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Co-Ownership?
by Bob
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
I currently co-own a dog and feel comfortable with it. Many breeders won't sell a show quality dog unless they are co-owners. with certain stipulations attached. I have recently heard horror
stories involving co-ownership. Is co-owning something one really should stay away from ? Has anyone had an unpleasant experience with co-ownership / positive experience with co-ownership.
DISCUSSION:
I've never heard of co-ownership. It doesn't really sound like a good idea to me. If you purchase your pet and agree to give it a good home then the animal should be yours and yours alone. If they are that adamant about keeping the animal then they shouldn't be selling it in the first place. I'd do some thorough research on this to make sure that you are not left holding the short end of the stick.
Dogs sold for show, however, is an entirely different matter. One does not lightly place a dog into a show home. If the buyer is a responsible, veteran breeder, then the seller knows that the expectations arising from the sale (usually that the dog will be finished in the show ring before it is bred) will be honored - and, unless there is intent to share puppies out of a bitch or obtain stud services back out of a dog then co-ownership is usually not the arrangement.. Any sale of a show prospect into a novice or less experienced exhibitor's hands, however, is fraught with risk. Risk that a superb specimen of the breed will not be shown at all, or even worse, risk that the dog may also be re-sold into an environment for breeding that you would NEVER have placed the pup originally. Control over this situation is usually dictated throughout a co-ownership arrangement. Usually, the co-ownership is intended only to insure that the buyer perform the specific conditions of the sale contract.
Of course, you would never sell a pup into a situation where you, as a breeder, did not feel comfortable with the new owners to begin with. But, again particularly with new breeders and exhibitors who have yet to prove themselves, it is an effective tool. If you, as a prospective owner, are not misrepresenting your intentions then you should not have a problem with the conditions prescribed through any terminology in the contract - whether it requires a co-ownership or some other form of "specific performance".
In the "dog world" co-ownership of a dog (male) can be a mutually rewarding relationship - co-ownership "for life" on a bitch (female) is usually best avoided at all costs. it gets entirely too complicated when two parties are trying to make joint decisions regarding breeding alternatives and/or puppy retention.
Sorry to be so long-winded. LS Divine Maltese
Kathy
Yes, if you are in pursuit of a show dog, many breeders want to stay on the papers as co-owner until you have finished the dog to make sure you have kept your part of the bargain. As long as you have everything in writing, all up front, their should be no problems.
Theresa
In the Show/Breeding circuit this is a somewhat common thing - but I would not like it. If you are comfortable with it that's all that really matters.
Leslie R
When I was first looking for a Maltese I checked some of the ads in the Dog Fancy Magazine. I did run across some breeders that wanted to co-own the puppy. For me, I'd rather have a pet quality puppy that is all mine than co-own a show quality dog and having someone else tell me what I can and cannot do with it. Like Kathy said, if they want to keep the dog, then they shouldn't be selling it. It might work out fine for some people, but it isn't something I'd want to do.
Sandee
Co-ownership arrangements take a variety of forms - in order to serve an equally varied set of circumstances. Speaking as a Breeder, I would have NO reason to place a "pet" on a co-ownership arrangement. They are sold to be just that, someone's "lap and lounge" dog. Your responsibility as a breeder is to FIND loving, responsible homes for those of your children that you choose NOT to retain for show and the pepetuation of your breeding program. why on earth would you want to retain even partial ownership on a dog that you placed as a pet. Of course one's pet sales contract invariably requires that the pup be spated or neutered and there is, of course, not only the option, but usually the right as well, for the Breeder to take the pup back and find it a more suitable home if the situation does not work out - but this does not call for a co-ownership.
Larry Stanberry
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