Many of you readers may/may not know that I am a breeder of Barbet in America. We have had Barbet for 6 years now and my sister in law has had one since 2000. I am very proud of what the Barbet community in America has accomplished in that short time and can not wait for what is to come.
I get a few emails and calls a week inquiring about Barbet puppies and litters. I try to be open and honest with people and help them understand these dogs are not a dime a dozen like labradoodles. My husband and I fervently believe in good breeding practices and do not rely on puppies for money. I find that to be the biggest break down in good breeding practices. My husband does capital investing as well as runs a non for profit in Guatemala called Seeds of Help. I am a Indianapolis wedding photographer and graphic designer.
We we breed because we adore the Barbet. Any money made goes into toys, vet care, training, food, and dog shows. We’ve had 2 litters in 4 years and plan on having 1 this winter and 1 in the spring of 2011. If you are wanting a Barbet puppy you should get on a breeders waiting list as wait times can be 9-18 months. Most Barbet have a strict spay/neuter contract to protect the integrity of the breed and prevent unwanted pregnancies or labradoodle mishaps.
I suggest also you do your research on a breeder and ask them LOTS of questions. The Friendly Barbet has a fabulous blog post on things to ask. Chris and Ula are similar in age to Walter and I. They are Barbet breeders in Canada whom I trust and admire for their integrity, perseverance in dog shows, and hunting/training. You can read their post “it breaks our hearts”
Sorry for my rant, but there has been lots of shenanigans lately and I hope you prospective Barbet buyers do your research. Make sure the breeder is on good terms with the CKC or AKC (and the law), provides proper registration paperwork in a timely fashion, has a spay/neuter contract, doesn’t treat dogs as a business commodity, and so on. Don’t be afraid to google the person and ask for vet/references. If things don’t pan out DON’T buy from them. As Chris and Ula say “Please make an informed choice on which breeders you would like to support and whom you PROMOTE.”
What’s a blog post without a photo.. here are the loves of my life born Jan 2009… If you look closely you’ll see a tiny white paw which is Gingko de Xelaju Amelia aka Lia who is the love of my life.
