Responsible Dog Breeders (How to Find Them)

[HeDied4Me]

If you want to buy a purebred puppy, please be sure that you only buy a puppy from a good, responsible breeder, rather than a pet store or a backyard breeder.

Here are some signs of a responsible breeder:

- The breeder will require that you have the puppy neutered or spayed. (With very few exceptions, in special circumstances.)

- If, for any reason, you cannot keep the dog, the breeder will require that you return the dog to the breeder, rather than giving it to a shelter.

- The breeder will ask you about your home situation, previous experience with dog ownership, and other information. A good breeder wants to be sure to find the right home for the puppies.

- The parent dogs have good temperaments, have been health checked, and are preferably champions or have some other titles to show that they are good examples of the breed.

If anyone wants to add anything to these guidelines, please do.

There is also the option of adopting a dog, either from a rescue or from a shelter. Mixed-breed dogs can be just a good pets as purebreds.

And whatever you do, unless you are planning to show the dog, please spay or neuter it!

I think these kind of guidelines should be stickied in this forum. It's really very important information, but many people don't realize that there is a problem with buying a puppy from a pet store or a backyard breeder.

 

[Dagna]

Also, good breeders will be a member of their local and/or national breedclub and many of them will also be actively involved in breed rescue. The breeder should also have had the hips and eyes of their breeding dogs and been given an all clear with those. They also should have gone through any testing to ensure that their breeders do not have a genetic defect that can be passed on.

In most situations, a responsible breeder will NOT be advertising in the newspaper as they will have a waiting list for their dogs and will not breed their dogs until they know all the dogs born will have a home. Also, a responsible breeder will never allow a dog to go home at 8 weeks as it's simply too young (8-12 weeks is a very important time for young puppy's to be learning from their mother and siblings). A puppy from a good breeder will be at least 10 weeks (usually in the large breed dogs) and usually12+ weeks for small dogs (ie: chihuahuas, toy fox terriers etc)

If you're looking for a purebred pet, please consider looking into breed rescue. There are many pure bred dogs looking for good homes.

 

[soblessed53]

I also would add that if you want a pet with a better chance of being free from congenital defects/health problems.find a breeder who DOES NOT INBREED [father to daughter, mother to son,siblings],but that will be very difficult to find! Unrelated pairings or distantly related would be healthiest. I'm sure if you even mention this you are going to get some very testy remarks,however,that is why I would not even bother with a purebred, but that is me.

 

[Dagna]

While I'm not in favor of in breeding, really the only danger in doing so is when irresponsible breeders who choose to not do genetic testing decide to inbreed (or really breed at all). However, you're correct in that no good breeder will do inbreeding, however some will do line breeding. Some people also have a problem with line breeding, but again, it's not that dangerous unless no genetic testing is done.

Unrelated pairs can be a problem as well if no genetic testing is done, so just because the breeder says they're not related doesn't mean that all is fine.

When calling and speaking with breeders ask them what genetic testing is done (make sure you familiarize yourself with the common problems in the breed) and make sure that you see the results of the testing BEFORE you purchase any dog from a breeder. Don't just take their word on it.

While I would rather people adopt whenever possible, many will go to a breeder no matter what. So my opinion is that if they have to go to a breeder, at least find the best breeder possible and education is part of that. Many people just pick a number out of the classifieds and get just any dog with no research or thought at all.

 

[3girls2dogs]

Also, good breeders will be a member of their local and/or national breedclub and many of them will also be actively involved in breed rescue. The breeder should also have had the hips and eyes of their breeding dogs and been given an all clear with those. They also should have gone through any testing to ensure that their breeders do not have a genetic defect that can be passed on.

In most situations, a responsible breeder will NOT be advertising in the newspaper as they will have a waiting list for their dogs and will not breed their dogs until they know all the dogs born will have a home. Also, a responsible breeder will never allow a dog to go home at 8 weeks as it's simply too young (8-12 weeks is a very important time for young puppy's to be learning from their mother and siblings). A puppy from a good breeder will be at least 10 weeks (usually in the large breed dogs) and usually12+ weeks for small dogs (ie: chihuahuas, toy fox terriers etc)

If you're looking for a purebred pet, please consider looking into breed rescue. There are many pure bred dogs looking for good homes.

