A Small Dog

How to Find a Good and Reputable Breeder

Posted on 16. Nov, 2008 by Jeff K. in The Right Small Dog for You, Where to Get a Small Dog

If you have made up your mind that you want a purebred dog, it is time to find a good and reputable dog breeder. But what makes a breeder “good and reputable?” Here is what the Human Society of the United States has to say on the subject:

“First, know that good breeders breed not just to make money—they don’t sell their puppies to the first person who shows up with cash in hand. Too often, unsuspecting people buy puppies from breeders (or neighbors) who breed their dog to make a little money or simply because they have a dog “with papers.” Too often, the result is puppies in poor health or with temperament problems that may not be discovered until years later. Unfortunately, these new-pet families often end up heartbroken, with a dog who has genetic health problems or develops significant behavior problems due to a lack of early socialization. In some cases, these problems can cost thousands of dollars to treat.

So to avoid these pitfalls and choose a good breeder, look for one who at a minimum:

• Keeps dogs in the home as part of the family—not outside in kennel runs
• Has dogs who appear happy and healthy, are excited to meet new people, and don’t shy away from visitors
• Shows you where the dogs spend most of their time—in a clean, well maintained area
• Encourages you to spend time with the puppy’s parents—at a minimum, the pup’s mother—when you visit
• Only breeds one or two types of dogs and is knowledgeable about what are called “breed standards” (the desired characteristics of the breed, such as size, proportion, coat, color, and temperament)
• Has a strong relationship with a local veterinarian and shows you records of veterinary visits for the puppies and explains the puppies’ medical history and what vaccinations your new puppy will need
• Explains in detail the potential genetic problems inherent in the breed (every breed has specific genetic predispositions) and provides documentation—through organizations such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)—that the puppy’s parents and grandparents have been tested to ensure that they are free of these genetic problems
• Offers guidance for caring for and training your puppy and is available for assistance after you take your puppy home
• Provides references from other families who have purchased puppies
• Feeds high quality “premium” brand pet food
• Doesn’t always have puppies available but rather will keep a list of interested people for the next available litter
• Is actively involved with local, state, and national clubs that specialize in the specific breed; good breeders may also compete the dogs in conformation trials (which judge how closely dogs match their “breed standard”), obedience trials (which judge how well dogs perform specific sets of tasks on command), or tracking and agility trials
• Encourages multiple visits and wants your entire family to meet the puppy
• Provides you with a written contract and health guarantee and allows plenty of time for you to read it thoroughly; the breeder should not require that you use a specific veterinarian

In addition to those criteria, you’ll want a breeder who requires some things of you, too. The breeder should require you to:

• Explain why you want a dog
• Explain who in your family will be responsible for the pup’s daily care, who will attend training classes, where the dog will spend most of his or her time, and what “rules” have been decided upon for the puppy—for example, whether or not the dog will be allowed on furniture
• Provide a veterinary reference
• Provide proof from your landlord or condominium board (if you rent or live in a condominium complex) that you are allowed to have a dog
• Sign a contract that you will spay or neuter the dog unless you will be actively involved in showing him or her (which applies to show-quality dogs only)
• Sign a contract stating that you will return the dog to the breeder should you be unable to keep the dog at any point in the dog’s life”

In a previous article, I said you should never buy a dog from a retail outlet even though the shopping experience there may be familiar and easy. By contrast, buying a dog from a reputable breeder should be challenging, and perhaps a bit difficult. The breeder will challenge you to prove your worthiness as a potential new dog owner. Similarly, you should challenge the breeder to prove he or she is producing quality dogs in an environment that has the dogs’ best interests at heart. A good breeder will have no problem answering the challenge.

Expect a dog from a reputable breeder to be more expensive than a dog sold in retail stores or from backyard breeders. This is not always the case, but it is likely. It is a “get what your pay for” world. The extra money you spend will be worth it, if you know you are dealing with someone who is fair and trustworthy.

Where to start? Check with a veterinarian for references. Visit local dog shows and ask around. Most people who show dogs are extremely knowledgeable about their breed and may also breed their own dogs. Show people may have connections to the top breeders in the country. You may also find a friend or neighbor who owns an outstanding example of the breed in which you are interested. Contact a national dog breed club. There are clubs for almost every breed, and most have a website. Finally, take your time. You are about to embark on a 10 to 20 year commitment to a living, breathing creature that will require enormous amounts of your time, energy, and devotion.

* The source material for this article, (in .pdf format,) comes from the Humane Society of the United States. The original article can be found at this link.

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