and be sure the quality of life of my dogs is as good as possible.
Every now and then there will be problems. The co-operation and connection between the breeder and family do not work out. That’s life, take it in stride. The breeders should not take disappointment too seriously. It is learning experience. Next time you will better know what to do. You will know how to pick better families.
I believe that team work is the future of dog breeding, and it is the breeder who can make this happen or not.
