Hi Kim, > I am looking for my first Berner puppy, > If anyone knows of any good Berner breeders in Ohio or > nearby area I would love to talk to them and ask them some questions.
The best way to find the right breeder for you is by using the regional club(s) in your area. You'll find links to the regional clubs and contact information (along with a lot of other excellent information) on the national (US) club's website: www.bmdca.org Regional clubs offer breeder referral, but more than that...they provide the opportunity to get to know berner owners & breeders by way of the events they host. These events range from Specialty shows to Fun Days to Holiday Gatherings. Non-members are welcome so don't hesitate to take advantage of the offerings. > All your comments > about HD have been very informative and I will make sure that is a very high > priority to look for. HD is just one aspect of many to consider when breeding or buying. Pat Long has put together a Breeder Checklist which is an excellent tool to help you learn the wide variety of aspects breeders take into account in making their decisions, and to help you determine how closely a particular breeder's priorities align with your own. You'll find the Breeder Checklist on her website: http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1 Something relatively new on the radar screen is the fact that as buyers have become better informed and started asking serious questions, commercial breeders and brokers have learned to say the things buyers want to hear. For this reason, it's important to hear accurately what's being said...and what's not being said. It's become imperative to DEMAND copies of all certifications, contracts, and guarantees BEFORE deciding to buy from that breeder. It's not intrusive or insulting...it's the norm. Responsible breeders require this of each other before doing a breeding and will be happy to provide you with documentation to support any statements they make about their line or the breeding pair. Beware of statements like: "Her hips are good" or "I've never had a problem with ..." or "My vet said..." or "These dogs are from European lines, they don't have the kind of problems over there that American breeders do" or "I can't give you copies until you sign the contract" To my ears, these types of general statements send up a *Red Flag*. Contrast them with the kind of discussion you'd typically hear from a responsible breeder: "The sire is OFA good, dam is OFA excellent, elbows for both are OFA normal, eyes for both CERFed "clear" within the last year." (Personally, I'd also want cardiac clearance and vWD evaluation). "If you're interested in the litter, I'll be happy to send you copies of the clearance certificates along with a 4 generation pedigree, then we can discuss each of the dogs in the pedigree along with aunts and uncles. "I'll also enclose a copy of my usual contract so you'll know what I guarantee and what I expect from my puppy buyers." This in addition to discussion of YOUR dog experience, lifestyle, desires in a pup, etc. There's a great deal more to breeding responsibly than doing the proper screening for genetic diseases, but the point is to beware of generalizations. You should be offered specifics and the paperwork to back them up. -Sherri Venditti
