WOW I knew things were tough all over, but I would have guessed MORE folks would be trying to bread and sell dogs....Sorry to hear that is an issue for ya. No experience at all here. My wife and son are CONSTANTLY trying to get me to relent and bring another dog home, so I have no need to search at all with all the ones that they "have to have". Good Luck in your quest!!

 

I know of one breeder here locally, he is a distant relative. He breeds many dogs. Personally I think he is passed the "breeder" stage and just to the puppy stage and is watering down the animals as he has so many different breeds. I can ask if you want if he has any lines available, but it is a distance and I would make for damn sure he has all the proper breed line paper work.

As for us, we are just plain folk, we rescued all of our animals! You never really know what may be lurking out there at the local animal shelters!

 

I just got my German Shepard about a month ago. I searched all over the internet and stopped into the local Petsmart and Petco to check the bulletin boards weekly. I was about to give up when out of the blue a add came up in our local newspaper. I couldn't be happier and the breeder had the parents both on site when I picked him up.

 

Ghart If I recall you are in Maryland so I am including a link for show information page for Old Dominion Kennel club.
http://www.odkc.org/schedule.htm

Find a show that you can get to and talk to the Irish Terrier breeders in person. You can get a feel for the breeder, get to see the dogs and even if they don't have a litter on the ground they may have one soon or know someone else who has pups.

As I breed (very limited) and show Irish Wolfhounds I can't help but I will ask around.

Padraig

 

There is a dog show at the end of April at Timonium Fairgrounds. We intend to visit that show and do as you suggested and talk with someone from the Irish Terrier club from Pennsylvania who are going to be at the show.

Thanks for the input.

 

I have to assume that the demand for champion bloodline pedigree dogs has dried up to the point where breeders have gone out of the business for now.

Give me some feedback on the "Dog Market" and if anyone knows of a quality Irish Terrier breeder with a strong bloodline, send me their information!

Are you dead set on a full champion "bloodline" dog? If so why, if I may ask, do you require that? Champion bloodline is typically a show criteria and those types of breeders would require the same of you to preserve the champion lineage.
Another reason I would have to ask is from my own understanding of the market from the aspects of breeding and showing. For example there is a problem that exists called inbreeding coefficient. In short, strong bloodline and champion bloodline can be a contradiction in reality.

 

Breena was the second champion bloodline dog I have owned, my first was a Schnauzer that lived to be 15 years of age and was another great dog. You are correct about some breeders wanting their puppies to continue the trophy trail! We had more than one breeder tell us they wouldn't sell us a dog if we didn't plan on showing it.

Breena's lineage was from Paxton and Rockwell bloodlines, both having a long history of show dogs.

When I bought both my Schnauzer and Kerry Blue it came after deep research. Both dogs had the characteristics and qualities I expected after doing my research. Puppy mills can and do generate a large quantity of dogs that come with papers but they may or may not be typical of their breed after you bring them into your home.

I believe saorise outlines it far better than I could as to why I want a champion bloodline. Travel is not a problem for me. We did an overnight trip to get Breena, almost New York in northern PA to pick her up. The price for a good dog will have a comma in it but that's something I accept.

 

While most breeders who show and put champion titles on thier dogs love show homes .... the reality is that there are usualy more so called pet owners then show homes. If it is a good breeder the main thing is to find safe loving homes. My last litter was an super large litter of
(15). I kept (2) (3) went to show homes and will be shown, hopefully to their championship, and (10) went to so called pet homes.

The breeder with "champion" blood lines usually puts his heart and soul into producing the very best dogs and is always striving to improve the line in conformation, health, temperament and longevity. But it is not just his opinion, he brings the dogs to shows and gets the opinions of peers and of course the judges. Does this discribe all breeders of quality champion dogs? Of corse not, there are always bad apples and you need to do your homework. Showing is also an expensive undertaking, between entry fees, vehicle costs travel costs, hotels etc a weekend at a dog show can be as bad as boating. <g> Most good breeders don't make any money and are thrilled if they break even!

Then you have what is sometimes called backyard breeders. They have a male and female and churn out puppies. Of course most do not do health checks and often breed every time the poor girl is in season. Or you have the people with a female and want to show the children the miracle of birth. Gag me, I hope they also show the kids the still born pup or the ones that die early because of problems.

I know that i am prejudiced but go with a breeder that puts his or heart and soul into the dogs. Do your research and if a breeder sells a dog to just anyone watch out! I tell people looking for a Irish Wolfhound to run like hell if getting a hound from a breeder isn't as difficult as adopting a child.

Padraig

 

It's a dog.

 

Obviously not a "DOG" person.

 

Good luck with your endeavor Gil.

 

Thanks Jake.

 

http://www.itca.info/itcarescue.htm

 

I love dogs, my sweetie of 10 years I had to put down last spring... made me drop a tear.

However, reading of the breeders and the 'bad breeders' and how dogs are abused?

It's a dog. I just gave 6 labs away, FOR FREE!!!! I can't imagine you dog anal breakfast clans like that! Yes she has papers! We gave her puppies away for free!!!! HER VAGINA WAS NEVER INSPECTED!!! FREE PUPPIES!!!

 

There is nothing wrong with a free puppy for people who want that. It is also nothing wrong with paying for a puppy where both bloodlines are documented and examples of the breed can be seen and evaluated.

I made the decision to pay and know entirely what I am getting. :

 

I checked out UKC's site and did not find anything for puppies on the Irish Terrier. I'm always on the **** Hound forums atleast once a day so i'll keep an eye out. Good luck Gil

 

So many dogs need homes, that's why I put up the rescue link. We will never buy a dog, we always rescue our animals, for us, it's the ONLY way to fly.
I understand if you are breeding or showing but other than that, not sure I get the breeder thing.

