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A dog should have a CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) number because it signifies that the dog has undergone recommended health testing for its breed and that the results have been made publicly available. This contributes to healthier breeding practices and provides valuable information for potential puppy buyers and researchers.
Here's why a CHIC number is beneficial:
After much convincing from a friend I have decided to start a waiting list. But not just for puppies! For Bunnies too!!
So how does it work? Well if you are looking for either a Mini Lop or a Dachshund, you will go to the Waiting List form and fill it out. Make sure to be as descriptive as possible. There is no costs associated with putting your name on the list. This does not guarantee you a Bunny or a Puppy. You can also ask for your name to be removed at any time, if you found what you were looking for. The list will be posted on the Waiting List page showing your first initial, last name, location and what you are looking for. For puppies I do add the year in which you added your name to the list. If you are interested in an adult Mini Lop that will be available later on in the year, his/her name shall also appear. This is to help me keep track of who wants what, and so you can see where on the list your name is. This can help you decide to continue to search, or wait. When I have something available, I will first look at this list. If I have something that matches what someone is looking for, I contact the first person on the list. You will then have first right of refusal. Should you refuse I will move on to the next person. If there is no next person, then it will be publicly posted as available, not only on this website, but multiple other platforms and sources of advertisement. Additionally, if I know of another breeder who has what you might be looking for, I may also provide you with their information. I will never, unless approved to do so, give your information out to another. So go now, and get your name on the waiting list! Be the first to be offered something before anyone else! I have to admit, this is my biggest pet peeve. When you post on social media, like Facebook, an animal available for purchase and an interested party either comments or messages only "How Much?" or "Price?" Granted I know that this is an important factor in purchasing, but I would think/hope that someone wanting to purchase a puppy or rabbit has previously taken the time to do a bit of research. This research should have at the very least shown the buyer what the average going price is for that particular breed. It seems like 97% of the folks to message or comment "How Much" or "Price" are the ones who gasp when they are told, ask for a free rabbit/puppy, complain about the price or complete ghost.
Please if you wish to inquire on an animal, whatever species it may be, please PLEASE PLEASE take a minute to research the breed(s). Have at least a wee bit of knowledge as to the temperment, size, simple basic care and the average cost of a well bred animal. Compare purchasing from a breeder to adopting from a rescue or shelter, if you are only looking for a pet. Not every breeder is breeding for money and lining their pockets with greenbacks. A well bred animal is not cheap. If you cannot afford a well bred animal, then make a plan to save up money. In the meantime learn all you can about what you want to buy and connect with breeders, get on waiting lists, etc. If you are willing to take the chance on a new fur friend that has no health checks, shots, genetic testing, etc make sure you are paying LESS than what a breeder who does all that charges. Here is a breakdown of cost for the last litter of pups we produced in Jan 2025: Before breeding: Purchase of the Mother Dog: $1500 Embark Health Screening: $150 AKC Conformation Entries: Average $35 each entry Additional Health Screening: OFA Heart Certification $50 OFA CEAR Eye Certification $75 (The above does not count the basic care of food, health checks and vaccinations or travel costs to and from vet visits, health screening or shows.) Time for Breeding! If the stud being used is owned by the breeder, then consider the above breakdown applied to the stud. If not, then there is a stud service fee, stud service is usually the cost of a puppy. Not to mention the travel costs in order for this breeding to occur. Stud Service: $1500 Travel Costs: $150 (about 200 miles round trip and 3 hours total travel time) Puppies are coming!!! Slow Moving Labor, Vet visit to provide some medication to help and supervision for a few hours: $150 Still no progress: Ultrasound to determine if pups still in utero are alive. $75 Cesarean Section to remove the final three pups: $567 Medications: $65 Puppy Milk and Bottle, just in case: $35 Raising the Litter Worming Medication starting at two weeks of age and every two weeks afterwards. Purchase over the counter bottle enough for entire litter $15 Vaccinations starting at six weeks $15 each vaccination. Given once monthly until 4 months old. Microchipping $50 each pup Litter Registration $44 Individual Registration $23 each pup. The above does not count the following: Puppy Formula Kibble, and the cost of extra laundry for clean blankets and puppy pads. Advertisement of the Litter: Local Newspapers: $10 each weekly run - Resulted in two inquiries (No Sale) Puppies.com $30 for one month - Resulted in one inquiry (No Sale) AKC Marketplace $25 No Inquiry Good Dog: $95.41 (Sold 2 Pups) Puppy Packs All pups go home with a variety of Grooming tools: nail clippers, brush, and tooth brush, about 3-4 Toys: Plushy with squeeker, Plush with crinkle sound, teethers, etc, A book on Dachshunds, Small pack of puppy pads, collar, leash, and harness. Also including is a doggie tee shirt, and occasionally belly wraps for boys, and panties for girls. Plus, there are fun things for wiener owners: Key chains, coasters, ornaments, Dachshund Signs/decor, etc. PLUS: Bags of the pups favorite treats, chews