AKC breeder in Clearifield, IA

[bethann]

Is anyone familiar with a BC breeder in Clearifield, IA named Kerns?? It would be Steve, Becky or Matt Kerns.

Here are their listings on NextDayPets: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.nextdaypets.com/directory/dogs/uid/751114.aspx">http://www.nextdaypets.com/directory/do ... 51114.aspx</a><!-- m -->

Thank you,
Beth Ann

[BorderCollieMom]

nope but looks like the breed all kinds of dogs. They still have pups that are 27 weeks.....

why spend 500 when you can go to a shelter and pay less then 100! And still get a great dog

[Brandon M]

Not familiar with them, but it looks fishy to me. They have 33 puppies listed between the cockapoos and the BCs. Very strange and I wouldn't trust them myself.

[Brandon M]

I do believe that this is the guy: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/856/">http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/856/</a><!-- m -->

Quote:The Kerns family has expanded and diversified its livestock involvement to beef cattle, plus Border Collies and Cockapoos. The dog business will help fund college expenses for Karl, a senior at Mt. Ayr Community High School who plans to attend Iowa State and major in animal science. It will do the same for Matt, who will graduate in two years.

:roll:

[bethann]

Yes, I do believe that is them. My thoughts are they are puppy millers or backyard breeders. I do know they WILL NOT take a dog back once it is sold.

Does AKC have any type of policy on these types of breeders?

-Beth Ann

[Brandon M]

You could call the AKC and ask. I do agree though that they seem like puppy millers specializing in BCs and Cockapoos purely for profit. And a responsible breeder will always take back one of their dogs.

ETA: A wise man (Brick Top from the movie Snatch) once said, "Never trust a man who owns a pig farm."

[BorderCollieMom]

<~~~~ Agrees.

[amandawilson]

I am a proud owner of a Border Collie from the Kerns's. If you know anything about Border Collies, you'd know about Dewey Jontz. Dewey would be proud of these Border Collies...he was the one that everyone went to when needing "farm smart" dogs that could work on their own. Although we don't live on a farm, I can see the smartness in our Liz.

Your comment about their presence on NextDayPets with many ads kind of rose a flag for me, but looking more into it you would see that they leave their ads up from previous puppies...so 37 puppies over a year is like just over 5 litters, which is by no means a puppy mill. From what I've found, all responsible breeders selling over state lines legally have to have a USDA license. I've seen puppy mills first hand (sadly) and they usually aren't USDA licensed let alone state licensed. Labeling someone on the basis of actually being legal and associating them with those that aren't is very very poor judgement.

When I got my Liz from them, I was full aware that they raised Cockapoos. That was easy to find and they will tell you that if you ask. Here's what they say on their website:

Quote:...raising Border Collies since 1985. She has shipped Border Collie pups to several states and countries, including Japan, Mexico and Peru. Her Border Collie genetics came from Dewey Jontz, who imported the first Border Collies to Iowa in 1938. He believed that Border Collies should be “Farm Smart” and not the hyper, mechanical Border Collies of today. Mom was very lucky to be associated with Dewey. She learned much from him and has maintained his lines much as he would have if he were still alive. She usually has a waiting list for her pups. Her Border Collies are really special, but they are not housedogs. So that is one reason we decided to start breeding Cockapoos.

...so they raise the working farm oriented dogs - Border Collies, and then a city family oriented breed - Cockapoos.

The comment on a responsible breeder taking puppies back...that would actually be completely irresponsible...the chance of bringing in pests (mits, fleas, etc.) and diseases would be the wrong thing do. Only an uneducated breeder would offer to bring a puppy back. A responsible breeder would offer to replace if the situation granted I'd say.

I just thought I should get on here and post a good reply since the only thing you hear is from bad apples, because they are a great midwest family, and for someone to post such bad things about a good family evidently doesn't know them...meet them in person when you pick up your puppy and you'd have an entirely different image...from my own experience!!!!! Looking forward to getting Liz a playmate from the Kerns's sometime in the future!

[Mandy89]

(06-10-2010 03:48 PM)Brandon M Wrote:  You could call the AKC and ask. I do agree though that they seem like puppy millers specializing in BCs and Cockapoos purely for profit. And a responsible breeder will always take back one of their dogs.

ETA: A wise man (Brick Top from the movie Snatch) once said, "Never trust a man who owns a pig farm."

Couldn't agree more!!

[Brandon M]

I know you love your dog. And there is probably nothing wrong with the dog. It's hard not to be bias when the dog you love came from a certain breeder especially when they're under scrutiny. But those folks aren't respectable breeders in my opinion. And I don't need to meet them in person to see that. Get a companion for your dog from them - it's your prerogative.

That said - stick around! and we love pics if you have any of your dog.

[Tassle]

I am glad you are pleased with your dog - but ....

(06-22-2011 08:17 PM)amandawilson Wrote:  The comment on a responsible breeder taking puppies back...that would actually be completely irresponsible...the chance of bringing in pests (mits, fleas, etc.) and diseases would be the wrong thing do. Only an uneducated breeder would offer to bring a puppy back. A responsible breeder would offer to replace if the situation granted I'd say.

I am Sorry -this really struck home with me.

ANY responsible breeder should remain so for the duration of the dogs life. As the one responsible from bringing these dogs into the world, they have a responsibility to care for them if anything should go wrong as well.

I know of very few responsible breeders who would offer to replace.
What I do know is that they will tell you from the word go that these are living creatures and despite every possible health test/check, there are no guarantees with animals.

