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Premiere Havanese |
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AKC CH Premiere's Luck Be A Lady 
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Please don't believe backyard breeders that tell you health-testing is not important, is too expensive, or their dogs are free of congenital problems. The cost to health test is a fraction of the proceeds of a single litter. |
Backyard Breeders. They buy their first Havanese, then purchase a second, and begin producing litters. They will charge the same for their puppies as a dedicated breeder that has spent years of work and plenty of heartbreak building the reputation of their breeding stock in the Havanese community.
They do not participate in dog shows. That takes planning, time, and money. They have excuses, and often honestly believe the puppies they produce are good representatives of the breed. Although they don't show their own dogs they will tell you that those dogs have 'Champion bloodlines,' sell you a 'show-quality' pup and charge the same price as breeders that dedicate their time and income to proving in the show ring that they can produce quality Havanese.
They do not belong to breed clubs. The Havanese Club of America is the AKC-designated parent club for the breed. The parent club works incredibly hard to research health issues in the breed, to preserve the standards that make our breed distinct, and to rescue unwanted Havanese produced by breeders that do not provide a gurarantee that they will be responsible for the dogs they produce. The Havanese Club of America supports local clubs in every part of the country that educate members and guests and provide support for new Havanese owners.
...and no surprise, they don't health test. They will provide lots of excuses, but the bottom line is they want to take the money and run. They don't want to remove an adorable female from their breeding program because she will pass on cataracts, deafness, luxating patellas, or hip dysplasia to a percentage of her offspring. That adorable dog should be spayed and continue to be the loved companion of a good family. That breeder should absorb the cost of raising, showing and health-testing that potential breeding dam, and start over with the next, healthier prospect. That is why Havanese puppies are relatively expensive from reputable breeders. The question a puppy buyer should ask is not how many dogs you breed, but how many you choose not to breed.
What health tests are important? That's easy. Every AKC breed has a parent club that determines the appropriate health screening for their breed. Screening requirements are different for Labrador Retrievers, Dachshunds, and Collies.
The Havanese Club of America has stipulated that four tests are required to qualify your dog for a CHIC
designation, the official designation that the appropriate testing for your breed is met. Our four tests are:
1. The BAER hearing test. Cost $50. This test is done once in a dog's lifetime, any time after five weeks of age.
2. The OFA patella test. Cost $20. This test is done by your local vet, once in a dog's lifetime, after they reach one year of age.
3. The OFA hip test. Cost $120. This test is done once in a dog's lifetime, after they reach two year's of age.
4. The CERF eye exam. Cost $35. This test is done annually beginning at one year, until the dog reaches eight years of age.
Lifetime cost of recommended health testing for one breeding dog? $435. What is the cost of the puppy the backyard breeder is selling you?
At Premiere Havanese, we also employ cardiac testing annually, and have bloodwork run to determine the function of the dog's liver and other internal organs.
They do not participate in dog shows. That takes planning, time, and money. They have excuses, and often honestly believe the puppies they produce are good representatives of the breed. Although they don't show their own dogs they will tell you that those dogs have 'Champion bloodlines,' sell you a 'show-quality' pup and charge the same price as breeders that dedicate their time and income to proving in the show ring that they can produce quality Havanese.
They do not belong to breed clubs. The Havanese Club of America is the AKC-designated parent club for the breed. The parent club works incredibly hard to research health issues in the breed, to preserve the standards that make our breed distinct, and to rescue unwanted Havanese produced by breeders that do not provide a gurarantee that they will be responsible for the dogs they produce. The Havanese Club of America supports local clubs in every part of the country that educate members and guests and provide support for new Havanese owners.
...and no surprise, they don't health test. They will provide lots of excuses, but the bottom line is they want to take the money and run. They don't want to remove an adorable female from their breeding program because she will pass on cataracts, deafness, luxating patellas, or hip dysplasia to a percentage of her offspring. That adorable dog should be spayed and continue to be the loved companion of a good family. That breeder should absorb the cost of raising, showing and health-testing that potential breeding dam, and start over with the next, healthier prospect. That is why Havanese puppies are relatively expensive from reputable breeders. The question a puppy buyer should ask is not how many dogs you breed, but how many you choose not to breed.
What health tests are important? That's easy. Every AKC breed has a parent club that determines the appropriate health screening for their breed. Screening requirements are different for Labrador Retrievers, Dachshunds, and Collies.
The Havanese Club of America has stipulated that four tests are required to qualify your dog for a CHIC
designation, the official designation that the appropriate testing for your breed is met. Our four tests are:1. The BAER hearing test. Cost $50. This test is done once in a dog's lifetime, any time after five weeks of age.
2. The OFA patella test. Cost $20. This test is done by your local vet, once in a dog's lifetime, after they reach one year of age.
3. The OFA hip test. Cost $120. This test is done once in a dog's lifetime, after they reach two year's of age.
4. The CERF eye exam. Cost $35. This test is done annually beginning at one year, until the dog reaches eight years of age.
Lifetime cost of recommended health testing for one breeding dog? $435. What is the cost of the puppy the backyard breeder is selling you?
At Premiere Havanese, we also employ cardiac testing annually, and have bloodwork run to determine the function of the dog's liver and other internal organs.
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