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Choosing A Dog Breeder -
What To Look For In A Responsible Dog Breeder
by Debbie Moore
You have carefully considered the decision to add a new puppy to
your household, and painstakingly educated yourself about the many different dog
breeds from which to choose your potential puppy. Equally important as the type
of puppy you have chosen for your family is the breeder from which you will
purchase your puppy. There are many, many breeders advertising puppies for sale
on the Internet; deciding on a breeder can be a daunting task - but by following
our list of important guidelines, you can learn to identify breeders who
are die-hard dog lovers and breed out of their love for their chosen breed,
rather than to profit from it.
Responsible Breeders:
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Register their dogs with the
appropriate Kennel Club.
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Often have a waiting list for their
puppies.
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Love their dogs and puppies and
consider them to be first hand family members. Their
dogs live with them in their homes, and participate
in most family activities.
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Breed only once or twice per year,
always with an eye towards improving their line of
puppies.
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Whelp their puppies in their homes,
and raise their puppies in their homes, where the
puppies are given plenty of love, attention and
gentle handling, as well as being socialized to
various household noises, people, children and other
pets. This helps to ensure that puppies grow into
well mannered, even tempered, sociable dogs that
will provide you and your family with many years of
love, joy, laughter and companionship.
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Are well educated about their chosen
breed. They should know their breed's history,
characteristics, temperament, longevity, and - most
importantly - health issues (health problems that
may be prevalent in their breed).
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Are willing to help you learn more
about their breed, and help you decide if the breed
is the right fit for your lifestyle.
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Carefully screen their dogs for any
health problems that are prevalent in their breed to
help ensure that their dogs and puppy litters are
free from congenital (hereditary) diseases.
-
Have their dogs regularly vet-checked
and vaccinated, and have puppies thoroughly examined
by their veterinarian, de-wormed and vaccinated
prior to being offered to potential buyers.
-
Stand behind the health of their dogs
and puppies with a comprehensive health guarantee,
details of which they are willing to provide to
potential puppy buyers.
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Are careful to ensure that you are the
right fit for one of their puppies by asking
questions of you, your decision to add a puppy to
your home, and your commitment to providing the same
level of care to that puppy for the duration of it's
life. Will want to know about your home environment
to ensure that you have the facilities and resources
to safely care for a puppy.
-
Care deeply about the welfare of their
puppies after they join their new families, and want
to keep in touch with you and receive updates and
pictures of their puppies as they grow into dogs and
beyond.
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Are dedicated to offering advice and
support after you take your puppy home, and require
that you contact them in the event that you cannot
fulfill your commitment to your puppy so that they
can assist in finding a suitable replacement home.
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Will gladly allow you to visit them
(by appointment) to meet their dogs and puppies and
view firsthand the environment in which the puppies
are raised.
-
Will gladly provide references from
buyers of puppies from past litters.
Responsible Breeders May:
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Belong to one or more dog breed clubs.
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Participate in Obedience, Agility or
other activities with their dogs.
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Agree to ship their puppies to
carefully screened buyers.
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Have more than 1 breed, but no more
than 3 breeds.
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Require a deposit to place you on
their waiting list for a puppy.
Beware of Breeders Who:
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Put pressure on you to purchase a
puppy from them.
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Always have puppies available.
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Sell puppies at "bargain" prices.
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Cannot or will not provide photos of
their adult dogs.
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Keep their dogs and puppies outdoors
or in a barn or other shelter. (Unless the breed
they offer is a "Giant" Breed, such as Mastiffs,
Great Danes, etc.
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Constantly confine their breeding dogs
to crates or cages in the basement or other area
within the home. (There are many "basement puppy
mills" where small dog breeds are bred and housed).
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Will not allow you to visit them and
meet their dogs and puppies.
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Do not seem well-educated about their
dogs.
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Do not ask you a lot of questions
about your situation.
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Have complaints against them with the
SPCA, Better Business Bureau, etc. (Just "Google"
them and see what comes up!)
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Sell puppies to pet stores or brokers.
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Do not offer health guarantee.
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Do not adequately screen for health
problems.
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Can't or won't
offer references.
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Beware of any breeder that gives you
the "Heebie Jeebies". Listen to your sixth sense!
Your breeder should be someone you feel comfortable
with, since your relationship with the breeder
should last well beyond your taking your puppy home.
If a breeder belittles you for asking questions,
seems less than interested in helping you learn
about the breed, or exhibits any behavior that makes
you uncomfortable - walk away. When you find the
perfect dog breeder from which to purchase your
furry bundle, you'll be glad you did!
As much as you may be anxious to have
that furry little bundle in your arms, be sure to play
it safe and obtain your new puppy only from the very
best breeder you can find. As they say, "Haste makes
waste", and puppies purchased from back yard breeders,
pet stores and puppy mills come with a shopping list of
potential problems. These include poor socialization,
resulting in a puppy that grows up to be a nervous,
nippy and neurotic dog; and
poor health, leading to many veterinary bills and plenty
of heartache for you and your family. Additionally, by
buying a puppy from these sources, you are helping to
keep these cruel profiteers doing what they do. For
every adorable puppy that you see "in the window" of a
pet store, there are two parent dogs who are kept in
deplorable conditions that no dog lover would ever
subject their family members to.
Remember, your new puppy is going to
live anywhere from 10 to 16 years of age. Take your time
to find just the right breeder - you'll be rewarded for
your patience and determination with a healthy,
well-socialized family companion that is sure to live a
long, happy and vibrant life with you and your family.
Dog Breed Information
What to Look For in a Responsible Dog Breeder
Dog and Puppy Pictures and Photos Gallery
Unique Dog and Puppy Names Suggestions
List Your Dogs and Puppies For Sale
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