So, you have done your homework and determined that a Sealyham Terrier will be the right pet for you.  Members of the American Sealyham Terrier Club hope so - because if you and a Sealy are a "good fit", it is wonderful to know that another dog owner is very lucky and so is another dog. The next homework assignment may be a little harder - finding that right pet.

Most buyers wonder what they should look for regarding the purchase of their new puppy: Outgoing personality?  Robust good health and condition? An impressive pedigree and champion parents? Guarantees from the breeder? All these considerations can be important, but in the search for this breed, the priority question is, Where can I find a Sealyham Terrier?

ASTC BREEDER REFERRAL Looking for a Sealyham? The American Sealyham Terrier Club maintains a Breeder Referral Service/List. READ: Sealyham Search Tips

Be prepared to answer questions and to satisfy the breeder that you will provide the right kind of home for a Sealy puppy. Breeders report that they generally want to know: your past history with dogs? experience with terriers/Sealyhams? other dogs in the household? sex of other dogs? makeup of your family? children? ages?

BREEDERS

On the American Sealyham Terrier Club website, you will find names of member breeders with puppies for sale or who have information regarding other breeders with puppies. Telephone conversations with several different contacts will likely be necessary, and more than once you may have to hang up the phone in disappointment after hearing, "No puppies available."

A survey of breeders who are members of the ASTC indicates that they would most likely never advertise "puppies for sale" in classified sections of newspapers. They do, however, send announcements of litters to the "Puppy Pen" listing that appears in the ASTC publication, SEALY BARKS.

When you do connect with a breeder, be open and forthright in stating your intent, be it to buy a pet with no wish to exhibit at dog shows, or to obtain a young Sealyham of high quality that you can show in conformation events. Perhaps you've thought to explore other areas of fun with your dog. The AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB conducts companion events including agility, obedience, rally, tracking and earth dog trials; all these activities can be great fun and are available to you and your Sealy. Sharing your intentions will help a breeder assess how she can help you find what you want.

A breeder with a puppy to be placed in a new home will also discuss physical arrangements to see if they can help the buyer accommodate an active, energetic puppy who needs lots of attention and care. Health records, dietary needs, grooming requirements, and initial puppy training should be topics that need further discussion. Breeders will talk to you about the folly of owning two terriers of the same sex. Arguments nearly always ensue between the two and pet owners find increasingly difficult problems in management.

If the puppy's breeder doesn't offer information about temperment, and genetic factors that may be present in the bloodline, the buyer needs to ask and to be informed of such issues.

Be flexible and patient. Allow the breeder to tell you what litters are anticipated in the Sealy community, and what puppies are "in the nest." It is nearly impossible for a would-be Sealyham puppy owner to call around and put in an order, "I want an 8 ½ week old puppy female, with one black ear and a black eye mark, to be delivered for the birthday of my child on the first of next month." This will just not work in the Sealyham world. Most breeders in the club's survey reported that their puppies are not ready for a pet home until the age of ten weeks to four months (some breeders would suggest a week or two earlier). If a particularly nice litter has been achieved from a promising breeding, the breeder may want to keep the puppies even longer for evaluation.

CONTRACTS

Documents such as the AKC registration, a certified pedigree, veterinarian visits and dates for vaccines and other pertinent matters relating to new ownership of the puppy should be provided.

In this day and age, most breeders ask puppy buyers to sign an agreement that will outline certain understandings and responsibilities of both the buyer and the breeder, primarily for the benefit of the dog. If you have questions concerning the agreements, ask the breeder for clarification or discuss requirements that you wonder about.

Generally, such an agreement will cover topics dealing with required care, spaying or neutering, potential breeding of a female, and the future of the dog should the buyer not be able to keep the dog or if the dog develops a health condition or behavioral trait that cannot be managed by the pet owner; also include_onced may be the offer of a guarantee regarding puppy's health, and so forth. It is important that you understand the breeder's point of view in these agreements, and that you make your point of view known to the breeder if you have concerns. If you are signing a contract that requires showing the dog to championship or that calls for a co-ownership of the dog with the breeder for showing or for breeding purposes, make sure there is a clear and mutual understanding of obligations on their part and on yours.

It is hoped that the puppy's breeder will pledge to take back the dog at any age and in any situation that the owner finds he can no longer keep the Sealyham. Details of this type of agreement would usually be include_onced in the contract between the breeder a nd the buyer.

PRICE

According to the survey answers submitted by the breeders who chose to respond, a rather broad range of prices has been charged by breeders for their puppies. Most ask for about an equal amount of money for a female or male puppy; it is logical to expect a higher price for a young Sealyham the breeder considers as very promising for the show ring. Though price varies from one breeder to another, a typical price for the pet Sealyham puppy seems to be approximately $1,000 to $2,000.

SHIPPING

Because a litter of puppies might be a thousand miles from your home, an early discussion should be held regarding transportation of the puppy to its new home. While shipping can be considered "safe", it can be complicated by weather, by availability of direct flights, and airline requirements. The buyer may be disappointed that he cannot see the mother and puppy's littermates; on the other hand, the breeder may not be enthusiastic about putting the puppy on a plane. Think of alternate ways that may be available for you to get the puppy, and work closely with the breeder on this matter.

OPTIONS: RESCUE SEALYHAMS AND OTHER SEALYHAMS WHO NEED A NEW HOME

SEALYHAMS FOREVER FOUNDATION Contacts: Marianne Metzelthin marimetz@att.net and Diana Perry handiapil@aol.com

The SEALYHAMS FOREVER FOUNDATION Officers listed on this site should by all means be contacted during your search for a Sealyham unless you are absolutely convinced you need to buy a puppy. Very often a dog that has come from a bad situation becomes the most appreciative pet in it's new home. In addition to the "rescue" Sealyham, on occasion a Sealy will lose its happy home due to the owner's illness, drastic change in lifestyle, or other circumstances that demand a new home be found. Usually a breeder will have taken the dog back and may be very interested in re-homing the dog and will have made that information known to the SEALYHAMS FOREVER FOUNDATION as well as other Sealy friends. It is heart-warming to see that typically an adult dog can move into a new home with very little trouble. A little tolerance on the part of the new owner will solve nearly all problems.

Costs for either a "rescue" Sealy or a dog that needs re-homing are generally considerably less than the purchase price of a puppy.

PET SHOPS (NOT AN OPTION)

There is a very remote possibility that a Sealyham might be found in a pet shop. If a puppy is in a pet shop, the buyer should be aware of two major problems. First, the buyer is at an extreme disadvantage in that he cannot find out anything about the puppy's background. How the puppy has been raised and socialized, his temperament, and health are very important considerations for his future as your pet.

The puppy may have health problems and consequently you will be responsible for accompanying veterinary costs, along with the worry and disappointment. "Buyer, beware" is a fitting caution if you consider buying a pet shop puppy.

The second major problem associated with the puppy in a pet shop is that conscientious breeders would never put puppies in the pet shop market, and the ASTC has taken a very dim view of anyone who would do so. Suspicions that a breeder for a pet shop is totally commercial (and a puppy mill breeder) are true. Please don't support the pet store – and it won't support the puppy miller or a totally commercial dog breeder.

FINALLY....

The Sealyham Terrier is well worth your search and the length of time you spend in contacting breeders and finalizing the purchase of a puppy or obtaining an older dog will be insignificant in comparison to the length of time you will enjoy the Sealyham as your beloved pet and loyal companion.