Finding good and reputable dog breeders is absolutely necessary when you are in the market for a new purebred pooch.
Unfortunately, new and excited potential dog owners simply do not take time to learn information about dog breeders and end up purchasing a puppy from a backyard breeder or one of many puppy mills. Although this is not always the case, there are a handful of breeders that do not care about the standards for the American Kennel Club or with the health of the dog, but are instead more interested in making money.
What can come from this is a puppy that grows into an adult dog having health problems or, even worse, behavioral issues. This type of unethical breeding is becoming extremely common in small dog breeders, because of the growing popularity of small dogs like the Yorkshire Terrier, or yorkie, and teacup dogs like the Chihuahua.
To avoid the pitfalls of a bad breeder, it is best to try and remain as level headed as possible about the purchase of your new pooch and follow your instincts about the breeder. Keep in mind some of the following tips when searching for a reputable dog breeder:
Offers to Let you Visitâ¦
You may want to reconsider your possible pet purchase, if the breeder will not let you visit the facility where they breed the dogs. The same goes for a visitation that shows an unclean, unhealthy environment, as this may mean health or temperament problems right from the start.
If a breeder isnât willing to let you come and spend time with the dogs to help get acquainted with your new puppy, this might signal a problem as well. A breeder that cares about their dogs will want you to get to know the breed before sending them to a new home. A visitation helps give you an idea of exactly how the dog has been socialized and how they will need to continue being socialized in the future. You may want to avoid dog breeders that have not made an effort to include the puppies and the dog in their daily routine. Dogs that have been kept in kennels may have a more difficult time with socializing.
Look For A Select Breederâ¦
Most reputable breeders will not have an abundance of puppies running around, but will most likely have a waiting list for the next litter. Since the breeder is not worried about financial gain, but the health of the pregnant dog and the litter of puppies instead, they most likely will not be encouraging the mother dog to become impregnated at a fast rate.
As well, most good breeds will focus on only one, or maybe two, dog breeds at a time. This is usually their absolute favorite breed that they are extremely knowledgeable about. It is common to find that many breeders will also be trainers or will have a few of their own dogs of that particular breed that they show in competitions.
Requires a Contractâ¦
Working with a trustworthy dog breeder means being asked to sign a written contract that is used to guarantee the health of the dog. It is also used as a promissory note on your end to ensure that you plan on taking care of the dog. This will include promising to have the dog regularly vaccinated, as well as spayed or neutered, unless you plan on showing the dog. This contract means that if major health problems become an issue, you will receive a refund on the dog. It also shows the concern of the breeder, who wants to make sure the dog is in good hands once they leave the property.
Keeps Dog Recordsâ¦
While it is not completely necessary that you find a dog breeder who keeps perfect records of the history of your puppy, most dog breeders will have at least some type of history of the puppy to help you understand their future health and behavior.
A good dog breeder will already have the dog registered and should absolutely have records of the puppyâs vaccination history. Because new puppies donât typically go home with owners until they are 10-12 weeks old, they should have received 1-2 sets of shots as well as had worms removed and been placed on preventative medicine.
Helps You Learnâ¦
Before leaving with your new dog, a good dog breeder will spend time helping you become familiar with the breed of the dog, as well as with your own particular puppy. It is important to look for a breeder that is willing to help you get on your feet with your new dog. It is best to look for dog breeders that will offer regarding the temperament and health of the dog, but might also include tips for caring for the dog, especially if this is your first pet.
In closing, please keep in mind that the tips offered above will not guarantee that the dog breeder you finally choose will be a good one. These tips should be viewed only as a general guideline and do not apply to every dog breeder.
About the Author:
When Richard Livitski isn’t busy digging up information about dog breeders, he’s working on his dog names website http://www.dog-names-and-more.com where dog names as well as dog grooming and training tips can be found.
Richard Livitski
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-breeders-how-to-choose-the-right-one-102447.html
How do we know we are choosing the right breeder to get a dog from?
We’re looking for a doberman puppy, and have sent several breeders that are advertising emails, but out of like 5, only one has bothered to contact us back. And the one that did contact us says she doesn’t have any pictures of the momma dog or previous pups she’s had but has all sorts of pictures of her other dogs.
You pick a breeder at your own risk, just like everything else in life, nothing is 100% certain, or predictable.
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First, they should be registered w/ the DPCA. Also, many breeders have waiting lists, so if the breeder says everything is spoken for and you have to wait for the next breeder, that is probably a good breeder since their’s are in demand. Breeders are very busy, so try contacting everyone again, and by phone if you can. You should be able to see pix of previous litters and both parents. A good dobie breeder will also have the tails docked and dew claws removed, a great dobie breeder will have the ears cropped already before you get the puppy. If you are looking in the US, a puppy from an ethical breeder will cost (usually) at least $1000 (not sure what part of the country you are in, I’m in Ohio).
Based on the info you provided, I wouldn’t get a pup from the breeder who contacted you back. Also most breeders don’t advertise, check http://www.akc.org for a list of breeders in your area (if you’re in the US, I’m sure the UKC has the same thing set up as well). Hope this helps.
Oh and depending on if you get a show or pet quality, the breeder will give you limited registration abilities. For a pet quality pup they won’t let you breed it or recieve its registration papers until after you have shown the dog has been altered.
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you need to make sure you see the pictures of both parents. You also need to request a pedigree of both parents to assure that the breeder has not imbred. If they can not provide you with these items then they are not a good breeder. (You may want to ask what vet the parents see and make sure the parents have no health problems.)
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St. Bernard Breeder!
The best breeders are gonna ask YOU a thousand questions, where will the dog live? what kinda fence do you have? what do you want the dog to do?and on and on and on.
