How to Choose a Dog Breeder

Adding a dog to your family is a decision that will affect you for years. Buying from a responsible breeder will help ensure that you get a healthy companion with an even temperament.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Determine the breed of dog you would like by matching the breed's temperament with your family's lifestyle and needs.

2. Attend a dog show in your area if possible. This is a great way to find breeders.

3. Contact the breed's national club to find breeders.

4. Get in touch with possible breeders. Most will ask you several questions or require you to fill out a questionnaire before they will consider selling you one of their dogs. They will likely want to know about your family, home and lifestyle to make sure the dog breed is a good fit for you.

5. Ask to see the breeder's pet contract. A reputable breeder's selling contract will include clauses ensuring the health of your pet. It will also say that if you decide to give up the dog for any reason, it must be returned to the breeder.

6. Ask the breeder if he tests his dogs' eyes (CERF) and hips (OFA). These tests help ensure that the dogs will not pass on genetic problems.

7. Visit the breeder and meet at least one of the parent dogs if possible. Some breeders will not have both parents on-site, but they should allow you to meet the parent that they own.

8. Add your name to the breeder's waiting list. A reputable breeder does not breed her female dogs during every heat, so be prepared for a wait.

9. Make sure the breeder is willing to act as a support system if you have any health, temperament or training issues.

Tips & Warnings

• An AKC certification can prove that the dog is purebred, but it is not a sign of the dog's health or quality.
• Consider adopting a dog from a humane society or rescue group. Many purebred dogs are given up by their owners because of unforeseen circumstances or other reasons.
• People who show dogs generally make the best breeders because they breed hoping to get their next champion puppy. This ensures that they are trying to improve the breed and produce healthy, happy pups.
• A good breeder will choose the best pup for you, or help you choose. Puppies might exhibit personality traits that would best fit your family.
• Be wary if the parent dog shows signs of agitation or nervousness.
• Don't buy dogs from breeders who deal with several breeds or have many dogs. These might be puppy mills that breed dogs for profit and do not care for their well-being.
• Do not purchase from a breeder who agrees to sell a dog before it is eight weeks old. Dogs taken from their mothers too soon fail to learn valuable social skills.
• Backyard breeders are people who own at least two dogs of a breed and produce puppies for a variety of reasons, including making money, loving the breed and allowing their children to experience birth. Not all small breeders who do not show dogs are bad breeders. However, many of these breeders do not take into consideration the breed's temperament or health and may be breeding any two dogs they have.
• Beware of any breeder who produces "designer" dog breeds. There are no standards for these mixed-breed dogs, and thus many of the breeders are breeding purely for profit.
• Beware of "hypoallergenic" dogs. People can be allergic to a dog's dander. While there are some breeds who produce less dander, there are no dogs that produce no allergens.