and a bag of the current kibble he/she is eating. Puppy packs average about $150 in value! In the meantime, I am planning on the next show, signing up for OFA clinics, searching for a stud for the next litter, health testing our keeper pup and so on. The money received from the puppy sales, goes right back into the dogs in one form or another so that the next litter is better, healthier, tested more, bigger puppy packs and so forth. The same goes for bunnies. I don't sell very many rabbits. Most are sold at shows or to other breeders. Occasionally I like to give youth or new breeders nice stock to help build their program. Unfortunately at this time, there is no health testing available for rabbits, or any sort of genetic testing that I am aware of. Rabbits are finicky creatures and tend to just up and die at will (it seems). Therefore, rabbits are less expensive to purchase. However, when a rabbit is sold, again that money goes right back into the rabbits. More shows, registrations, Grand Champion Certs, BIS Certs, feed, etc. All these things help the next litter, and the litter after that to be better and better. So please, take a few minutes, research what you are wanting. Learn the average cost of a well bred animal. Find a breeder and connect. Be prepared to wait. But before you shop, at least know the basics. It will help you out in the long run. Conformationally correct is a term used to describe the structure of the animal. All breeds have a standard in which breeders use as a guideline in producing offspring. The goal is to get as close to the standard as possible. No animal will be 100% perfectly Conformationally correct, and in order to be able to breed towards this, its important to have your animals evaluated by a variety of judges on a regular basis.
The placements, wins or losses, should also be considered when pairing up two animals for a litter. The judges comments are not something concrete, but something to always keep in the back of your mind. Each judge will see something different in the same animal. On occasion each judge will see the same thing, and in that case you should keep that at the top of your list to breed out, or not breed that animal all together. Things such as a narrow head, light bone, well breed to a larger boned animal. All breedings should be made for improvements. If a breeder is not showing their animals then there is no way to really learn the breed standards as they are subjective. It is easy for a person to not notice a particular fault and focus on certain things such as shoulders. It is easy to become "barn/Kennel Blind", which is why having your animals evaluated is important. Watching all the animals being judged that day is also a huge learning experience for the owner/breeder as you can see how the winning animal exhibits and what you could be missing in your breeding program. Showing is an extension of the knowledge of the breed. It has taken me a bit to gather photos, blog posts, and info from various sites I have had over the years to bring them all to this one site. I will no long be using this Facebook page often, other than to share blog posts and updates from the website.
Facebook has allowed me to share over the past several years my love of this hobby, my wins and losses, and so much more. But it seems to also be a cesspool of drama and nonsense that I do not wish to be part of. That, and because Facebook does not allow the sale of animals to be posted on their pages, this website will allow me to share those that are available without Facebook throwing a temper tantrum. With all the drama and rumors flying around, this new website will give you facts about my breedings, my hopes, plans, and dreams. You can read blog posts straight from my mind to my fingertips to the website. You can also see the actual wins of each of my animals So many times I have seen it posted in the description of available young. Both Rabbits and Puppies alike. Even I, myself, has posted it in the description. Often times newcomers to the hobbies are asking for Show Quality. Most commonly used by pet breeders to help boost sales. But what does it really mean? All breed species have a standard. A blueprint for breeders to work towards. No animal is 100% correct, they all have faults, although some could be pretty darn close. Within that standard are qualities that would prohibit the animal from winning in conformation competitions, shows. These are Disqualifications. Things like a foreign colored spot, eye color, percentage of color, etc. Any animal that does not have any physical signs of any disqualification listed within it's breed standard is considered show quality. But this does not mean the animal can be competitive when shown. Both the above rabbits are bucks, both Tri Color. Both are SHOW QUALITY. Only one of them has achieved Grand Championship.
If your new to the hobby, and looking to purchase your first show animal and see an advertisement for "show quality". First, check out the breeder. Do they show? If not....walk away! Familiarize yourself with the breed standard before you purchase and attend a show if possible. This would give you an opportunity to see what is being shown, what the judges are liking and what to look for when choosing your show animal. This also gives you an opportunity to connect with several breeders and maybe even find one you like. Understand that show quality means it can be shown, but does not mean that it meets the standard and will win or should be bred. Ms. Foo is now on her way to meet her new family. It's a sad day, as I have no more babies left! I will miss these girls! They were the best litter!
I have been dreading this day as much as her new family has been anticipated it. Mace has left the nest and now I only have two babies at home.
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Helpful InfoHere you will find lots of informational articles on how to care for your rabbits, about showing, and just news about our rabbitry in general. Archives
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