I have to admit no pict of mom is a surprize.
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This breeder sounds like she is dodging you—do NOT buy a dog from her.
Here is a link to a list of questions to ask breeders. It is from a lab site, but most of the questions are relevant.
http://pleasantpinelabs.tripod.com/Puppy_checklist.htm
Look through your local Doberman club ( find them through http://www.akc.org) to find a breeder. There are even puppies listed for sale on the AKC site. Keep in mind that just because they are listed on that site it does not guarantee the quality of the dog.
http://www.akc.org/classified/index.cfm
No matter what the pedigree the most important things to look for are temperament and health. If you can’t at least meet the mom (and hopefully the dad) don’t buy the puppy. Too many unsound Dobies have been bred by unscrupulous people to take a risk. If the mom is nasty/grouchy, then the pups could be too.
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Please, please, do your homework! A reputable breeder should have pictures not only of other dogs they have sold, but of the parents too. You should be able to visit the home or kennel and see the conditions for your self. DO NOT EVER MEET a breeder at any site other than the one where they have been born and raised. You will be surprised how many "breeders" will not meet any kind of standards for clean, well kept kennels, for general health of other animals and in general, housekeeping standards. When looking to add another Italian Greyhound to the family, this area is teeming with "backyard breeders" whom I wouldn’t let care for a plant, much less a living breathing creature. I literally walked away in tears from one, as I was scared for the puppy and almost made the mistake of buying it to save it from the conditions it was in (a mistake I would have regretted even more!). Be vigilant and careful. Check references, if they say the are a member of a certain organization, contact THAT ORGANIZATION, many I found had NEVER HEARD OF THEM. They just say it and take the shot you won’t check. A reputable breeder will be happy to have you come and inspect the facility, will offer a garantee of health (make sure you take the pup to the vet immediately so you can make sure it is all you have paid for, and check references, check nationally as well as locally. One breeder I looked at had stored some of her animals at her Moms and was a go to for local rescued IG’s and her IG’s had APPALLING health conditions that were being bred back into the gene pool (like alapicia, hip problems and cateracts). I did my homework, and when I saw that I walked away in tears with my Mom, saying we needed to think about it. And I did, all the way home and for weeks after. She was removed as the go to person for IG rescue and a number of breeders who had placed their leftovers with her found that she had been breeding them with their "issues", although she had promised the breeders that she would give them a forever home and not breed them since they had health defects. Most reputable breeders will not breed a dog they know has health issues or has thrown a pup with one. But they had not done their homework, they took this womans word (she was sweet, but a liar) and they had entrusted her to care for these "leftovers" and "throwaways" instead of putting them down or fixing them BEFORE putting them in her care. She had also promised she would get them fixed, spayed, nuetered and so on. So BE CAREFUL, go look, ask questions and by all means, if something seems a miss, take a pass. Be patient. If you can, try a local shelter for your pet, you’d be surprised how many are purebreds, or look close enough to pass for one. They are in need of a good home and a lot of times, local shelters these days are doing a good job of making sure a dog is basically trained, sociable, some even are housebroken and at a good bargain, already fixed, nuetered or spayed. Their health issues are usually known, not always, but usually, and they will love you just as much as one from the farm, maybe more, because they have been in "doggie jail" as one of my nieces puts it. Good luck with whatever you decide!
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Living with animals and being a foster to many a lost soul for over 40 years.
Here’s a great link that helps you make the decision: http://www.canismajor.com/dog/responbr.html
There is also a link that is for breeders. This will also help you to find the right one: http://www.learntobreed.com
Good luck!
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Easy, go to a shelter.
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Go to your shelter and adopt one of the many many dogs that need a home. I would NEVER buy from a breeder who are only trying to make $$$$ by keeping their poor bitches pregnant. They are creating to the already overgrown population of dogs. There are literally thousands of dogs that will never have a home and there are many fine dogs at the shelters. Use petfinders and I know you can find a wonderful companion. Please Please do NOT go to a breeder !!!!
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OMG!!!!!!!!!
You have ***NO HOPE****if you are STUPID (& LAZY!!!) enough to even concider buying ON-LINE!!!!
NEVER,EVER,EVER buy on-line *OR* from a petstore!*ONLY* CRAP from CROOKS is EVER available!!!
ONLY buy ****DIRECT**** from a REPUTABLE breeder!Contact your LOCAL(county) kennel club! ASK your VET!
USE THE **PHONE***…NOT the the f’n NET!!!!
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A good breeder should:
- Definitely make you fill out a detailed application asking question about your history with dogs
- Perhaps even visit your home
- Be familiar with the Dobe’s potential health problems and explain the testing that is done to check for them
- Make you sign a contract stating that you will return the puppy if you are unable to care for it at any point
If they just say "great we have a litter coming up, you can put in a down payment anytime" or something – I would steer clear. A good breeder is picky about their breeding stock, and picky about the buyers who get their prized puppies.
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I don’t see how it is "Stupid" or "Lazy" to check out breeders on line.
However, I do not recommend buying site unseen (disasterous). Check out http://www.dpca.org and http://www.akc.org they have breeder referral lists as well as information regarding what types of breeders to AVOID all together.
If you are located close to the breeder, go check them out.
A good breeder will have more questions for you than you have for them.
Who doesn’t have at least one picture of their dog? Run….don’t even bother with the breeder that contacted you!
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Go visit them, do not buy online and have a puppy shipped. That way you can be sure you approve of the conditions in which the puppy was raised, and meet the breeder’s other dogs to see exactly what you are getting in terms of temperament and conformation. It’s best to wait until you find the right breeder too, do not be in a hurry as you are looking at a 10-15 yr commitment.
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