How to Find a Responsible Breeder

Additional Links

 WCA - Getting A Weimaraner Puppy - Questions To Ask, Things To Look For

WCA - Finding A Puppy: Where Should You Look?

1. Contact the breed registry. If the dog is an AKC breed start with the AKC web site www.akc.org. AKC is a multi-breed registry that maintains stud books (pedigrees). It is made up of many member clubs, one for each breed. The national breed club can send you a list of breeders. The list is not an endorsement. You still have to check everything. It is just a place to start. Virtually all countries have their own kennel clubs, a good many of them are now on the Internet.

2. Contact local breed clubs. You can contact them through the AKC web site, or do a search on the Internet or subscribe to some magazines. Make sure you know how to spell your breed's name. You would be amazed at how many people handicap their research because they spell the breed name incorrectly.

3. Talk to other people who have the breed you are interested in. Where did they get their dog? Are they happy with the breeder? If you have never met anyone who has the breed you are interested in, then you really need to take time out to do just that.

4. Attend dog events. Good breeders are active in the dog world. That is how they keep in touch with important information. The AKC web site can point you an events calendar. It is important to know that just because one breed club is putting on the show does not mean that your breed won't be there. Use the events search to find ANY event, then contact the secretary of the event and find out if it is likely your breed will be there.

5. Go to any place where people with dogs gather - dog parks, grooming shops, training centers, veterinarians, pet supply stores. Talk to people. You can find some shows on http://www.infodog.com/, but don't forget the performance and non-AKC events. To find them explore the activities links looking for web sites that maintain activities calendars.

6. Get involved. Join some of the Internet discussion lists for your breed. This can be a wonderful way to meet some really good breeders. If you've done your research it will show in the questions you ask. Since a responsible breeder's main concern is the right home you may well end up with a pup that would otherwise be unavailable.

A pet store is NOT the place to buy a puppy

Price alone should not be a factor in deciding what breeder to buy from. While a high price doesn't necessarily guarantee high quality, a very low price often does not turn out to be a bargain in the long run. Find out what typical prices are for show and pet quality puppies of your breed in your area.
Be patient. You may have to wait a few months (or longer) to find the right dog from a good breeder. This is a very short time compared with the ten to fifteen years that a dog will live with you.

Responsible Breeders DO:

• Belong to their regional breed club and/or the local All breed clubs.
• Are familiar with the Code of Ethics of their National Breed Club.
• Breed in order to improve the breed and produce the best puppies they possibly can, and usually plan to keep at least one of them.
• Ask as many questions of you as you do of them.
• Show evidence of at least two or three years of serious interest in their breed, i.e. dog club memberships (the AKC doesn't count!), show and match ribbons, and Championship and/or performance (obedience, agility, tracking, field, etc.) titles.
• Breed only dogs that closely match the breed standard and are free of serious health and temperament problems.
• Tell you if they think you would be better off with another breed of dog or no dog at all.
• Provide referrals to other breeders if they don't have anything available.
• Use a written contract and guarantee, or at least an oral agreement, when selling a dog, with clear terms that you can live with.
• Provide a registration slip, a pedigree, and up-to-date shots/health records with every puppy they sell.
• Honestly discuss any special problems/requirements associated with the breed.
• Offers FREE assistance and advice on grooming, training, showing, etc., for the life of the dog.
• If, for any reason and at any time, you cannot keep the dog, will take it back. Normally breed only one or two litters a year, max!
• Have dogs that are clean, healthy, happy, and humanely cared for
 

Responsible Breeders DO NOT:

• Appear overly eager to sell or "get rid of" a puppy.
• Breed simply to produce puppies to sell.
• Breed a bitch on every season, or more than once a year.
• Have breeding stock that consists of a "mated pair".
• Claim that all of their puppies are "show/breeding quality".
• Claim that their breed has no problems (some have fewer than others do, but every breed has at least a couple).
• Sell puppies to pet stores or to anyone that they have not met or screened personally.
• Sell puppies that are less than eight to ten weeks old.
• Sell puppies without papers (registration slip and 3-5 generation pedigree), or charge extra for papers.
• Have more than one or two litters at any given time, or litters of multiple breeds.
• Guarantee their dogs, or if they do, attach such unreasonable conditions to the guarantee, i.e., "dog must not be spayed or neutered, must never have been bred, and the ears must stand correctly," that it is unlikely that they would ever have to honor it.

