How to Find A Responsible Dog Breeder

After the recent tv special on Oprah about puppy mills, it should be apparent that when you are looking for a purebred dog, you should either select from a pet shelter OR find a responsible breeder. Here are the tips to finding a responsible breeder!

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• prepare a questionnaire ahead of time of questions to ask the breeder

1. Once you have decided on the breed you are looking for, visit the internet and find the NATIONAL BREED CLUB for your breed. Review all the information about the breed and find the web pages or phone contacts of breeders that are listed there. National breed clubs almost always have certain standards and ethics quides for any breeders which are listed on their pages.

2. Prepare a questionnaire of questions you want to ask the breeder. This is a good one:
   What health guarantees do you have?
   Can you give me a vet reference?
   Can I visit your kennel and if so, when?
   How long have you been breeding?
   Do you enter your own dogs in AKC events?
   Can you send me a sample copy of your contract?
   Do you sell your litters to pet stores or brokers?
   (there is NO responsible breeder that will sell to a broker or a pet store, since it is too difficult to follow through on who is getting your puppy!!)
   The LAST question should be "how much do your puppies cost?" but it is of course an important question

3. Do make plans to visit the kennel and while there check the following things:
   Are the dogs healthy and happy?
   Does the kennel owner know each one by name?
   Do the dogs have places to run outside their pens?
   Are the pens clean and roomy?
   (even if the home is a mess or in an uproar and not very neat, the kennels should be clean and all dogs should have food and fresh water available)
   Is the whelping area in the house?
   (puppies should be raised INSIDE a home for at least the first four weeks in order to get all the necessary social and physical attention needed in the first few weeks)
   Do the sire and the dam act friendly and sociable?
   (sometimes the STUD dog may not be available, the female may have been shipped elsewhere for breeding)

Tips & Warnings

• steer clear of any breeder that does not offer a written contract
• steer clear of any breeder that allows you to buy a pet without a spay or neuter agreement
• if you can't visit the kennel in person, check with the breeder's vet!!
• be willing to have the breeder do a reference check on you
• ask for references from previous buyers
• If the breeder is not willing to allow you to visit the kennel, don't even consider the breeder!
• do not make plans to "meet the breeder halfway" or have the puppy shipped to you until you have run a 'vet check" and "reference check" on the breeder!!

Resources

• responsible breeder
• breeder articles
• newfoundland puppies
• dog lovers gifts

[Tippy]

on 6/7/2008 Thanks, my breeder is great but I've heard horror stories. Everyone buying a pup should read this.

[jarock5]

on 5/27/2008 Good article just missing a few things a responsible breeder doesn't advertise in the local paper or iwanta and they have homes lined up before puppies are born.

[SharonW]

on 4/15/2008 Thanks for your information. We have a beautiful dog as a result of a responsible dog breeder. He is the perfect family pet who is happy and healthy.

[showpup]

on 4/10/2008 Great article topic. More people need to be careful when choosing their dog breeder. When you invest in your puppy, you are also investing in the breeder. Be certain they are worth your investment.