Does it normally take this long?!

[tessa_s212]

The first time I emailed Georgia's breeder, it took her about 2 months to get back to me. I immediately did all that she asked, including filling out the questionare and giving my references, and reading the books her her Recommended Books list. It would be quite a while that I did not hear back from her, and that is when I racked up the nerve to call her by phone. At this time we agreed to meet at a show. She told me at this time I would be able to meet Georgia, and most likely even take her home that weekend. So, I waited for the show to come... A week before the show, I emailed her to ask what time she'd like us to be there, where she'd like to meet us, and directions to get to the show site. This is when she informed me that she lost my questionare, and told me to send her the completed copy again. Luckily, I had saved the completed copy in a folder on my desktop. I immediately sent it right back. In an email a few days before the show she informed me that Georgia would most likely not be able to come. I woudln't even be able to meet her. My parents were not pleased, but we went anyway. I was very dissapointed that I did not get to see Georgia, but I did get to see some of her litter mates, meet many other Vizslas, meet Georgia's breeder, and learn more about the breed itself. Even though I did not get to bring her home, I was happy with being invited to the show and being able to meet and experience many different Vizslas. Before we left, Georgia's breeder told me to email her and we would work something out so that I could go pick Georgia up and bring her home. After a week of no reply, I decided to jsut call her three days ago. No sense in waiting three weeks or more(like I had before) for a reply I knew was not coming. When I called her I found out that she was having difficulties contacting my references. So, I gave her my vet's home phone and a time to call him. I also called one of my other references to find a time where my breeder could reach her. I emailed the times that the second reference was available to Georgia's breeder today. At first I was very patient, and figured this was all apart of the conformation/reputable breeder world, but after having spoken to other jrs that have experience with co-ownerships, I now know that this breeder is taking much longer than normal to get my dog to me. In fact, many of the jrs were shocked that I hadn't gotten the dog 1 or 2 months ago.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love this breeder. She was very nice to me, and she has great dogs. I enjoyed both her dogs' temperment, and conformation. They were wonderful dogs, and some of the best examples, IMO, at that show. Which makes me want Georgia even more! I am very greatful that she is giving me this dog on a co-ownership, and even plan on giving her a plate with gold trimming and a painting of a Vzisa head on it, a thankyou card, and a thankyou note. I want her to know how appreciative I am.

I have been researching like mad. Most of my spare time is spent on the internet searching for agility training videos, possible dog trainign books that I can read, and any help or advice I can get from people. I have also been googling for anything Vizlsa like mad. On everysingle forum I am one I have searched through the archives at least twice reading about Vizslas in old threads. I did not want to go into Vizsla ownership unprepared. Now, after all that research, I finally feel like I am prepared to bring Georgia home. I finally feel like I can train her the way she needs trained, excersize her the way she needs excersized, and love her more than anything--as I do all of my dogs. Which, again, makes me want her even more!

Now, I know I am just being selfish,..but I really can't help it. I have waited for this dog for four years(thats how long I've wanted to be able to get a dog that I can show in 'Jrs and conformation).. and it just seems to be taking too long. What if this breeder falls through yet again, and me bring home Georgia is delayed like all the other times? It seems like whenever I feel I finally will be bringing her home, somethign comes up...

Does it normally take this long?

I'm not going to pester her anymore over the holidays. That would be unfair to her. She does lead a life outside of dogs and breeding, I am sure, and I just have to try to be patient and understaning..though I do want my dog really really really badly.

[annie_so_pink]

I don't really know anything at all about this kind of stuff, but that does seem like an awful long time for you to wait...but like I said before, I don't know anything about this kind of stuff. I'm sorry I couldn't help more! I hope and pray that you can bring Georgia home to you very soon!

[tessa_s212]

thanks, annie_so_pink

[shandoggy1]

My breeder always got back to me in a timely manner sometimes right away or 1 or 2 days later at the most. I can't understand why she is taking so long to get back to you. Do you feel like she is just blowing you off ? I know my breeder is always busy cleaning kennels and always taking care of her dogs but she always finds time to talk to me *for anything*. Your breeder may be a reputable breeder but she doesn't sound very considerate of your feelings. I would definately call her after the holidays and have your parents talk to her. Good Luck!

[tessa_s212]

I don't think she is blowing me off.. Whenever I call she never calls us back...we always have to call her first.

[crazy_puppy]

I dont mean to sound brash but have you thought that maybe she does not want to place the dog with you? If I was a top reputable breeder with outstanding dogs, I cant say I would place such a fine example of the breed with a teen...even on co-ownership. It is very hard to say to a teen or young person(child) "sorry but you are not a suitable home for one of my dogs...try a different breeder". Maybe she is trying to let you down softly so she does'nt hurt your feelings and cant think of any other way but to "ignore you and maybe you'll forget all about her and her dogs"

I dont think this method is right per-say, but some people have trouble letting people down.