I am afraid it is attitudes like the one above that fill rescue centres, if breeders will not take responsibility for what they produce, the rescues will be the ones to mop up the mess they have produced.

It is a sad attitude.

[Toddsmom]

(06-23-2011 12:13 AM)Tassle Wrote:  I am glad you are pleased with your dog - but ....

(06-22-2011 08:17 PM)amandawilson Wrote:  The comment on a responsible breeder taking puppies back...that would actually be completely irresponsible...the chance of bringing in pests (mits, fleas, etc.) and diseases would be the wrong thing do. Only an uneducated breeder would offer to bring a puppy back. A responsible breeder would offer to replace if the situation granted I'd say.

I am Sorry -this really struck home with me.

ANY responsible breeder should remain so for the duration of the dogs life. As the one responsible from bringing these dogs into the world, they have a responsibility to care for them if anything should go wrong as well.

I know of very few responsible breeders who would offer to replace.
What I do know is that they will tell you from the word go that these are living creatures and despite every possible health test/check, there are no guarantees with animals.

I am afraid it is attitudes like the one above that fill rescue centres, if breeders will not take responsibility for what they produce, the rescues will be the ones to mop up the mess they have produced.

It is a sad attitude.

I could not agree more with this post! It is more than irresponsible not to take puppies back at any point in their lives if their owners can no longer keep them. If they have sold them to responsible owners, then getting them back is less likely to begin with, but the risk of them bringing in pests/parasites should be extremely low as well. The dogs should go to homes that understand the type and temperment and what is involved in raising a dog through his or her lifetime.

The part about all responsible breeders being USDA registered kind of burns me too. Just because they're USDA registered does NOT mean that they are not a puppy mill. It just means that they are meeting very minimal requirements in animal husbandry. I think it probably more likely that a puppy mill will seek out these licensures in order to gain the trust of unknowing puppy buyers than for responsible infrequent breeders to seek out these licensures. Also, they don't appear to be breeding to better the breed, but that is the only good reason that they should be breeding for. I live in Iowa and drove to Kentucky to get a well bred dog from a cattle farm that doesn't breed so often. Heard of them through the grapevine. I could've stayed closer to home and spent the same amount or less by the time I would have considered gas, etc, but I didn't because I didnt' want to encourage people such as these. Just my opinions....

[blndebmbr]

All I can say is that it is really easy to judge from one glance at a web page.

[Sammie]

(06-23-2011 07:19 AM)Herding Addict Wrote:  I wouldn't buy from them. Anyone willing to breed mutts intentionally, well that just doesn't sit right with me. Now they are producing pups strictly to pay for college for their kids? Really? Talk about responsible breeding practices. I'd bet there is no OFA or any other type of health testing.

For the record, AKC doesn't make them a reputable breeder. AKC is simply a registry and nothing more. People who are fraudulant in their breeding practices can lose the option to AKC reg, but otherwise, they don't police these breeders.

As to what the other poster said about selling pups across state lines? No, you do not have to be USDA registered to do so. I can name plenty of breeders that sell all over the US and around the world. It's not a requirement. It's a requirement if they are producing LARGE QUANTITIES which this person appears to be doing.

I paid $500 for Skye, he came with OFA tested parents (both GOOD), CEA, CL, MDR-1 tested parents, plus he was BAER hearing tested and CERF'd before he came home.

I would steer as clear from this breeder as possible. I see nothing about the dogs they use for breeding actually working or doing well in much of anything. So why are they breeding? Profit only is likely it. And if they don't take any dogs back, well that's another reason not to bring them a profit.

Find and work with a reputable breeder that stands by their puppies for their entire life. Even if you pay a little more, it's well worth it.

Agree with all of this Well put.

[blndebmbr]

(06-23-2011 07:19 AM)Herding Addict Wrote:  I wouldn't buy from them. Anyone willing to breed mutts intentionally, well that just doesn't sit right with me. Now they are producing pups strictly to pay for college for their kids? Really? Talk about responsible breeding practices. I'd bet there is no OFA or any other type of health testing.

For the record, AKC doesn't make them a reputable breeder. AKC is simply a registry and nothing more. People who are fraudulant in their breeding practices can lose the option to AKC reg, but otherwise, they don't police these breeders.

As to what the other poster said about selling pups across state lines? No, you do not have to be USDA registered to do so. I can name plenty of breeders that sell all over the US and around the world. It's not a requirement. It's a requirement if they are producing LARGE QUANTITIES which this person appears to be doing.

I paid $500 for Skye, he came with OFA tested parents (both GOOD), CEA, CL, MDR-1 tested parents, plus he was BAER hearing tested and CERF'd before he came home.

I would steer as clear from this breeder as possible. I see nothing about the dogs they use for breeding actually working or doing well in much of anything. So why are they breeding? Profit only is likely it. And if they don't take any dogs back, well that's another reason not to bring them a profit.

Find and work with a reputable breeder that stands by their puppies for their entire life. Even if you pay a little more, it's well worth it.

I completely agreee with this as well. However, there is one word in all this that throws me...ASSUME.

If someone can say they KNOW these tests are not conducted and so on....then I am on board. I only see a lot of assumptions. Not necessarily bad assumptions, but assumptions none the less.
I would recommend taking the information Herding Addict supplied, calling and asking them. And once they clearly cannot meet these requirements, you KNOW they are not worth working with.