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.
Register their dogs with the appropriate Kennel Club.
Often have a waiting list for their puppies.
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.
Breed only once or twice per year, always with an eye towards
improving their line of puppies.
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.
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).
Are willing to help you learn more about their breed, and help
you decide if the breed is the right fit for your lifestyle.
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.
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.
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.
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 Dog Breeders May:
Belong to one or more dog breed clubs.
Participate in Obedience, Agility or other activities with their
dogs.
Agree to ship their puppies to carefully screened buyers.
Have more than 1 breed, but no more than 3 breeds.
Require a deposit to place you on their waiting list for a
puppy.
Beware of Dog Breeders Who:
Put pressure on you to purchase a puppy from them.
Always have puppies available.
Sell puppies at "bargain" prices.
Cannot or will not provide photos of their adult dogs.
Keep their dogs and puppies outdoors or in a barn or other
shelter.
Will not allow you to visit them and meet their dogs and
puppies.
Do not seem well-educated about their dogs.
Do not ask you a lot of questions about your situation.
Have complaints against them with the SPCA, Better Business
Bureau, etc. (Just "Google" them and see what comes up!)
Sell puppies to pet stores or brokers.
Do not offer a reasonable health guarantee.
Do not adequately screen their dogs for health problems prior to
breeding.
Can't or won't offer references.
Give you the "Eebie Jeebies". Listen to your sixth sense!
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 to which no dog lover
would ever subject their family members.
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.