I could be wrong, maybe she is extremely busy.
I dont know her so I really cant say...but usually people avoid other people for a reason. If I were you I would look around for other breeders, just in case. Always have a backup plan to fall back on.
Best of luck and I did'nt mean to upset you If I did.....just trying to look out for a future dog trainer

[tessa_s212]

Well, I am certainly offended that you don't tink I can take care of my dogs properly. (You certainly implied that when you used the excuse that I am a teen.) I show in 4-H, agility, obedience, jr showmanship, and I will show her in conformation. I love my dogs very much and I put alot of training and love into them.

I don't think that this breeder is ignoring me because she doesn't want to give me a dog. Everytime I have talked to her on the phone she talks about me owning Georgia, and she tells me to email her back. The first time I talked to her I even remembering her saying that she thinks I am a very responsible teen and think I could make a great home for Georgia.

I love this breeder. Her dogs are fantastic and have great personalities. I really wish to own Georgia.

This is not the first time she has co-owned a dog with a jr.

[PawNclaws]

How many dogs does she own ? How many(just a guess) does she have a co-ownership agreement with ? Any kids ? Work ? I know when we get started( we are getting into Labradors) we wont be at the phone nor computer all the time due to shows, training(which has alread consumed our time(dont mind at all), grooming, etc. She may be just very busy. The breeder we are getting a lab puppy from takes a week or two to email us back due to her having kids , 4 labradors(1 is still a puppy), and 1 poodle mix, a job, a husband , and family dramas poping up. We have been waiting for a whole year to bring home a puppy(now it just finaly worne down to 5 months- counting down and we are all excited!!). She(the breeder) always says sorry that they cant get to us as soon and gives us a heads up on when they'll be able to contact us again when they'll be away from the computer , and so forth. And like you we have to contact her first. She's a good breeder, very nice and we love her Labs. She is just very busy. Hang in there, I know how you feel but some breeders just have alot on their minds when letting a puppy go(its very tough to say good bye) to a new home- its a very sad and happy time.....Hang in there!!!

[tessa_s212]

I do not know how many dog she owns, but she does have a husband. I don't believe that she has any kids living with her(she's older).

I would've really liked to bring Georgia home over Christmas break to have the time to bond with her, but I don't believe that will happen. I will most likely call her in a few weeks to make sure that she can get into contact with my references.

[crazy_puppy]

Originally Posted by tessa_s212

Well, I am certainly offended that you don't tink I can take care of my dogs properly. (You certainly implied that when you used the excuse that I am a teen.) I show in 4-H, agility, obedience, jr showmanship, and I will show her in conformation. I love my dogs very much and I put alot of training and love into them.

I don't think that this breeder is ignoring me because she doesn't want to give me a dog. Everytime I have talked to her on the phone she talks about me owning Georgia, and she tells me to email her back. The first time I talked to her I even remembering her saying that she thinks I am a very responsible teen and think I could make a great home for Georgia.

I love this breeder. Her dogs are fantastic and have great personalities. I really wish to own Georgia.

This is not the first time she has co-owned a dog with a jr.

I have no doubt that you would be a very good owner to a dog and I neither said that nor implied otherwise.
I guess I should explain it a little more. While a teenager isnt a child they are very young and usually cuaght up with school and friends and what not. I think that even if the teen was responsible and had the potentiol to be a FANTASTIC dog owner, I still wouldnt place a dog with them. Not becouse I think lesser of them or anything like that, but becouse when your a teenager you shouldnt have to worry about caring for a dog, you should be worrying about friends and studying....stuff like that. I do think that they should have a FAMILY DOG but not a dog that is soley there own responsibility...never mind a show dog.
Co-ownership can be difficult as well, I wouldnt want to pass on the burden of co-ownership to a young person....that wouldnt be fair, nor would it be fair to excpet them to walk and excerise the dog 2 hours a day instead of hanging out with there friends.

I have nothing against teenagers, and many of them are more responsible then many adults. But I would not want to add stress to an already stressful time(being a teen is always hard)

As I said Im not trying to stress you out or rag on ya'...just trying to look out for you.
I know what its like to be young and naive(not saying you are...just generalizing)

[crazy_puppy]

If that does not make sense its becouse I've had one too many eggnogs.......

[tessa_s212]

I guess I should really explain something about me..lol.. I don't have many friends at all. I don't waste my time "hanging out" with peope that cannot even understand my love for dogs. It has been three months since I even went to a friends, and that was only for two hours and we watched a movie. The movie was good..but I'd actually rather be at home with my dogs playing, or agility training. When I am not at school or cheerleading, I am home with my dogs. I have a responsibility to them, and Cocoa is my baby. You certainly wouldn't leave your children alone all day without attention and supervisoin, nor would I. Most think I am dog obsessed, boring, and some kind of troll that hides in her house. I simply think they dont' understand loving someone so much and feeling the responsibility to care for them.

