About Dunloe Irish Terriers
Dunloe Irish Terriers are bred for their Conformation to the Standard. Our puppies are bred primarily for their show potential and we also pay a great deal of attention to temperament since not all puppies are destined for the show ring. But all are companions.
Obtaining a puppy from us begins with a phone conversation after which the application found here is completed and reviewed. We require a one-on-one visit to meet with us. We ask this because we strive to match people (Families) and their lifestyle to a suitable puppy. It allows us the opportunity to meet people who may get one of our puppies. These requirements give you and your family the chance to interact with the adult dogs to help judge for yourself if an Irish is for you. Please visit the Irish Terrier Club of America web site found on our links page. The ITCA site offers a wealth of information on this special breed of dog.
We are active members of the Irish Terrier Club of America, of which I am the AKC Delegate, Irish Terrier Club of New York, and the Chesapeake Irish Terrier Club (VA.) I am also the immediate Past President and an active member of the Lancaster (PA) Red Rose Kennel Club.
PUPPY BUYERS BEWARE
• Because of the emotional investment in buying a puppy, scam artists can take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. Take the time to educate yourself on the hallmarks of a responsible breeder and on common scams.
• If you must buy a dog from someone who does not live near you, do your due diligence. Request references and speak to other people who have purchased dogs from this breeder. Ask if the breeder is a member of an AKC-affiliated club and contact that club to verify membership.
• Beware of any breeder who seems preoccupied with the financial aspect of the transaction. Any reputable breeder will be far more concerned with the appropriateness of the potential pet home than what and when they are getting paid. Make sure you have clear expectations - ideally in writing - of how and when the pup will be paid for. If the pup is shipped long distance, the best approach would be to pay for half up front and half upon receiving the puppy (and after getting a veterinarian to sign-off on the pup's health).
• If you located a breeder through a web site, don't ever send money without speaking to him/her on the phone and checking their references/credentials first. Unscrupulous breeders and even outright scams can be represented by professional-looking web sites that lure you in with beautiful pictures of adorable puppies that don't actually exist. Be especially wary of any breeder who insists that you wire money and who calls to ask for more money to be wired to cover last minute shipping fees.
• Beware of breeders who claim to have multiple breeds ready to ship immediately. It's highly unlikely that your perfect puppy would be available for shipping on the very day you call since gestation and socialization of a litter of puppies takes months before individual puppies can be placed with new owners.
For more information and an interesting article on breeders, please see this NAIA article on breeders.