owning a dog in partnership?

[Susie Warren]

I was just wondering has anyone done this before and if so how does it usually work - what are the pro's and con's what should we consider?  How do you usually work it out money wise, who's name is the dog in or do you have it joint?

We aren't in a position to be able to keep a dog (we wouldn't be able to 100% guarantee at all times we could keep him sep from the bitches and its not worth the risk of mother son or half sister matings!!!), but we would like to have a boy shown and to be able to have some say in the future if he is used at stud etc. 

If anyone has any experience of these things please could they share.

Thanks

[eva ciechonska]

I have never owned a dog in partnership so can only give you an idea based on the experiences of others. 

A partnership agreement is whatever criteria you decide to set so, yes, the dog would be in joint names.  You can make it a condition ensureing that you have a decision or the final word in all studwork and usually stud fees are split 50-50.  You, as the breeder, can charge whatever you want for the puppy but, again it is often half price or you might not want to charge anything at all.  You should insist that the puppy has all health checks in place, including any DNA tests, hip scores etc.  You should ensure that if the partnership doesn't work the future of the dog is safeguarded, whether he comes back to you or is re-homed with your knowledge and approval. Others will be able to give you a better idea of  what else to include.

Whatever you decide to do over your partnership please draw up a proper contract indicating all points of agreement which will be signed and retained by both parties so there are no grey areas.  I have seen too many partnerships go sour because neither party had a proper contract in place. 

[JOANNE]

Hi Susie, I currently own a Gordon Setter, bred by me, in parnership with the owner of the sire I used for the litter. It is an excellent arrangement. I have a very simple arrangement in place, I am notified of any interest regarding studs, the money for any studs will be kept by the other party as I feel she pays for his testing, care on a daily basis,  vet bills and show entries. I sometimes take him away for show weekends which is great so I get to spend time with him. I do not have to pay for studs but I will always offer a puppy to this lady as a way of courtesy, but she is a great friend and lovely. Indeed I will often help her show her other dogs and take the younger ones away for showing with me.

Most importantly you must trust and have mutual repect for the person you engage in any partnership with. Having similiar outlooks on the care, showing ie sending dogs abroad for showing etc of a dog is very very important.

[Ann Millington]

Susie, partnerships are  a good solution, eg in the situation you have said here.  A good relationship with the co-owner is crucial, BUT however Best Friends For Years you might be, a sound and professionally worked out contract is a MUST.  You will both know exactly what is expected of each other in all foeseeable circumstances.

[Margaret Sierakowski]

I would say, think very carefully before you go into joint ownership. It can work well. but it can also go very wrong. I have co owned and only once  had problems . The dog is registered in both names jointly, so show entries are also in joint names, and you will both have to sign the application to register a litter sired by the dog. How you work out the finances is up to you. It could be the dog lives permanently with the other co owner, who pays all the bills , but your name is on the show entries and the dog can only be used at stud with your agreement. Or you could agree to pay a share of the costs (be very clear about who pays what, who gets stud fees), or that the dog comes back to you at times.

It is vitally important that you get on very well with the other person and trust them , and that they trust you. And that you have similar ideas about how to raise a puppy. Probably it helps a lot if you trust the other owner enough that you dont need to be over controlling! I would avoid sharing with a very controlling person, or somebody who is unpredictable or volatile, you dont want to get into arguments with your co owner!

But if things do go wrong, it can be very difficult. If you really fall out with the co owner, they could refuse to return the dog to you, refuse to show the dog, refuse to allow it to be bred from, and you cannot use the dog at stud without their agreement.

It  can work out well, but be very careful who you co own with!

[Susie Warren]

Thank you everyone for your advice.  It seems that making sure everything is out in the open at the start is the key to these things.  We'd need to know we'd placed the dog in the best possible home so that if the worst did happen and the partnership did breakdown we'd know the dog was well cared for.  

It also seems to be very different co-owning with an exhibitor/breeder as opposed to a friend who doesn't show.

Thanks