Are my dogs taking anything away from me? NO! Never. My dogs have never taken my time with friends away, because I choose not to hang out with friends. And, If anything, they've added so many things to my life, including love, understanding, and responsibility.

I think if you wre to look around a bit, you'd see so many breeders giving co-ownerships to jrs. It is a common thing and is great for jrs like me that don't have dogs.

[Rip's Girl]

It could just be that the holidays are keeping her busy, Tessa... I hardly check my email now, and even when I do I don't have the time to reply to every single one. Breeders get a lot of emails a day, especially if they have a website and are on the breed club's referral list.
That being said, it is taking far too long IMO for her to contact you. I would call her just to talk to her, see how things are going and make sure that she still is interested in letting you take Georgia.
If she is ignoring you because she no longer wants to place Georgia with you, I would ask her why. Do you know this breeder very well? Has she seen how you handle your own dogs? That may come into play, if she doesn't know a whole lot about you and hasn't seen much of you in person. I would have a very hard time placing a pup with someone that I have met once and only emailed/talked with on the phone. I can tell you are a great owner and that you're very devoted to your dogs, but she might not be able to just by talking to you.

All that being said, Dakota's breeder took about 12 hours to respond to emails and returned phone calls almost immediately. However, while he had show potential, he was not sold on a co-ownership and I believe that made things far less complicated. I also knew the breeder beforehand, as she was my agility instructor and got to know me and how I treated my dogs, so she didn't have suspicions about placing her last baby with me.

I really hope you can get Georgia, I know how much you've been looking forward to it.

[PawNclaws]

Edit- I ment 8 long months befor we can bring home our new addition- its just killing me- lol. But you do sound very responsable and I know how hard it is with some adults judging teens- especialy when some of us teens are actually very responsable and devoted to our 4 legged companions- Though I am approching out of my teens and into the 20's I still have run ins with adults(30's to 60's) that say I dont know it all- I still tell them the right anyway. But I know I'm a good owner, I know my dogs are taken care of and they are treated like family, I know I can aford to take care of and provide a safe, loving, caring home for a puppy. I have had a dog since I was a baby(6mnths), I have(memory wise) 15yrs expr. with dogs and cats. I've learned training(OB) and show training. I've handled in shows and I've watched, studyed and have gone to dogs shows ;watching how the handlers and their dogs move, how to free stack, and talked with many breeders/handlers about their dogs and showing/breeding, etc(plus my mom shown for 12yrs so that helped alot). I love dog shows, I love duck hunting(although I havent yet been out to the field), I love to train and like you, I love to be with my dogs. I dont want to be a vet and never have- my goal (one that always got me a few giggles is school when I did an essay on it(6th-7th grade) is to open an animal shelter/rescue of my own- not large and not small but just one that can make a difference to the homless dogs and cats out there. But anyway (sorry I wondered for a moment) What I would do is call and just see, all you can do is wait but I know how you feel on the waiting part. A 1yr and 7 months is a long wait for me( still cant believe I miss counted ) so I can imagin how you feel waiting 4yrs. But just call her and see, she just may be busy due to the holidays or some thing else may of come up that is eating away at her time. Good luck and hang in there.

[annie_so_pink]

Originally Posted by tessa_s212

I guess I should really explain something about me..lol.. I don't have many friends at all. I don't waste my time "hanging out" with peope that cannot even understand my love for dogs. It has been three months since I even went to a friends, and that was only for two hours and we watched a movie. The movie was good..but I'd actually rather be at home with my dogs playing, or agility training. When I am not at school or cheerleading, I am home with my dogs. I have a responsibility to them, and Cocoa is my baby. You certainly wouldn't leave your children alone all day without attention and supervisoin, nor would I. Most think I am dog obsessed, boring, and some kind of troll that hides in her house. I simply think they dont' understand loving someone so much and feeling the responsibility to care for them.

Are my dogs taking anything away from me? NO! Never. My dogs have never taken my time with friends away, because I choose not to hang out with friends. And, If anything, they've added so many things to my life, including love, understanding, and responsibility.

I think if you wre to look around a bit, you'd see so many breeders giving co-ownerships to jrs. It is a common thing and is great for jrs like me that don't have dogs.

Tessa, wow! That sounds so much like me! I know what you are saying.
I think she is probably just really busy, because of normal life and plus Christmas, New Years, etc.... She will probably have a lot more time once the holidays are over...So, Just hang in there and keep trying! I really hope you can get Georgia home to you soon!