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The talking Heads
Yes, you may have noticed a price difference between Cotons while shopping for your new family
member. There seem to be as many ways to purchase a Coton as there are prices. What
does it all mean?
Here are some possible scenarios:
Option #1
You get your puppy from a pet store......................................$2000 plus (we all know how I feel about that)
Option #2
You buy your puppy from one of the numerous websites,,,,,,,,$500-$3000
This is one of the biggest mine fields in puppy buying these days. Most sites offer free advertising, so what's not to
love? The quality and integrity of the puppies and the breeder require veeeery careful scrutiny. Some of these sellers
could be entirely legitimate, though there is much controversy over "real breeders" posting on the Internet excluding
their websites. What you will see on these sites are everyone from puppy brokers (people who get puppies from the
Eastern Block in Europe for very cheap and them sell them over here for a profit. Run away as fast as you can - that
is if you know this is what they are doing. They don't exactly announce themselves! What you may notice is what
appears to be the same puppy advertised on the same and/or different sites. Oftentimes the picture was stolen off
the website of a professional breeder. As likely as not, they may not even be Cotons! These pups usually sell for
$800-$2000.
Next are people like your next door neighbor either breeding a litter "for the kids" or breeding to pay for their
annual vacation. Or maybe it is an OOPS litter. Huge variation here, you can't ask too many questions (that goes for
every situation actually). I have personally known people that have bred a litter of puppies (different breed) and done
it very conscientiously and lovingly, albeit ignorantly. Typically, there is no health testing done on the dogs, they do
not have the knowledge to evaluate a dog to know if the dog is of a quality that should be bred. They typically will
breed to any and all available dogs. They may or may not be aware of how to socialize a puppy or the importance
thereof. It is entirely possible that you can get a good dog from your next door neighbor, maybe. Price tag varies,
see local dealer for details.
Then there is the person somewhere between a puppy mill and your friendly neighbor. Of this group there are two
sorts. One sort is breeding totally for profit and make no pretense to themselves that they care about the dogs. To
other people of their kind they would swagger and laugh about the "killing" they are making on "raisin' a few white
rats"! The other branch of people are also working for profit but they treat their dogs humanely and at least provide
the basics.
Option #4
Newspaper ad........................................................$anything goes..
Another big no no in the world of breeders, I'm not entirely sure why except for the same reasons as above. No
reputable breeder wants to put themselves on the same playing field as disreputable purveyors of dogs.
Option #5
Advertisement in a dog magazine...............................getting hotter$1500-$5000
Short of number six and seven, this is your best bet. These are breeders that care about and are proud of their
kennel name. They typically are code of ethics breeders and are associated with a breed club. Typically what this
means is that they care about the breed as a whole, not just theri individual dogs. They take the time to educate
themselves, are active in the breed in some fashion and are responsible for every dog they birth for their entire life.
There is nothing too good for their dogs! They usually are involved in showing their dogs. In so saying, I am not
implying that breeders who don't show their dogs are not good breeders. That is a whole different TALKING HEADS
question.
So, let's give those breeders a hand......
Option #6
Personal referral
As long as you trust the person's judgement and they know what they are talking about, then go ahead, but
remember, it's not like going to a restaurant that your friend recommended!
Option # 7
From a breed club listing of breeders. (see option #5)
Option #7
Off the back of a truck
Bad, very bad!
Option #8
At an auction
Don't you dare!
A couple of hints.
People lie. Just because they say "home raised in a loving environment", doesn't make it so. Believe me, you can take
this to the bank!
Ask for references from other puppy buyers but know that this can also be totally fabricated.
Ask if they are a member of a breed club.
Ask what age they let their puppies go - less than 8 weeks, hang up.
Even if you live clear across the country, pretend like you have every intention of coming out to see their kennel
before you make a decision. If they balk, balk right back and don't come back!
For more information, please see my "puppymills" page and "pricing"
member. There seem to be as many ways to purchase a Coton as there are prices. What
does it all mean?
Here are some possible scenarios:
Option #1
You get your puppy from a pet store......................................$2000 plus (we all know how I feel about that)
Option #2
You buy your puppy from one of the numerous websites,,,,,,,,$500-$3000
This is one of the biggest mine fields in puppy buying these days. Most sites offer free advertising, so what's not to
love? The quality and integrity of the puppies and the breeder require veeeery careful scrutiny. Some of these sellers
could be entirely legitimate, though there is much controversy over "real breeders" posting on the Internet excluding
their websites. What you will see on these sites are everyone from puppy brokers (people who get puppies from the
Eastern Block in Europe for very cheap and them sell them over here for a profit. Run away as fast as you can - that
is if you know this is what they are doing. They don't exactly announce themselves! What you may notice is what
appears to be the same puppy advertised on the same and/or different sites. Oftentimes the picture was stolen off
the website of a professional breeder. As likely as not, they may not even be Cotons! These pups usually sell for
$800-$2000.
Next are people like your next door neighbor either breeding a litter "for the kids" or breeding to pay for their
annual vacation. Or maybe it is an OOPS litter. Huge variation here, you can't ask too many questions (that goes for
every situation actually). I have personally known people that have bred a litter of puppies (different breed) and done
it very conscientiously and lovingly, albeit ignorantly. Typically, there is no health testing done on the dogs, they do
not have the knowledge to evaluate a dog to know if the dog is of a quality that should be bred. They typically will
breed to any and all available dogs. They may or may not be aware of how to socialize a puppy or the importance
thereof. It is entirely possible that you can get a good dog from your next door neighbor, maybe. Price tag varies,
see local dealer for details.
Then there is the person somewhere between a puppy mill and your friendly neighbor. Of this group there are two
sorts. One sort is breeding totally for profit and make no pretense to themselves that they care about the dogs. To
other people of their kind they would swagger and laugh about the "killing" they are making on "raisin' a few white
rats"! The other branch of people are also working for profit but they treat their dogs humanely and at least provide
the basics.
Option #4
Newspaper ad........................................................$anything goes..
Another big no no in the world of breeders, I'm not entirely sure why except for the same reasons as above. No
reputable breeder wants to put themselves on the same playing field as disreputable purveyors of dogs.
Option #5
Advertisement in a dog magazine...............................getting hotter$1500-$5000
Short of number six and seven, this is your best bet. These are breeders that care about and are proud of their
kennel name. They typically are code of ethics breeders and are associated with a breed club. Typically what this
means is that they care about the breed as a whole, not just theri individual dogs. They take the time to educate
themselves, are active in the breed in some fashion and are responsible for every dog they birth for their entire life.
There is nothing too good for their dogs! They usually are involved in showing their dogs. In so saying, I am not
implying that breeders who don't show their dogs are not good breeders. That is a whole different TALKING HEADS
question.
So, let's give those breeders a hand......
Option #6
Personal referral
As long as you trust the person's judgement and they know what they are talking about, then go ahead, but
remember, it's not like going to a restaurant that your friend recommended!
Option # 7
From a breed club listing of breeders. (see option #5)
Option #7
Off the back of a truck
Bad, very bad!
Option #8
At an auction
Don't you dare!
A couple of hints.
People lie. Just because they say "home raised in a loving environment", doesn't make it so. Believe me, you can take
this to the bank!
Ask for references from other puppy buyers but know that this can also be totally fabricated.
Ask if they are a member of a breed club.
Ask what age they let their puppies go - less than 8 weeks, hang up.
Even if you live clear across the country, pretend like you have every intention of coming out to see their kennel
before you make a decision. If they balk, balk right back and don't come back!
For more information, please see my "puppymills" page and "pricing"