Checklist for the Responsible Breeder

You want these to be "yes"

1.      Were the puppies born on the premises?

2.      Does the breeder insist that the puppies be at least seven to eight weeks before being placed?

3.      Did the breeder seem happy that you are asking questions?

4.      Did the breeder ask you lots of questions? Questions about your lifestyle, family, experience with dogs and other pets, why you wanted a dog? Did you feel a bit like you were applying for a million dollar mortgage?

5.      Did the breeder ask you whether you planned on breeding?

6.      Will the breeder be available to offer advice and support for as long as you have the dog?

7.      Does the breeder make you feel comfortable calling for advice?

8.      Did the breeder go over some of the problems some people have with the breed?

9.      Is the breeder a member of a breed club? (An organization sharing information on the breed)

10.  Are the sire and dam each at least two years old?

11.  Were both sire and dam tested for any genetic health problems before the breeding?

12.  Does the breeder have information on the health testing of most of the immediate relatives of the sire and dam?

13.  Did the breeder volunteer information on the health testing, and volunteer proof?

14.  Is the dam a family pet (meaning does she live in the house as part of the family)?

15.  Have the puppies been introduced to children? To other animals?

16.  Is the breeder concerned enough about the welfare of the dog to promise to take it back (no matter how old) if you can't keep it? (Not necessarily pay you, the purpose is to avoid the shelter, ensure good placement)

17.  Does the breeder believe it is important to keep in contact with puppy buyers to verify the level of success in producing a healthy dog of correct temperament?

18.  Does the breeder intend to follow up on the dog as it matures and ages?

19.  Does the breeder consider himself or herself a dedicated hobbyist to the breed?

20.  If the breeder advertises do they focus on the important qualities such as health and temperament?

You want these to be "no"

1.      Did the breeder state or imply that puppies would be arriving from off premises? (e.g. shipped in soon)

2.      Will the breeder agree to sell a puppy less than 7 weeks old?

3.      Was the breeder reluctant to answer questions?

4.      Did the breeder seem to be defensive in answering questions?

5.      Does the breeder charge different prices for dogs with or without papers?

6.      Did the breeder claim that his or her lines were entirely free of genetic health problems?

7.      Do you feel pressured into buying a puppy? Do you feel like the breeder is trying to "sell" the puppy (as in persuading you to buy)?

8.      Does the breeder promote the puppies as gifts or offer some special incentive in price to encourage a sale?

9.      Does the breeder have more than two breeds available?

10.  Does the breeder consider himself or herself to be a professional in the business of breeding? That is "professional" in the sense of making money, profit, or income to be distinguished from "professional" in the sense of serious, dedicated and knowledgeable..

11.  Does the breeder charge different prices depending upon the sex of the puppy?

12.  If the breeder advertises do they seem to focus on superficial qualities like color or size while ignoring health testing?

A responsible breeder should be involved with the breed in other ways in order to build a resource base of information and knowledge. These would be activities that would tend to help the breeder make and maintain contacts with other people in the breed. They will also be ways in which the breeder contributes to the health and welfare of the breed.

·         Is the breeder involved with the breed club?

·         Does the breed club have a code of ethics? Does the breeder conform to the breed club code of ethics? (It is entirely possible to conform to a code of ethics and not be a member of that club. Of course there are no consequences for failure to conform if one is not a member of the club but being aware of the code of ethics is a good thing.

·         What activities does the breeder participate in? For example, obedience, conformation, agility, hunting, tracking, . . . (there are lots more)

·         Does the breeder support any health registry by contributing information on dogs in the pedigree even if those dogs are not going to be bred.

·         Give additional examples of ways in which the breeder contributes to the health and welfare of either the breed or dogs generally.

·         How many breeds does this breeder raise? The answer should be no more than two. It takes a tremendous amount of time and effort to learn what it takes to do a good job of breeding. It is very unusual for a breeder to be competent and up-to-date in more than two breeds. There is only so much time in the day.

Will the buyer be required to spay or neuter the puppy?

·         At what age will this requirement be enforced?

·         What incentive is being given to encourage compliance?

·         What is the potential consequence if the requirement is not met?

·         If this requirement is important to the breeder does the contract expressly state that agreement and compliance is "material" to the contract