Choosing a Reputable Dog Breeder

Make sure you pick a reputable purebred dog breeder before you fall in love with a new, adorable family member. But how does anyone objectively evaluate a breeder while staring into the eyes of an incredibly cute puppy? By doing homework before the puppies are born, irresistible pups won’t influence your evaluation of whether or not the breeder and potential litter are a good match for you. Researching and interviewing breeders may steer you away from those that breed unsound dogs and undesirable temperaments. Here are some tips for locating a reputable breeder and a near perfect puppy:

First, research your chosen breed and its potential health issues. Read the breed standard, located on the American Kennel Club website, to know what your puppy should look like. You want a puppy that will grow into a dog that looks like its breed, and has good health and temperament.  One of my previous posts, https://www.caryunkelbach.com/researching-a-litter/ offers some guidance on researching these issues. Second, look for reputable breeders of your chosen breed. Ask for recommendations from knowledgeable friends, family and acquaintances; and seek referrals from local and national breed clubs. Next, call the recommended breeder and learn:

• the length of time that the breeder has been breeding;
• the qualities that the breeder looks for, such as health, temperament, physical appearance and structure, and athleticism;
• the activities the breeder does with his/her dogs, i.e. shows, competes in performance events, hunts etc.; and
• the breeder’s memberships in breed, kennel and/or performance clubs.

Answers to these questions should help you evaluate whether the breeder seeks to improve his/her breed or just wants to sell puppies. Move on if the breeder only wants to try to make money.

Next, ask the breeder about upcoming liters, including the specific registered names of the parents so that you can research their health clearances on the Orthopedic Foundation of Animals’ (OFA’s) website. Inquire whether the parents have been bred to each other previously, or bred to others. If so, have these dogs produced any known health problems including genetic diseases such as hip or elbow dysplasia? Also ask the breeder about the temperament of the parents and grandparents.

After confirming the breeder’s answers regarding health clearances on the OFA website, schedule a visit with the breeder, preferably before the puppies are born. That way, you can meet the prospective dam, sire (if he is on the premises), grandparents and other relatives without any puppies tugging at your heartstrings.

When you arrive at the breeder’s property, take note of whether:

• the premises appear clean and well-kept;
• the dogs look healthy and clean; and
• the canines seem friendly or skittish.

If your situation prevents a pre-litter visit, make the same observations when you visit the property and puppies. If the breeder insists, without a valid reason, to show only the puppies to you, look elsewhere. Reputable breeders are proud of their dogs. They want to spend time getting to know you and answer all of your questions. If they seem in a hurry to just sell a puppy, they probably have no interest in answering future questions when you need their help. That’s another red flag.

Some questions to ask include:

• Where will the pups be whelped and raised? (If the location is in a back outbuilding, the pups may not receive a lot of attention.)
• What kind of socialization will the puppies receive?
• When can you visit the pups? Be cautious if the breeder invites you to visit within days of the whelping or the first few weeks. We didn’t want visitors before the pups’ first shots at about six weeks of age. In the age of the digital camera and internet, ask for photos of the pups.
• Will the breeder select the puppy or will you, with input from the breeder?
• What shots will be given the pups before they leave the premises?
• Will the pups be wormed before they go to their new homes?
• What brand and kind of food will the puppies be eating before they go to their new homes?
• How long should you keep your puppy on puppy kibble? Some breeders recommend switching to an adult kibble to slow down rapid growth which is hard on the joints. Slow growth, especially in large breeds, is usually recommended.
• Should your new family member be neutered or spayed? If so at what age? Why at that age?
• Will you buy a puppy on a limited registration basis? What does that mean?
• Does the breeder recommend any books about raising and training puppies?
• Does he/she have any recommendations for locations of puppy kindergarten and obedience classes?

Find out if the breeder provides a written health guarantee. Many breeders offer a seventy-two hour guarantee so that the pup can be checked by your vet. They may not guarantee against genetic diseases, such as hip and elbow diseases, because there isn’t any genetic test to determine if a dog carries the dysplastic gene. That’s why your research is vital and why you gamble when you buy a puppy. But you cut down odds of buying a dysplastic puppy by carefully researching health issues and asking the right questions.

Use common sense when visiting the breeder and meeting his/her adult dogs and puppies. Don’t drop in at a veterinarian’s office, shelter or even another breeder’s kennel the same day of your visit to avoid the chance of transmitting diseases to your breeder’s puppies and other dogs.

After your site visit, evaluate whether you are comfortable with the breeder and his/her dogs. Walk away if you have reservations, and do so before you buy a puppy. Remember there are many reputable breeders who invest an inordinate amount of effort, care, time and money in trying to breed healthy, good tempered puppies that conform to the breed standard. They want their puppies in stable, loving homes for a lifetime. Good luck with your search!