I wanted to respond to a couple of things in your post here.

I agree that getting a dog from rescue is awesome. Our younger male boxer is a rescue, and he is so wonderful, and it almost seems that he is more grateful for the love he gets than the dog we have had from a puppy. Not that we don't love on them both, but he seems to appreciate it more is all.

And your responsible breeding tips. I went to an AKC show this weekend. Not only did I have a GREAT time being around all those dogs, I learned so so much. The breeders were not at all adverse to answering my many dumb questions. They were helpful, we learned so much about breeds we had never even seen before, and we also learned a lot about choosing a breeder. After much discussion, we have decided to buy a Great Dane in a few years, and the breeders there agreed with what you said about the waiting list. When we were talking to them, they said it was good we were thinking about it now, because it may take us well over a year to get a puppy from a reputable breeder and it will also cost a small fortune, which I am willing to pay but will have to save for. I am also going to look into showing dogs, and that takes time and research.

I bought my boxer when she was a puppy from what I learned later was a backyard breeder. I don't regret buying her for a second, she is my angel puppy, but had I known then what I have learned since then, I would not have gone to them. And now we have a lump on her leg, which concerns me

 

[HeDied4Me]

Some responsible breeders actually charge less for their puppies than you'd pay at a pet store for a puppymill puppy, though. It's amazing how many people will spend over a thousand dollars at a pet store to buy a puppy. They don't know the puppy's temperament, health, or background, yet they'll still pay $1000 or more. And that money is supporting poor-quality dog breeding.

 

[Sabina41]

Some responsible breeders actually charge less for their puppies than you'd pay at a pet store for a puppymill puppy, though. It's amazing how many people will spend over a thousand dollars at a pet store to buy a puppy. They don't know the puppy's temperament, health, or background, yet they'll still pay $1000 or more. And that money is supporting poor-quality dog breeding.

Exactly! If you're spending that much money you'd better be getting a show quality animal. Someone brought a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel pup into the animal hospital a while back that they had paid about $1500 for and it had a massive underbite. The vet told the owner they needed to go to the breeder and demand money back because they had paid for show quality and gotten nothing close to that.

-Ashley

 

[3girls2dogs]

Some responsible breeders actually charge less for their puppies than you'd pay at a pet store for a puppymill puppy, though. It's amazing how many people will spend over a thousand dollars at a pet store to buy a puppy. They don't know the puppy's temperament, health, or background, yet they'll still pay $1000 or more. And that money is supporting poor-quality dog breeding.

That is true I am sure. The only reason we would be paying that much for a dog, or buying a dog from a breeder as opposed to one from rescue, for that matter, would be because we would be looking for a show quality dog.

If, within, the next few years, we decide that we do not want to show dogs, we will be getting our Great Dane from rescue. I wish owned my own home right now, because I would be rescuing dogs all over the place. Sadly, we live in military housing and are only allowed 2 dogs

Responsible breeding can help prevent, along with many other things, many of the health problems that some breeds are prone to. We are having the lump on Princess' leg removed and biopsied, but had we gotten her from a responsible breeder, we would have known more about her parents' health. please pray for my baby. She is my best friend in so many ways.

Thank you all so much for starting this thread. I volunteer at our local humane society here in Yuma, and they have to put hundreds of dogs down a month. Hundreds.

I think it is important to note that along with responsible breeding comes responsible ownership. Please don't get a dog unless you know how big it will be, or what its traits may be or whether it will need an amount of exercise you will be unwilling to give it. I hate seeing these dogs put down simply because someone turned it in for being *too big* or *too energetic*. It isn't the dog's fault it is what it is.

 

[HeDied4Me]

I think it is important to note that along with responsible breeding comes responsible ownership. Please don't get a dog unless you know how big it will be, or what its traits may be or whether it will need an amount of exercise you will be unwilling to give it. I hate seeing these dogs put down simply because someone turned it in for being *too big* or *too energetic*. It isn't the dog's fault it is what it is.

