ChoosingaBreeder

Support a Breeder, Not a Greeder!

Choosing a Responsible Breeder

What to Look For and The Right Questions to Ask When Buying a Puppy

Buying a purebred puppy can be a daunting task in todays world, unfortunately commercialism and greed has tainted what once was a labor of love for true breed affectionados, but with patience and knowledge you can find the right puppy from the right breeder!

Before you start out on your search for a new family member, do make sure you are ready for a new furry addition by asking yourself a few questions.

1. Do I have the time to raise a puppy?

Puppies need constant attention the first few months, crate training, housebreaking and socializing are essential parts to raising a well adjusted pup, and do take up quite a bit of time. Young puppies also cannot hold their bladder or bowels for very long, so having someone available to let the puppy out every hour or so is important!

2. Can I afford a new pet?

Puppies are quite an expensive proposition the first year, as they will need at least three vet visits for innoculations, a spay or neuter, monthly heartworm and tick preventative, collars and leashes, crate, grooming supplies and a good quality food to keep them healthy. This can add up to nearly a thousand dollars in the first year alone, and then maintenence as they get older. And don't forget the training too! Training your dog is an investment that will pay off for the rest of the dogs life, and can also save you money in chewed shoes, eaten toys, ruined carpets, etc, etc, etc.

3. Can I make a commitment for the next 10 to 15 years?

Puppies do grow up to be dogs, something we tend to forget when looking at the face of an adorable, tiny puppy, but most dogs can live an average of 10 to 15 years. If I had a dollar for everytime I heard someone had to give up their dog because they were suddenly expecting a child or were moving, I could have retired a long time ago!

Our lives are always changing and evolving, and if you can't make a pet a part of that changing life, please reconsider adding a pet to your family.

If you can say yes to those questions, then it's time to find the right pup for you and your family!

Choosing the right breeder takes some time and know how, but with the guidelines below, a great puppy can be found without compromising! Just remember that buying from a top notch breeder is like the old Groucho Marx joke about not joining any club that would have him as a member. Great breeders only want the best homes for the dogs they bring into this world, and will make potential buyers prove that they are worthy of one of their pups, so be prepared to jump through a hoop or two when dealing with a reputable breeder.

Here is a list of things to look for and ask when searching for a puppy breeder, doing a little homework now could save you a lot of grief down the road!

1. Does the breeder breed for temperament and health first?

Breeding for color or a particular look (extra large, "teacups") is a major tip off that a breeder is NOT reputable. The best breeders are producing pups for the love and betterment of the breed first, everything else should be secondary. Excellent breeders make sure their dogs are not only bred to conform to the breed standard, but can also do the work they were originally developed to do (Border Collies that can herd, Siberians that can pull a sled, hounds that can hunt). All breeding stock is tested for genetic disease and shown in conformation and working trials.

The best breeders test for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cardiomyopathy (heart defects) as well as any congenital health issues that their breed is prone to, such as Von Willebrands in Dobermans or progressive retinal atrophy in the Siberian Husky.

2. Does the breeder produce litter after litter in a short period of time?

Beware of any breeder that breeds large amounts of dogs, any more than one or two liters a year is a sign of a commercial breeder, and with commercialism comes poor quality. No good breeder makes a living off of their dogs, it's strictly for the love of their breed of choice and to see a breed thrive with the right attributes.

3. Will the breeder let you meet the parents of the puppies?

If a breeder will not allow you to meet at least the dam (mother) of the litter, run, don't walk away from that breeder. A breeders kennel should be accessible within reason, and the parent(s) of the pups available to potential buyers. If a buyer is not allowed to meet the parents, it may be a sign that something is off with the temperaments or health, and many traits are indeed passed on from dam and sire to their pups, both mental and physical.