I sell to novice show homes from time to time and I will tell you what impressed me and why I sold to the people I sold to.
(1) I met them at a dog show or dog function of some sort. A BIG plus. This showed they were *out there* learning and talking. (2) They had already done some research and actually knew something about the breed! (3) They were not eager to buy the first puppy they came across. They were totally willing to be patient and wait for the right dog because they seemed to intuitively know the good ones take time and that the good breeders have homes for their present and immediate future show puppies so they will have to wait a little longer. I stay very involved, as involved as the novice will let me. Nearly all of them have become very good friends. They want to see all my litters (if they live nearby) and help me evaluate. They constantly strive to keep learning. When I send pictures of puppies--and if they can't visit the puppies I send a video tape of the puppy moving, self stacking, etc.--I TELL them to share the pictures and videos with anyone and everyone and get input! I want them to feel I am hiding no secrets about their puppy. I am brutally honest about the good and bad points of any puppy I sell as well--if anything more critical than the others they consult. I feel even better about any novice who DOES contact other breeders for their opinion on -my- puppy; I feel they are trying to learn and realize that every person's opinion counts--that dog showing is quite subjective. One of the biggest turnoffs--someone who is OVER eager to get a show puppy NOW! Anyone who believes good show puppies are easy to come by and always available and therefore thinks they can get a puppy quickly usually does not have the ability to understand the complexity of producing good puppies and just doesn't seem to be a good *show* person to me. If they want a puppy that quickly, there must be some other reason for it. And they seem more likely to quickly decide to go on to a different breed as well. Laura Lang ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