Yes, very important! One major problem is when a breeder is willing to sell puppies to anyone who wants one, regardless of the suitability of the breed for that home. Then you end up with hyper border collies who get destructive or aggressive just because their owners didn't realize how much exercise and training they need, or pit bulls whose owners just keep them chained to a tree in the yard for protection, or other bad situations.

Everyone should research dog breeds before they decide what kind of a dog to get. I think a lot of people don't realize there's more to a dog breed that just appearance and size.

 

[soblessed53]

Much good advice here.The main point is EVERY PROSPECTIVE owner needs to educate themselves,do research on the breeds they are interested in and NEVER,EVER, get a pup from Petland or any pet store as they get theirs from puppymills,and you pay more than a better breeder of much higher-quality pups would charge! You can find a breeder in your area by calling the AKC and asking for names of local breeders of the breed you want. Once you see all the potential medical problems/expenses involved in getting a purebred,you may decide that you just want a mixed breed mutt after all,then you can still use petfinders to specify size ect,if you'd like.

 

[Diane_Windsor]

If anyone wants to add anything to these guidelines, please do.

Wouldn't a good breeder allow prospective owners to see the parents of the puppy if they are available? Also, and see what conditions that the parents lives in? And, except in very rare circumstances, they would not allow the puppy to be given as a gift to someone.

A good way of finding a reptuable breeder is to go to AKC dog shows, and networking.

There is also the option of adopting a dog, either from a rescue or from a shelter. Mixed-breed dogs can be just a good pets as purebreds.

Absolutely! I grew up with mixes, and they often make the best pets I can get a dog that looks similar to a Lab, but not have to deal with such a large breed, etc. Mixes are so unique, and they even have their own club!

My first dog though is a purebred Beagle (though he doesn't have the traditional tri-colour, nor does he have the white tail tip) that I got last year. To make a long story short I got him through networking. His original owner could not handle him, so he generously gave him to me I absolutely cherish this gift.

DIANE

 

[Dagna]

Wouldn't a good breeder allow prospective owners to see the parents of the puppy if they are available? Also, and see what conditions that the parents lives in? And, except in very rare circumstances, they would not allow the puppy to be given as a gift to someone.

You are absolutely correct. However, with most good breeders, you will probably only be able to physically see the mother. The father is usually a stud dog from someone else, however the breeder should still have all documentation, including copies of health certifications etc and most likely will have pictures of the stud. They should also have the phone number of the stud's owner for you to contact.

Never will a breeder allow a dog to go as a present unless they have met and spoken with the person that is getting the dog. This is also true for rescues as well.

 

[LegacyOfLove]

Okay, I am going to chime in here (as a breeder).

When placing a puppy into a prospective home, there is a LOT that we take into consideration.

We spend a great amount of time daily with our pups from birth - so that each one receives proper handling and socialization. We also do this to get to know each puppy's individual personality and energy levels.

I will never let someone come in and pick a puppy based on looks alone. (Those are the nightmares waiting to happen when they get home and realize that the cute puppy look fades and they have a growing puppy who is active, chews a lot, etc....and then they won't want their puppy). We have a lot of things that we have to take into account when placing a puppy into someone's home. (Can they provide adequate food, exercise, activity, health care, a positive environment, socialization, love, etc?)

People who are looking for a dog or a puppy need to know what exactly to expect from that individual dog - as well as the traits that run in that breed. They also need to be aware of all of the potential health conditions that are prominent in that breed and how to raise the dog in the healthiest way possible. (For instance, large breed dogs are prone to hip and elbow problems. A great way to combat this is by maintaining your pup at a healthy weight and feeding him/her quality foods. Knowing the health history of the parents and grandparents is also very important. The more you know - the more educated you can be when selecting a dog).

A good breeder will supply you with a health guarantee. While there is no way to 100% prevent a large breed puppy from developing things like hip dysplasia at some point in their life, you can at least start by having parents who are cleared for those problems and certified.

Also, some certifications like CERF (eyes) can be a bit tricky. Since the CERF is a test that is given annually, you would want to know that the parent dogs have had it done each year consistently.