 

Found this one roaming around our neighborhood almost three years ago. She is a GREAT companion, literally a "lap" dog. She's not a big fan of other dogs coming into our yard, but, hey,.... neither am I! You want a loyal, smart and loving dog, don't believe the media hype, get a pit-bull.

 

I know that every single animal we've rescued has been an amazing companion.

 

What can I say guys. Some people buy new expensive boats, others resurrect one that needs some TLC. In both cases, the owners of those boats are happy with their decisions and wouldn't be as content doing it the other way. The same is true of everything in life, that's why they make counter tops of both granite and laminate, Chevy's and Mercedes, Citations and Gulf Stream and on and on.

 

I find your analogies totally lacking! Don't ever compare my dog to a boat needing TLC, or laminate counters! :

You gotta do, what you gotta do. Just remember all the poor dogs that idiots give up or mistreat. WAY to many are killed every day.

I still like you though, even if you like throwing money away

 

Good watch dog. Barks at everything that comes near the house than watches.:laugher:
But he's a GREAT companion and loves to ride.

 

What more could you ask for !

 

ghart I understand exactly why you are dog shopping the way you are. I figure it like this...

If I am going to commit to being a good pet owner, spending a little money up front on the dog helps me remember to commit to this living animal I am purchasing, way too many people get free dogs and then just abondon them later.

If I am going to spend money to purchase a dog, I want to make sure I am purchasing a dog that displays the traits that I want, both based on choosing the proper breed, as well as researching breeders and their previous dogs to make sure they display those traits.

I also want a guarantee, my breeder provided this on my dogs eyes, hips, etc. She's been showing, racing, and breeding her dogs since the 60's, and can prove she only breeds healthy dogs.

My dog has been exactly what I shopped for, I spent good money to purchase her, and she has been 100% healthy for the last 8 years. She shows no signs of slowing down, and has been a great companion.

I am not against rescuing an animal, but if someone wants to purchase a dog with documentation and documented health lines, and blood lines, etc. than so be it.

My dad was always picky about buying dogs, I guess I got it from him.

 

This sums up perfectly how I feel about.

 

You want a loyal, smart and loving dog, don't believe the media hype, get a pit-bull.

I believe you are about 75% correct on the Pit thing.... I have worked with several Pits that were loyal and loving and i never had thought in my mind that they would hurt a fly other then protecting my bosses property or him. I fed them and played with them ,took bones from them to clean up and all. BUT i remember one day when a JA brought his pit up to the gate(4ft) to see what would happen and both females lost there minds. I grabbed the younger dog 2 and pulled her back while the owner went to grab the older one and was yelling at the Idiot for bringing his dog to the gate. His "raised from a puppy" 8 yr old turned and nailed him pretty good before she got her bearings st8 to let go of him.... They are not like a lab or beagle that will nip and run or warn you. They are breed to destroy what ever they do not like, and Most /Not all have a short fuse for other dogs and such a high drive that the switch is hard to find to turn them off when you want.... Just in the paper 2 weeks ago a mother and daughter got into an argument and i guess the mother pushed the daughter and 2 family raised pits killed the daughter. I would have a hard time seeing a lab do that one... But carry on...They are one of my favorite dogs i just don't think i will ever own one...:winker:

 

I have a pitbull story too, no doubt they are natural born killers, doesn't take much at all to make them literally deadly. We had this one and another one at the same time, I ended up in the ER getting glued back together and taking a course of Augmenten for good measure. Lesson learned in that fiasco; don't try to manually remove one dog from another by prying his mouth open.

Embarrasing, but didn't scare me away from the breed. You'd have to see mine in full love-bug mode, she wouldn't hurt a fly. (but, another dog..........., that can be another story)

 

I'm happy there are people out there who enjoy having a pit bull but I have too many small greanchildren around to take that kind of risk with any dog with that kind of characteristic.

Far too many friendly breeds around to take that kind of risk.

 

Here's our latest laminate dog :

 

We have a "granite" Chocolate Lab, had her since she was 9 weeks, she'll be 10 this year.

TOTAL IDIOT, listens okay, but is about as clumsy as can be. No coordination, afraid of the water and sheds literally all year long. So, the free one is less maintenance (not a fixer upper) and causes us less hassles.

Just saying.............

 

Part of the problem we have with finding a dog is both my wife and myself, more me, can not deal with hair flying all about. When we researched dogs three things top the list. The dog needed to be non shedding, odorless and highly intelligent. There are dogs that have those characteristics but to insure those qualities the bloodline needs to be of high quality.

We could have gone to any of the "Pet Supermarkets" and found a dog that had the characteristics we wanted in their breeding, probably for less money. Most of the dogs found at the pet supermarkets come from Puppy Mills. The quality of the bloodline and treatment those dogs endure can cause problems with puppies coming from that environment. The last thing I need is an insane dog that sheds and smells like a wet dog all the time expecting none of those characteristics!

I don't mind paying the going rate to a breeder who will deliver a dog to me that is exactly what we expected that dog to be.

Breena was so smart she did some maintenance at the house. Here she is clearing a pipe for us.

 

Lots of labs have granite heads, regardless of pedigree, or lack thereof. :hammer:

 

Good luck in your search. I understand buying a good dog and maybe someday when I've got a few extra bucks I'll go that route. But since this has turned into a show your dog off I'll take me turn. Just got Brutus from a local English Bulldog rescue. Quite a prima donna and snores like a trucker but I love him.

 

I should have put this in my previous post. My wife has a frame on her rear license plate of her car that reads;

My Kerry Blue Terrier is
Smarter than Your Honor Student!