Finding the right puppy homes

Sorting out which puppy goes to which home is a complete nightmare. It is by far the most stressful part of breeding. You are producing family members, something that will be so loved and so treasured. Getting it right is therefore a massive challenge.

I haven’t advertised my litters for years. These days, my litters are such a closely guarded secret, even my existing puppy owners don’t know they are coming until they have arrived. Which means if they forget to tell me they want another one – tough! They will have to wait another year or two.

What makes a good owner?

Someone recently asked me what I look for in a good owner. I think the main thing I want is commitment. Ideally, I want a home that taken the trouble to do lots of research and think hard about what they want. They should have a clear idea of what a Border Collie will look like in their home and know exactly why this is the right dog for them.

I don’t really have many other specific requirements, other than wanting a ‘pet’ rather than a ‘working’ home. I want people to care about the dog they get and to expect the healthiest possible dog, with the best temperament. Please read the FAQs on the Breeder info page for more details

What do I NOT want in a puppy home?

Frustratingly for many people, rescue centres have very strict criteria for their homes. No children under 12, for example. Not working full time. No other pets. A good-sized garden, with over 6ft fences.

I am able to be much more flexible about criteria and really consider each potential home individually. It is lovely sending pups off to family homes, often as their first dog. Border Collies are definitely NOT recommended as a first dog.

I would always say ‘start with a Labrador‘. But many people have grown up with a collie and although this is very different from owning one as an adult, at least you will have more realistic expectations. :p Having said that, very young children are a real challenge alongside a puppy and you need to be pretty dog savvy to manage this.

Which puppy goes where?

“We chose the one that came to us.” If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard someone say that… It’s not really that simple. As I have become more and more experienced as a breeder, so my confidence in sorting out homes has improved.

Naturally, I take into account whether people want a boy or a girl, as this is pretty fundamental. If a home wants a particular colour, I will try to consider that, although the homes wanting black and whites are disappointed this time! Ultimately, though, I take account of the hundreds of hours I spend around the puppies to decide who will cope with a busy household and who will prefer a one-to-one relationship.

Waiting lists for puppy homes

It would be great if I just had to wait for nice people to come along and then offer them a puppy. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of amazing homes and I receive an enquiry MOST DAYS. 🙁 It’s so hard, because I don’t really know what to say to all these lovely people.

I always recommend people look at the list of Assured Breeders on the KC website and also contact the breeders on the Champdogs website. There are more thoughts on finding the right homes on the blog from the last litter. I currently have homes for the next litter…

NB: THESE PUPPIES ALL HAVE HOMES

Remember..

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NO PUPPIES AVAILABLE

NB: I am not a dog trainer, or a dog behaviourist, just a dog breeder and owner. I can only offer my opinion, based on my experience.