And the more generations with certifications for their health, the better. This includes brothers and sisters of the parents and grandparents - to get a full picture of what kind of dogs are really being produced by a certain line. (By the way, you want to actually see the certifications - not just hear that they supposedly have them).

When you go to look at a puppy, you should be able to see the mother dog and if they also own the father dog - you should be able to see him as well. Many breeders own only the female dog and use a stud dog. In that case, you should be able to contact the owner of the stud with any questions that you have about the stud. (I would even go as far as to say that you should be allowed to come and visit him as well).

You need to ask plenty of questions. A good breeder will not be put off by your questions, but will welcome them. This shows the breeder that you really understand the breed and the responsibilities of raising that kind of puppy, as well as understanding the health issues and training issues that involve that breed.

Find out how the puppies have been raised. How much time has the breeder spent with their litter of puppies? Do they keep them indoors with the family? Do they have an outside kennel? What are the conditions of the area they are kept in?

A good breeder will spend a great deal of time socializing each puppy - around humans, including children - and other animals also.

A good breeder should be able to tell you the differences between each of the puppies. (In a breed where most of the puppies look alike, there is still no excuse for not knowing each puppy's individual personality and being able to identify each one seperately.)

A good breeder will have at least a 3-generation pedigree readily available for you to look at for both the mother and father dogs. (They may even have a 5-generation pedigree available to see).

A good breeder will know the strengths and weaknesses of both mother and father dog - personality, health, temperament, behavior issues, etc. If a breeder tells you that their dogs are wonderful and perfect and they have absolutely never had any problems with them, that's not too likely. Every dog has it's issues of some sort. (For instance, my male Golden loves to dig outside when he is bored. As a puppy he was stubborn and it took more time to train him than my female did. He was also a major chewer.)

Perhaps that sounds normal. It is and can be typical for Goldens, however, my female Golden isn't the same way. She was easy to train and loved learning new things. She is more docile, whereas my male has a higher energy level and needs more exercise daily to be satisfied than my female does. However, my female has times where she can be shy, so we have had to work a little more with her in her socialization. (Something that came very naturally and easily with our male).

Those things are important bits of information that I have to pass along to people who are interested in their puppies.

Also, if a breeder has bred their dogs before, they should know a lot about how those puppies have turned out. They should be able to tell you what characteristics you are most likely to see - and how to handle and correct certain behaviors (like excessive chewing for instance).

A good breeder WANTS to stay in touch with you. (While they understand you have a life too - they want to have updates and pictures of how your pup is doing and to make sure that everything is going okay.) If there is a problem, you should always be able to turn to your breeder for help. If you cannot keep a puppy that you bought from them, you should be able to bring that puppy back to the breeder.

Well....that's about all I can think of right now. I am sure I will have more to add to it later.

 

[HeDied4Me]

Thanks for replying! That's definitely some helpful information.

 

[LegacyOfLove]

I wanted to add something more to what I previously posted. The OP posted this as "how to find a good breeder".

Word of mouth! That is probably the best way possible to find a good breeder. Also, ask local veterinarians for referrals. Ask at your local dog training clubs (especially those who work with different show dogs). Go to the breed specific club - online and you can get referrals for excellent breeders in good standing with their breed club. Go to the AKC's website at: http://www.akc.org/classified/index.cfm - to see actual listings for AKC puppies and dogs in your area.

I hope that information helps. A petstore should be a definate no-no to finding a dog.
No matter where you go to get your puppy/dog - be sure to check them out fully, ask plenty of questions and get references from others who have purchased puppies from that breeder.

Also, one other thing to consider - don't make any rushed decisions. Go into looking for a puppy with the mindset that you are in no hurry - you can wait as long as it takes to find the right one. And if possible, ask the breeder as many questions as you can BEFORE going to look at their puppies. (So that you aren't swayed by seeing the cute puppies and making a decision that you may later regret).

 

[skilltroks]

Go to the breeder's home. Ask questions about how the puppy and her parents were raised. Def. ask if the breeder takes part in "puppy mills". Don't ever buy a puppy/dog from a puppy mill.