Finding a puppy is such a jungle!

[snoozy]

My latest idea is to get a 6 year old Tibetan mastiff that we have been offered (once we have the place fenced properly) for a stay-at-home dog, and also to get a corgi puppy for a pet-type, take-along doggie. I've given up trying to make rescues work -- I must have just been lucky with Auggie and Toby.

So I am trying to do my due diligence on all things corgi and find a breeder who is not a puppymill, but then I am finding that there seem to be durn few Pembroke corgi puppies available, and then there are all kinds of restrictions, like contracts and such. The whole AKC thing seems like it ought to be a good thing (standards and all that, whot whot you know), but on the other hand, it seems to be restricting supply to maintain higher prices. Waiting lists and non-refundable deposits and mandatory spay/neuter stipulations. And they ain't cheap, neither, especially figured by the yard.

And how do you find a good breeder, when all the breeders listed with the various corgi associations are sold out or not breeding for the year or whatever? Websites are not maintained, usually "announcing" that Precious Fifteen Hundred Bucks is going to pop a litter in November of 2012 and we're all so excited and do call to see if we will deign to put you on the waiting list.

Sigh. Again.

[Deleted]

Please don't give up on rescues! I'm a strong believer in the mantra "adopt don't shop". I know there is a dog out there for you and a rescue that will work for you too.

[Maura]

AKC doesn’t mean much. Look for sound conformation and stable personality of the sire and dam. If you start with AKC and go looking, you may find the perfect breeder for you. Those who breed for show also often have a good dog that just isn’t up to the show ring, and you can get a young dog for a much lower price than a puppy. Just something to think about. If you know what to look for, rescue may be a good route for you. Keep in mind that most dogs come from poor breeders including puppy mills, so that is what you most often find in rescue. This doesn’t mean you won’t find a fine companion, but beware.

A friend of mine recently gave away a fine Corgi. She is 80 and the dog was too energetic for her so she gave the bitch to a family children. Sometimes those things happen. Look in the paper, look on Craig’s list. As with any breed, a corgi isn’t for everyone.

[mollymckee]

Friends of our have gotten two Corgies from a Seattle area rescue. Both are great dogs.

[Deleted]

My experience with dogs has been that you most often get what you pay for. I know there are exceptions but it is more of a gamble. While I applaud people that adopt rescues for very good motives, what I have most often seen, especially with people in my own family, is that you end up with someone else's problem. If you want a working dog, a hunting dog, or a protection dog, buy the best blood line from the best kennel you can, a kennel associated with a breed and/or performance organization. Always inspect the kennel and meet the parents.

[aoconnor]

I always recommend starting at AKC to find a good breeder. Most have pet quality dogs that aren't able to be shown, and they sell them for less than a show quality would sell for. You will have to have the dog spayed or neutered more than likely, most good breeders will not sell a pet quality dog without having it spayed or neutered.

You can also try to find forums for your specific breed. There is more than likely one around! They should have good breeder information as well. I am a moderator for an (English) Bulldog forum as well as a member for another Bulldog forum. There are many such sites around, I bet you can find one for a Pembroke.

[countrymom22]

The thing to remember when buying a dog is that the AKC is nothing more than a record keeping institution. It works on the premise that the information given to it by the breeders themselves is accurate. A breeder that is listed on the AKC website is not regulated or vetted by the AKC. They simply request to be added to the AKC referral list. You still have to do your own due diligence.

Unfortunately Corgis are just one of the breeds that do not have very large litters usually, so it may be a long wait for a puppy. Also, with the economy as it is, many people have stopped or slowed down their breeding programs because of the costs involved. And if they don't sell all the puppies (which does happen) they are then stuck feeding and extra animal.

Every AKC recognized breed also has a pure bred breed rescue. Go to the AKC website and they can direct you to the one closest to you. With some breeds, the availability of puppies through a rescue may be limited. IE: with Sheltie rescue, they sometimes have younger dogs in the 2-3 year age group, but very rarely have puppies.

Another avenue for finding good breeders in your area is to attend a few local dog shows. Although some people travel great distances to go to a show, many of the people there will be local. And even if they don't have anything available to suit your needs, they probably know someone who does. Good Luck!