Yes, They Do Exist. But You Must Do Your Homework!
PLEASE ALSO READ I AM A DOG BREEDER
Raising sound, healthy, well-socialized puppies is difficult work with very specific demands. Quality breeders care about the animals they produce; most say that if someone is making money breeding puppies, he/she is doing something wrong!
However, the responsibility of finding and buying a great pet depends on YOU.
Please research breed standards to learn all the important points about color, size, and traits of each breed you are interested
in. Then, research further to learn more about the personality quirks, exercise requirements, and other unique qualities of the breed(s). Some places to do research are www.akc.org; or www.ukcdogs.com; or www.ckc.ca/
The following list contains guidelines to help an informed buyer find a caring, quality breeder. If a breeder does not meet the following – WALK AWAY…DO NOT BUY!
A quality breeder will provide a lifetime “take back” guarantee and will require that you return the dog or get approval for a new home if you cannot keep him. Good breeders do everything in their power to find their puppies good, permanent homes, and keep them there. A quality breeder will require that if you must ever give up the dog, he / she MUST go back to the breeder or to a new home the breeder has screened.
WARNING: Don’t just take the breeder’s word on this…get a “take back” clause in writing.
Good breeders put a tremendous amount of work into their dogs. They care deeply about their animals and will not to sell them
to “just anyone.” Good breeders know from experience what kind of homes are likely to be the very best for the dogs they have produced. Good breeders will require an in depth conversation and will screen YOU to make sure you have the proper home, lifestyle and finances to properly care for your new puppy.
WARNING: A breeder who will sell a dog to you without asking anything about your day to day living, your family life, etc. does not care about you or the animals.
A quality breeder makes sure you know the breed’s temperament, needs, and special characteristics. If the breed you’re considering drools a lot, is hard to housebreak, has a high “prey drive” or isn’t good around small children, for example, a good breeder makes sure you understand those traits. If your dog must be kept as an indoor dog, must always be leashed or fenced, requires lots of grooming, a responsible breeder tells you these things upfront. Many kinds of breed “faults” are okay for a pet. To a quality breeder, a “fault” is a trait that is not exactly to breed standard. For example, the breeder might say “This puppy is going to be oversize, so we won’t be able to show him,” or “Look at the way he carries his tail — that’s a fault.” This is the sign of an honest breeder who wants you to know the specifics of breed and the puppies he/she is selling.
WARNING: If a breeder starts to sound like a used-car salesman, telling you only the good things about the dogs and refusing to talk about the bad ones, find another breeder.
A quality breeder will provide a written contract with specific requirements and guarantees. Your signature on a well written contract with a health guarantees, a spay/neuter requirement for “pet quality puppies,” and specific recommendations for care
and training is always required by quality breeders when you buy a puppy.
WARNING: If the breeder guarantees health for a short period of time like a few days or weeks then you are NOT dealing with a quality breeder.
A quality breeder will provide a written health record for your puppy. This should include the date of whelping, any health problems, the date and kind of each shot, and the dates of worming and drug that was used. Your vet will want this information; having it in writing makes it much more likely that your puppy has gotten the care he needs.
WARNING: If the breeder just writes some information on a scrap of paper off the top of his/her head, the record is NOT accurate and may not even be real.
A quality breeder carefully plans and “pre-sells” each litter. You must be patient and wait for your puppy. Quality breeders usually breed only when they have enough qualified buyers for the number of puppies likely to be produced from a breeding. You will be put on a waiting list if the breeder feels you are qualified to purchase one of the pups.
WARNING: If you rush out and get a puppy, any puppy, you will most likely end up with a puppy mill or back yard bred dog.
A quality breeder will invite you to his/her home or place of business. You will be able to meet the parent or parents of the
puppy and observe the conditions in which the animals are kept. The atmosphere should be clean, warm, healthy and friendly. Sometimes another owner is involved and only one parent is on the premises. The breeder should have all information
regarding the parent not on the premises. Most will include a picture.
WARNING: Never meet a breeder in a parking lot to “make the deal.” Quality breeders DO NOT operate this way.
A quality breeder specializes and will only offer one (or possibly two) breeds of dogs. It takes a lot to get to know a breed and the dogs’ heritage, needs, requirements, temperament and health. Quality breeders take this work very seriously. It is very difficult for one person to be a “specialist” in many breeds.
WARNING: Puppy millers and back yard breeders will breed any animals they think will “sell.” They frequently sell more than one breed and may even be dealing in more than one species (cats and dogs, for example).
A quality breeder will socialize the puppies. The pups will be accustomed to people and a home environment.
WARNING: Be very wary of puppies that are kept in isolated environments away from people and normal experiences they would have once they “go home” with you. Isolated puppies will probably not be socialized.
A quality breeder will rarely take deposits before the puppies are born. A small deposit is acceptable as long as there is a written agreement as to what happens to the deposit money if your puppy is not born in the litter you are counting on. A higher deposit will be asked for once the puppy is born and you want the breeder to hold that puppy for you. Again make sure everything is in writing pertaining to the deposit fee.
WARNING; Never give CASH for a deposit without getting a written receipt. Also, be sure to get the specifics written down in a contract if something should happen to that puppy before you take it home. Cover all circumstances. (I have lost puppies at 8 wks. of age due to low blood sugar), one never knows what the future has in store.
A quality breeder will NEVER allow you to take a puppy before it is AT LEAST 8 weeks old and A Toy Dog Breeder 12 weeks. The puppy’s age should be verified on well-kept records provided by the breeder or diggy auto insurance. A good breeder knows that a puppy learns many of its “life skills” from his/her mom and littermates in the very early stages of life. The difference between a well adjusted social puppy and a fearful biter can be determined by a few additional weeks spent in the security of the litter.
WARNING: Back Yard Breeders and Puppy Millers see their animals as a “cash crop.” They will want to get the money in their hands as soon as possible and will sell dogs way before they should be leaving their litter. Studies have shown that dogs taken from their litter too early are more susceptible to behavior and health problems.
A quality breeder will be accessible. He or she will give you his/her phone contacts. Quality breeders will invite you to call them if you have any questions or problems with your puppy. They will return your calls when you leave a message. You will know where they live and will have visited the place where the adults and puppies live.
WARNING: If the breeder is difficult to find or is elusive about his/her operation, location or contact information DO NOT buy from him/her. You need to have a breeder who will be available should you have questions or problems. Quality breeders have nothing to hide.
