Choosing a Quality Breeder
You have made the big decision to add a dog or puppy to your household, and you have decided that purchasing through an ethical, responsible breeder is the way to go for your family. Now what? Now we need to begin the thoughtful process of choosing the breeder we want to be responsible for our new family member’s genetic makeup and early upbringing. This is no small decision, but I have put together some points to help make the decision easier. Remember that not all breeders are created equally.
Health testing and health guarantees.
This is a very important aspect of ensuring you are purchasing through a reputable breeder. Since you are purchasing a puppy that will live with you for the next decade or more, you want to make sure that your investment is healthy and will have a long and happy life with you. Different breeds have different health concerns and issues that may be hereditary. Many of these conditions can be tested for to ensure that only the best genes are passed down from generation to generation. For example, if you are purchasing a golden retriever, you may know that hip and elbow dysplasia run rampant in this breed. But did you know that certain eye and heart problems are common as well? All golden retrievers should be genetically tested for hip, elbow, eye, and heart conditions PRIOR to being bred. If the breeder you are considering does not test their dogs, or will not allow you to see results (most testing agencies use an online database that should be easily searchable) this is a huge red flag. Often these puppies are cheaper than quality litters whose ancestors have been tested and cleared of common conditions, but many of these disorders are expensive to treat if they are treatable at all. Over the years I have had countless clients purchase puppies from “breeders” at a bargain price, and this is because their parents were not health tested or certified. The client that always comes to my mind was thrilled to find a golden retriever puppy for $500. Fast forward two years and that “bargain puppy” had had a double hip replacement because his hip dysplasia was so bad that he wouldn’t have been able to walk without the two very expensive surgeries. This client spent a total of around $10,000 on just the surgery so that she didn’t have to euthanize her puppy. What a heart breaking situation to be in. I highly recommend checking with your local breed chapter and with your veterinarian prior to choosing a breeder to discuss what testing should be done on the puppy’s parents to save you a lot of heartache and money down the line.
Non standard colors should not be bred or bred for.
Quality breeders breed for function and conformation shows. They do not breed dogs to make money. In a society that values appearances, it is a common trend for backyard breeders, puppy mills, and the like to breed for color and appearance rather than ethics and breed standards. It is normal to want to like how your dog looks, but responsible breeders will follow breed standard and not breed for or advertise “rare” colors. For example, Great Danes have 5 acceptable show colorations: fawn, brindle, black, mantle, harlequin, and blue. Other colors and patterns can occur sometimes, but shouldn’t be purposefully bred for. In Danes low quality breeders may breed for white, chocolate, and blue merle and some will even mark prices on these puppies and market them as “special”. Run away. Dogs in non standard colors should never be bred and they should not be something that is strived for.
Some colors and patterns can be associated with health issues and hereditary defects as well. For example, merle is a very striking color pattern in many herding breeds. Dogs tend to be blue or red with black and white markings. This is a sought after color, but can be difficult to breed for. While genetically testing dogs for what colors their genes carry and striving to breed for show standard colors is acceptable, it is important to be aware of health issues associated with breeding these dogs. Merle dogs should NEVER be bred together, as the offspring will have a very high likelihood of having hearing and vision problems. Unethical breeders in these breeds often breed two merle dogs together despite of these very real health risks because two merle dogs will produce a litter of merle puppies. Since this color is pretty and highly desirable by pet parents, they can make a lot of money off of ill informed but well meaning people. The offspring produced from two merle parents are called double merles, and should also never be bred. I have worked with many double merle puppies and dogs who had varying degrees of deafness and/or blindness, some even born without eyes because their “breeder” didn’t understand genetics.
I highly recommend talking to your veterinarian and your local breed chapter about whether there are any genetic issues associated with coat color in your chosen breed so you can work to avoid issues as much as possible.
Specialize in one or two breeds.
Responsible breeders will only specialize and breed one or two breeds. Be wary if too many breeds or types of dogs are bred by one breeder or facility. These are common signs of puppy mills, whose main goal is to pump as many puppies out of the breeding females and make as much money as possible. If a breeder breeds many different breeds or types of dogs, I would look elsewhere.
Look for a contract.
Most responsible breeders will have a puppy purchasing contract that puppy buyers will need to sign. This is a good sign! In the contract, you want to see a clause stating that in the event that you are unable to keep your pup for any reason, that you must bring them back to the breeder. Responsible breeders care about the dogs they create and want to make sure they are going to be cared for and loved. In fact, many good breeders will interview you to see if you will be a good fit for a puppy of that particular breed and if they feel that you will be able to provide everything the puppy needs physically and mentally. If you are buying a pet and not a show puppy, there should be a spay or neuter clause as well. This will go over the details involving spaying and neutering your pet when they reach the appropriate age. Breeders strive to better their chosen breed and don’t want to bring additional dogs into the world if they are not going to be show quality animals. This is a sign of a breeder with morals.
Go to their home or breeding facility.
I cannot stress this one enough. Once you have chosen a breeder, go to their facility or home where the puppies are whelped and raised prior to making a down payment on one. Since so many puppies are available to us via the internet, it is easier and easier for people to be duped into getting a less than quality puppy this way. If the breeder makes excuses or wants to meet you somewhere with the puppy, RUN AWAY. This likely means that they have something to hide, whether it is how the puppies are kept, or how their adult dogs are kept, or the health of the dogs on the premises. Ethical breeders want the puppy buyers to feel as comfortable as possible with their choice, and also want to make sure you are going to provide their puppy with everything it needs to be happy and healthy for its entire life. When you go to the breeder’s place, be sure to go in. Ask to see the adult dogs and where they are kept. Ask to see where the puppies are born and how they are cared for. Make sure that things are clean and orderly. Do you feel comfortable with how things look and how the animals are kept and cared for? If not, I would look elsewhere.
Meet the parents.
Remember that part of behavior is genetic as well. (We don’t like to think this is true sometimes, but part of our personalities are inherited from our parents and grandparents.) Having the right temperament for your home and lifestyle are very important aspects of choosing a puppy, and can make or break a relationship. One of the positive things about purchasing through a breeder is being able to meet the puppy’s family members so that you get a sneak peak of how your dog is likely to behave as an adult. Do not miss this opportunity! At least one parent should be on site and available for you to meet. If no family members are on site, this is a major concern for me. If family members are on site but the breeder doesn’t want you to meet them or see them, this is also a huge issue. Again, the concern here is that there is something to hide, either in how the animals are kept, their health, or their temperaments. Meet as many of the dog’s parents, grandparents, adult siblings, etc as possible. Do they seem healthy? Are they friendly? How did they respond to you? If you are purchasing a cavalier king charles spaniel puppy from a breeder for your family, and the dog’s father is aggressive to you and tries to bite you, this is a bad sign. Does it mean that the puppy will be aggressive? Not necessarily, but it is an indicator of a problem and I would not work with that particular breeder.
Remember these few tips when you are shopping for your next pup, and things should go smoothly. Don’t forget to consult with your veterinarian prior to purchasing a puppy. I recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian to go over any medical issues that are common in the breed and any tips or best practices they have in choosing a responsible breeder. The small cost of an office visit or a phone consult is well worth bringing home a happy and healthy puppy! Good luck y’all!