[Lynn]

I have a question about purchasing a Havanese puppy. Why is it the breeders only want to sell a female puppy on a spayed contract?

 

[MopTop Havanese]

To help keep the Havanese a Havanese. There are lots of Havanese that should not be bred. By only breeding the ones that fit closely to the breed standard (which can be found at the Havanese Club of America website) it will help keep the Havanese a strong breed.
If the female is show/breeding quality, lots of breeders will sell them on a show contract. Once the bitch has finished her championship, and health tested, then you can breed her.
Good breeders don't want their females going out to homes where it might be bred to the neighbors poodle. (just an example)

 

[Lynn]

I am new to this, but what does it involve to finish a championship? And what is the time frame before you can breed the dog after following this process?
I can understand breeders not wanting their females to go breed with the neighbors poodle, but if I have an AKC register male dog, why does the female have to finish a championship?

 

[MopTop Havanese]

It takes 15 points to finish a championship, with at least 2 majors (equaling between 3-5 points).
You don't want to breed a female until she is close to 2 years old and has had her health testing.
Also, you would want to health test your male.
Did the breeder that you got your male from say he was breeding quality?
There are companion dogs (pets) and there are show/breeding dogs in every breed.
For example, Lets say your male is on the bigger side of the scale. And your female ends up being on the bigger side of the scale. You breed them together, and they produce puppies that grow bigger to. Now the Havanese breed standard states that Havanese should be between 8 1/2 and 11 1/2 inches tall, but your puppies grow to be 13 inches tall. Now all of a sudden they aren't looking like Havanese anymore! Or...lets say your male only has one testicle, or their eyes are more round and not almond shape, their feet turn out ect.
There are alot of backyard breeders out there who don't give a hoot about the breed, they are only doing it for the money. This is what most ethical breeders want to avoid, so they require their dogs to go out on spay/neuter contracts.

 

[Tom King]

I could write a book on this topic but in short will say that reputable breeders will only sell puppies with unlimited registration to people who already know a LOT about breeding animals and a LOT about what's going on in the breed right now. For instance out of about 200 puppies we've sold we have sold 5 with unlimited registration. 3 went to people who were already experienced breeders that we know who are active in the HCA with positions such as Judges Education Committee and Buyers Education Committee and the other 2 went to a home not far from us that was already active in learning and helping the breed through the HCA and they were close enough and fast enough learners that we accepted them under our mentorship.

You will not find our kennel name up close on any pedigrees from puppy mill or backyard breeder puppies. The trouble with selling unlimited registration in not only with the next generation from the new breeder but where the generations after that go.

I suggest getting involved with your local breed club and going from there.

We also require a Championship for unlimited but it's already a given from the ones we did sell to. Supposedly the conformation ring is to validate that the animal is of breeding quality. At this point the Havanese is so new and judges have been prequalified to judge it without study requirements simply because they already had the Toy Group that even a Championship is of limited validity to those of us who actually understand the breed standard.

There is MUCH to being a breeder and the right is closely guarded by reputable breeders.

There are too many people breeding these dogs now who only require papers and plumbing to put a dog in a breeding program. When we started there was only juvenile cataracts to worry about. That is all but eliminated from the gene pool now through careful breeding. Now we have things like liver shunts and all sorts of other things because of unscrupulous breeders who only want to do it "to make me some money".

 

[Rita]

I second what Tom says and I am not a breeder. I just think if you love a breed it has to be that way. There is so much that goes into breeding it is unbelievable. Havanese have fairly few health problems compared to other small breeds. Take the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for instance. They have so many problems, including over 50% having Mitral Valve by age 5. Backyard breeders and puppy mills are adding to this problem.

I personally think each state should have a licensing department that must go around and inspect all breeders and they must meet top requirements. And they should have the power to shut down people who don't adhere to the requirements or fine them big time. Boy! If you are a cosmotolgist you need a license to do hair but anyone can breed a dog. Lets keep the Havanese as healthy as possible!

Join your local club and start hanging out with breeders. They can even suggest numerous books to help give you more knowledge. Maybe down the road one of the breeders will mentor you.

 

[JodiM]

I personally think each state should have a licensing department that must go around and inspect all breeders and they must meet top requirements. And they should have the power to shut down people who don't adhere to the requirements or fine them big time. Boy! If you are a cosmotolgist you need a license to do hair but anyone can breed a dog. Lets keep the Havanese as healthy as possible!

I completely agree! I also think the AKC should require DNA testing, and health testing before someone is allowed to breed dogs and then pass along the papers.