While a good breeder can help you pick the best puppy for you and your family, he or she will sell only to clients who meet their criteria. You will need to answer some questions regarding your dog-rearing know-how, including why you’re interested in a specific breed, whether you’ve ever owned or currently own a dog, whether you have ever surrendered a dog to a shelter, whether you have kids, a fenced yard, other dogs, and so forth. Some breeders require references, too. While this may seem a bit intrusive, good breeders feel personally responsible for every dog they produce. They want assurances that their puppies are going to the best homes for their entire lives.
In return, you will want to know a lot about the breeder. Don’t feel shy asking questions, including:
•How long has the breeder been breeding dogs? Many years in a breed alone does not guarantee quality, but look for a breeder with longevity in the breed.
•How long does the breeder keep the puppies? Most breeders do not let puppies go to new homes until they are at least eight weeks old (or longer for some breeds).
•What clubs or national organizations does the breeder belong to?
•Does the breeder compete in canine sports, such as conformation, agility, herding, tracking, or obedience?
•How many litters does the breeder breed yearly? (More than three or four litters per year may indicate a problem.)
•Can you contact the breeder if problems arise?
•Does the breeder have references?
•Is the breeder willing to take back the dog if it doesn’t work out?
•What is the breeder’s policy regarding inherited health issues (hip or elbow dysplasia, eye problems, or other genetic problems) that might arise?
•Does the breeder have a refund policy?
•Equally important, you will want to know specifics about the puppies. A good, knowledgeable breeder is happy to answer questions. At the very least, you will want to know:
•Are the dogs—sire, dam, puppies—registered with the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club in the United States or the Canadian Kennel Club in Canada?
•Have the eyes of the sire, dam, and puppies been examined by a canine ophthalmologist?
•Have the sire and dam been tested for inherited genetic problems, such as hip and elbow dysplasia and heart problems?
•Have the puppies been wormed and vaccinated?
•Have the puppies been checked by a veterinarian?
•Will the breeder provide you with copies of the medical records and genetic testing results of the parents as well as your puppy?
•Will the breeder supply a pedigree (three generations minimum)?
Good breeders welcome questions and willingly answer them. If they don’t, scratch him or her off your list and continue searching.
The Paper Trail
If you have purchased your puppy from a reputable breeder, you should receive, at the very least, the following documents: sales contract that includes your puppy’s name, sex, color, birth date; your name, address, and telephone number; and the breeder’s information, purchase price, and date; and possibly breeding rights or restrictions, spay/neuter requirements, description of ownership basis, refund and/or return policy registration certificate, enabling you to register your puppy in your name with the national kennel club inoculation records for canine parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, and leptospirosis three- or five-generation pedigree that details the puppy’s ancestry health certifications/clearances, depending on your breed, for eyes, hips, or elbows and/or heart
Where to Find a Breeder
A dog show is an excellent starting point. Dog shows provide the perfect forum for talking to breeders, learning more about the breed, and finding out who’s planning a breeding. You may even be able to find out whether anyone may have suitable puppies available in the coming weeks or months. If you’re unsure about which breed you want, you can interact with and compare various breeds of dog and watch them perform in different venues, such as conformation, obedience, agility, and rally.
While these competitive events will give you a pretty good idea of what many breeders are breeding, they are not always the best indicator of a dog’s temperament and working ability. If you’re interested in a hunting or working dog, consider also observing a field trial, lure coursing event, or herding trial to see the dogs in action.
A word of caution: dog shows and trials are normally hectic venues for participants, especially those showing multiple dogs in multiple venues. Handlers and breeders are not being rude—they’re just busy. Ask for a business card and a good time to contact them.
Veterinarians are often familiar with local breeders and the health of their dogs. They can usually provide you with the names of several people who are involved in different breeds.
National clubs and registries, such as the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), and The Kennel Club (England), can provide you with overall information on a specific breed as well as their parent or affiliate clubs. These clubs usually have breeders listed on their websites and/or membership coordinators who can put you in touch with breeders in your area. Membership in a parent club is not a guarantee that the breeders are responsible or ethical, but it is a good place to start. Again, you will need to do your due diligence.Many breeders talk with great knowledge about pedigrees and conformation, but keep in mind that their opinions can be very biased. Of course, they will tell you that their puppies are the best! Therefore, you will want to talk to many breeders and ask a lot of questions so that you have something to compare before making your decision, and always, always visit the breeder’s facilities.
You will want to see firsthand the breeder’s home or kennel, all of the puppies, the dam, and possibly the sire, if he’s available. You want to see how the breeder keeps his or her dogs. This point cannot be stressed enough. Are they house dogs? Indoor/outdoor dogs? Are the dogs clean and well cared for? Are they kenneled 24/7 or—heaven forbid—tied to a tree or doghouse?
But what if the breeder is several hours or several states away, you ask? It’s completely possible that you may not find the puppy you’re looking for close to home. You can purchase a puppy and have him shipped to you by the breeder, be it across the state or across the country. However, unless you personally know the breeder, or the kennel has outstanding references from people you trust, it is always prudent to meet the puppy in person. Selling dogs online has become increasingly popular, but online photos can be deceiving and will not tell you anything about the puppy’s temperament, personality, or health.
As puppy mills have come under increased scrutiny, many disreputable puppy brokers (who call themselves “breeders”) have moved their operations online. Sadly, not all people who breed dogs are trustworthy, and the puppy you choose from an online source may be a far cry from what arrives at your doorstep. The best way to be certain you are acquiring a puppy from a responsible breeder is to visit the kennel personally. If a breeder tells you that you can’t visit his or her house or facility or see the mother and the littermates—or if the breeder makes excuses, such as telling you that the mother is tired or at the groomer—do not buy a puppy from this breeder.
An