Question about breeder

[HJ]

I am new to this site. We are looking into getting a puppy and I wonder if anyone has any experience with Riegseckers Kennel in Ohio ?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, I looked at the website, and they breed 7 very different types of dogs. I see no information about health testing of the parents. In fact, I see no information at all on the parents, nor any photographs. $350 is what brokers pay for doodles which are then sold to pet stores. If I were looking for a puppy, these things would cause me to look elsewhere.
I have an adopted doodle who was originally purchased from a pet store. His medical problems cost me thousands of dollars every year, and he suffers every day of his life. Please take these issues into consideration before you buy a puppy, especially if you have never visited the kennel in person.
There is a lot of helpful and important info on DK regarding what to look for in a breeder. I suggest you start with the discussion below:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/potential-health-problems-in

[Adina P]

Welcome HJ!

I don't know anything about this particular breeder. But here are some things that you should look for: Use this as a check list and if they don't meet these criteria I would go elsewhere:

-- proof of health testing on the parent dogs. This includes hip clearances, eye clearances, vwd clearance, etc.. Here is an article I wrote for doodle kisses about the importance of health testing: http://doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/potential-health-problems-in --- please read it carefully.

-- minimum of a two-year genetic health guarantee that offers monetary reimbursement if your dog develops hip dysplasia or other hereditary conditions. Anything less than a two-year guarantee is not very valuable because a lot of conditions happen after the first year or two. Any guarantee that requires you to return your dog is also useless because even if your dog ends up with bad hips you will still love it. Any guarantee that merely gives you another puppy will not help you with the sick one. So check out their guarantee very carefully.

-- where are the puppies raised? are they socialized? I prefer puppies that are raised in the home because they learn the sounds and sights of living in a home. This is not to put down any breeder who raises their puppies in a kennel-- some can do that very well. But it is my personal preference to know that a puppy I buy is raised in the breeder's home.

-- do you like the parents of the puppy or litter you are considering? if you are able to visit the breeder's home, then do so so you can get to know the personality of the parents. That is very important because your puppy's personality will be heavily influenced by the parents.

I would say the first most important facts you must gather are the ones about health testing and health guarantee! Those are facts--either the breeder has done the testing or the breeder has not. After that's taken care of, get references from the breeder so you can talk to people who have gotten puppies from this person-- which you are doing now but I don't think that anybody here has a puppy from them ( at least it has not been mentioned). From there you just go with your gut!

[Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles]

There are many doodles in dire need of being placed, have you looked at any of the rescues? There are some wonderful resources right here at DK that can assist you.

Additionally you may want to look in the owner recommended breeders group. These are breeders who have met or exceeded the basic criteria suggested by Adina in her writings of basic health testing. They are also placed by owners who have visited the breeders home. A lot of doodle sales occur via the internet and that is not necessarily a bad thing, but when doing so if you can get a recommendation from an owner who has visited that breeder it may provide insights you may not have had access to otherwise. Last I would add that I know for a fact that Kendra makes every effort to visit the sites of these breeders and if there is no evidence of the health testing claimed, they are removed.

Sometimes it is thought that one cannot afford to purchase one of the upper end doodles, I believe you are not purchasing a doodle ~ but rather what is behind your future family companion. In such instances as it has been pointed out sometimes what we really cannot afford is to obtain our companions at a 'bargain' price.

Best of luck in your quest to add a doodle to your life!

[2zw8n9vphfrc6]

By the looks of it they breed several different types of dogs, I also see they sell puppies through classifieds online.


Michele

[Adina P]

selling in classifieds isn't necessarily a bad thing--- it's just one of many ways to market and let people know that you have puppies for sale. As long as a breeder screens buyers--- using multiple ways to advertise is not a bad thing.

[Marianne *OZZY & ZOEY]

I do hope that you find a dog that fits your needs, cost is not one thing I would think about when making that purchase...I myself thought I bought a dog from a good breeder to find out later it was a puppy mill. Even though I spent alot for my dog...it cost me THOUSANDS of dollars and 4 short years later I lost her to pancreatitis...nothing Money could fix....enough about the money....the heart break is unbearable.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

FYI- Riegsecker is a common Amish and/or Mennonite name....and both the Amish and Mennonite communities are notorious puppy mill breeders..This is not to say that that this particular breeder is indeed a puppy mill.....but there are a few things that you should be aware of....

The majority of these mills are located in scenic Lancaster County Pennsylvania..( over 2500 in that county alone) and throughout the state of Ohio.....In fact the nations largest seasonal Dog Auction is held in the heart of Amish country Ohio....This is where many "commercial" breeders assemble to sell and purchase their "cash crop".....which is exactly how these people view their animals... Some stats suggest that as much as 85 percent of all pet shop puppy "inventory" comes from Amish and/or Mennonite owned and operated puppy mills...Most are actually USDA licensed!......I'm sure that I don't have to go into the specific horrors associated with puppy mills but if you are unfamiliar with this information or the term please take a moment and type "puuppy mills" into a Google search...What you will see will horrify you.....

Generally, a clear indication of a commercial breeder is the number of different dog breeds that they offer.....Anything more that 3 suggests "commercial breeder" or possible puppy mill.....Also what Karen and Adina have both posted should serve as your puppy purchase "bible"......These things are CRITICAL when considering a reputable breeder....They insure that you will be purchasing a healthy, socialized and family raised pet.

The fact that this "breeder" has an actual website and telephone suggests that they are not Amish as the Amish do not have modern amenities.....but Mennonites do....Please keep in mind that Labradoodles and Goldendoodles have become quite the commodity in the last few years and there are many so called breeders that are breeding strictly for profit..not for a love for these dogs....I hope this information is helpful....

[HJ]

Thank you very much for all your replies. I think we will try to get a rescue dog.