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My name is Gina Vesco, I live in Clinton Township Michigan, not far from the shores of Lake St. Clair. I have had the pleasure the past 22 years of matching families with well bred, healthy and happy Golden Retrievers Cocker Spaniels and Vizsla, our puppies are the result of hard work and dedication to the betterment of those breeds by myself and the breeders of generations before. If you are visiting this site we have more than likely had a conversation regarding one of the breeds I specialize in or have been referred here by a happy pet owner. You may find this site to be a little wordy, so if you are not interested in finding and owning a good pet, exit now! I sincerely hope after reading through the site you will be better informed and more confident in the choices you will make in your endeavor to find a worthy companion. Here we go.... How do you go about buying a puppy? There are many sources to buy puppies from. None however are better than a reputable breeder. The definition of breeder can be vague. Technically anybody who has bred a pair of dogs that has had puppies is a "breeder". I like to compare it to putting gas in my car, because I do it and it runs well, does not make me a master mechanic. Breeding dogs is a complex process beginning not at the time of the breeding, but years before that, by persons who have carefully studied pedigrees and tested potential breeding pairs for generations. A reputable breeder can provide you with that information, show you the sire and/or dam of the puppy, show you the certification of health testing They should also be available to you after the puppy is in your home for support. Technology is a wonderful thing, keep in mind when asking to view the sire that he may not be available to view. Often times he can be across the country or deceased (for many years) and the puppies are the result of "frozen or fresh chilled semen" shipped from far away and implanted in the dam. So there may be limits to meeting the sire of the puppies! Ask the breeder: How long they have been involved in breeding dogs. (avoid those who may have a female that they decided to breed for "fun") What testing has been done on the breeding pair. certain breeds have specific tests done. that are important to the health of the offspring. What the potential problems are in the breed. what is the breeders experience with them? What is the history is of the pedigree. to the best knowledge of the breeder. What are your responsibilities as a pet owner once the puppy is in your home. A reputable breeder will not take offense to any of those questions. In fact they are comforted by an educated buyer who is asking questions. The reputable breeder differs from "puppy mill" breeders or "backyard breeders" in many ways. The puppies in a pet store or 'flea market' setting are purchased in mass by retailers from huge corporations. The quality is apparent most times by a LOOKING at the puppy. But you have to know what you are looking at. We urge you to do your homework. Visit the breeder or breeders you have researched. A referral through a Veterinary office, a National Breed Club, from other breeders or happy pet owners with the same breed you are considering, are worth their weight in gold. Most reputable breeders do NOT advertise in the classified ads. Due diligence is your responsibility, when buying a pet for yourself or your family, especially when children are involved. Your standards should be high. The breeder that you choose should live up to those expectations or exceed them. Comparative shopping is perfectly acceptable for buying a puppy. They should have done the hard work laying the best foundation possible for the puppies. Just make sure you are comparing all factors involved in making a wise choice. Most reputable breeders ask around the same price for their puppies, so try not to put so much emphasis on price. Cheaper is not a "deal" in when it comes to buying a puppy. Indicate you are looking for 'pet' quality, a simple fact is, there are high quality pets available in every litter bred for show. As much as we breeders like to think every one of our dogs is perfect, some minor issues that may prevent a puppy from being show quality. They are, mis marked puppies, something as simple as a white spot in the wrong location, dentition that may be off, a puppy may indicate that he/she will not meet some of the strict guidelines we breeders aspire to meet, for instance not tall enough or to tall...Or they may prefer to be a lap dog instead of a 'star'. None of these issues would have an affect on the dogs ability to be a perfectly suitable pet. Its hard to imagine, but like many other purchases you make, dogs come in different levels of quality. So do your homework and make a wise choice. There has been some conversation on TV regarding 'designer dogs' here is some important information. Click the link. A little about how I became involved with dogs. During my early teens, (early 70's) my family acquired a Miniature Poodle. I became fascinated with the grooming process and would "practice" on the family pet. By the age of 16 I was a professional pet groomer and expanding my interests quickly. My first job as a Professional Pet Groomer linked me with the world of purebred dogs, preparing them for the show ring, handling and later breeding. In 1985 I rescued a Cocker and fell in love with the breed. By 1986 I had added a Golden Retriever to my collection of dogs. In 1986 at the age of 28, I was able to purchase the kennel where I had my first job and gained my "dog experience". Since 1986, as an all breed pet groomer and now a boarding kennel operator I became more involved with breeding and showing, choosing the Sporting Dogs above all others. Bred to be man's companion in the field the Sporting dogs by virtue of their warm sunny temperaments are enjoyable to be around and work with. I feel the individual breeds in the Sporting Group make the best pets of all the Groups. My goal was to breed and show dogs that I bred. In 1990 I bred my first litter of Cockers for the show ring. The first Champion under the Clinton Oaks prefix emerged from that litter. Since the early 90's I have bred, owned, co-owned or handled to their Championship titles, over 20 dogs, in 4 different breeds. Included in those titles are multiple Best In Specialty Show, Sporting Group Placements, Best of Breed wins, Tracking Titles, Obedience Titles and now Hunt Test titles to another breed...the Vizsla. I couldn't have done any of that without the great breeders that had gone before me. Those breeders had laid the ground work of our pedigrees. Add to that, the mentors I have met and admired throughout the years, who through their experience and knowledge have kept me grounded and focused on what was really important. A special Thank You to Cherie Berger of Meadowpond Golden Retrievers and Dee Lange of Gaitway Cockers and to my family, who have put up with my dog habit over the years.Our MissionIs to produce a mentally and physically sound Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel and Vizsla, a companion that will be welcome anywhere. Be it in the show ring or pet home. I realize that a well bred dog should be a functional member of society as well as perform the duties that they were bred for. I've also learned that families prefer to find a well bred dog, with health clearances and the experienced support from their breeder to be most paramount to their owning, maintaining and training their pet. Most all show dogs are used eventually in a breeding program, they should well represent the breed standard and be free of any debilitating diseases before being bred. Breeding those dogs presents a small percentage of "show quality" animals, those not kept for show are sold as high quality pets to loving homes. Without pet owners who provide those loving homes, we breeders would not be able to progress in our breeding programs. These pets will become somebody's family member. By vigorously testing our breeding stock, by using only individuals that pass that testing and by providing these families with support on how to raise and train their newest family member we have had over two decades of happy families. While we are most diligent you must understand that breeders are dealing with genetics. Despite our best efforts, problems may still occur. As caretakers of the breed, we will always do our best to breed healthy pets, unfortunately we have little or no control over recessive genes. I am a member in good standing with the American Spaniel Club, The Vizsla Club of America, and the The Vizsla Club of Michigan. I am also listed in the Ann Arbor Kennel Club Breeder Directory, the ASC Directory and on the American Kennel Club web site.Feel free to browse our site and contact me with any questions you may have. If we do not have the breed you are interested in, we encourage you to call, we will be happy to refer you to a reputable breeder in the breed of your choice or you may visit the link below. Thank you. Gina Vesco You are visitor #
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