Re: MaltiPoo? This is a dog?
Today we took a 2 hour drive from NJ to PA to see breeder about a Bishon Frise. I expected to find a puppy mill, but was pleased to find a very well kept farm run by a large Menonite family (wife had 14 kids!). The dogs were all clean and looked healthy. The kennels were very, very, clean, very low odor both indoor and out. Got to see the mother, but the pups were already separated.
So we took out 4 female pups and played with them for a while trying to see which were the happiest, most lively, etc. They were all outstanding, but I thought one had a wee bit cuter look than the others, white with light beige ears. We ended up with that female, about 9 weeks old.
So the cage is set up in the kitchen, covered with blankets and she is doing well. My 7 yr old daughter, who is the one we got the dog for, named her Daisy. Daisy got a bath and dried. Now it looks like big fuzz ball.
Their prices were much lower than the regular breeders/mills, and only about $100 more than adopting from a shelter. But the best part about getting the puppy from the farm is that I know it was not traumatized or abused or neglected before being brought to the shelter. I really didn't want to adopt someone elses problem.
Interesting thing about the Menonite family farm; No cars, SUV's, pickups, ATV's or anything else around. No TV, PC or other modern appliances in the house other than a telephone. Husband came racing up in a horse drawn carrage, he must have been doing 40mph! That horse was sweating! The carriage was stripped down and probably very light. He wore the black brim hat, black jacket and pants. I asked him if he used the horses for all power on the farm, and he said no, he had 6 tractors to tend the fields, etc. The horses are strictly for transportation, he said.
We felt comfortable talking with these people. I found it hard to imagine that anyone with such strict and strong religous beliefs would be capable of running a slipshod breeding operation. I was satisfied they were quality breeders.
Hope it all works out for us! Wish us luck.