Finding the Right Breeder

Maybe it´s a golden retriever that you´ve always wanted. Or a poodle. Or a shih tzu. It´s the purebred dog of your dreams, and you´ve finally decided to take the plunge into dog ownership. But where will you find this perfect puppy?

You´ve decided to steer clear of pet stores, because it´s too difficult to determine where a puppy has come from. After all, this little fluffball is going to be part of your family for years to come, so you want to be sure it´s healthy and well-adjusted. And you´ve looked into purebred rescue organizations, but have decided that you´d prefer a puppy, and you´re prepared to expend all the time and patience that it will require.

Your mission, therefore, is to find a responsible breeder in your area. But where to begin? How do you separate the good apples from the bad?

While you can often find purebred puppies advertised for sale in the newspaper or the Internet, their owners aren´t necessarily "breeders," in the best sense of the word. "The average Joe Citizen doesn´t really understand what [American Kennel Club] papers are. They think it has to do with the quality of dogs, and it doesn´t," said Patti Staub, the breeder referral contact of the National Beagle Club. Any puppy with AKC-registered parents can be registered itself, even if it´s a terrible example of the breed.

A true breeder crosses dogs with the intention of improving the breed, giving careful consideration to temperament, quality, and genetics. Not all puppies from any one litter will be "show quality;" those that aren´t the right type for the show ring are sold as pets.

The best source for information about any AKC-recognized breed is its national parent club, which coordinates activities for that specific breed. Most parent clubs have breeder referral services: A volunteer from the club will field inquiries from those looking for a breeder in their area, and can usually refer them to someone from a list of members maintained by the parent club. (The breeder referral contact information for all parent clubs is available from the AKC.)

If there are no member breeders in your area, a local all-breed kennel club may be able to point you in the right direction, as may a local veterinarian.

While a recommendation from a parent club or other knowledgeable group is always a good start, it´s no guarantee. These organizations don´t have the resources to check up on local breeders and give them an official stamp of approval. But they´re more than willing to tell you what features you should look for in a good, responsible breeder… and what features should send you scooting back to your car to make a hasty exit.

"Don´t rush into anything. If you go see the dogs and don´t like them, or you don´t feel it´s the right dog for you, don´t buy the dog. Wait until you see the one that´s right for you," said Harriet Lee, the breeder referral contact for the American Whippet Club. There´s usually an instant bond when you find the right puppy, and don´t feel you should settle for anything less, she said.

"The people who call and aren´t willing to wait, they worry me a little bit," she added. "You should wait to get the puppy that´s exactly what you want, and fits in with your life."

"There are two things you do not do: Do not bring your checkbook, and do not bring your children," warns Ms. Staub. The kids may fall in love with a puppy that may not be exactly right for you, and talk you into buying it against your better judgment.

"You´re going to have this puppy for a lifetime, or at least for the life of the puppy. It should not be an impulse buy. You should go home and sleep on it," she added.

Also be aware that this shopping trip isn´t going to be like a trip to the local Wal-Mart. Good breeders often have waiting lists before their puppies are even born. You may have to wait weeks or months to get that perfect furry bundle of joy. In fact, if a breeder has several litters of puppies, it´s usually a bad sign.

"The good breeders aren´t very easy to find, for the simple reason that they don´t breed very often," said Sheila Herrmann, breeder referral contact for the Samoyed Club of America. Some may only have one litter a year. "But at the puppy mill two cities away from me, there´s three litters on the ground right now," she added.

"You have to do your homework, and you have to be willing to wait," Ms. Herrmann said. Visiting any breeder with an educated, wait-and-see attitude is the best route to take; then you´ll feel free to walk away if you get bad vibes.

Before visiting a breeder, do some research into the breed. "A working dog, like a boxer or a shepherd, might be a little standoffish," said Patti Staub, the breeder referral contact for the Beagle Club. Those qualities are normal for that breed, she said, "but a beagle or a terrier should come flying into your lap and lick your face."

Your first impressions should also count considerably. Does the breeder´s place look well kept? Is it clean? Is everything in good repair?

The breeder should also be very willing to show you around the premises and allow you to meet all the dogs. "In many cases they may only have one puppy available. You may not have a choice [of puppies], but you should still be able to see all the puppies," said Ms. Staub. "You should see where the puppies are kept, how they interact, and how clean it is. You should sit on the floor—if the floor isn´t clean enough, you should say ‘Thank you,´ and you turn around and leave."

Seeing the puppy interact with its littermates will give you a good idea of its personality. You should also meet the mother (the bitch, in breeding parlance), and assess her personality, since it will likely be passed along to her puppies. It´s not unusual for the father (or stud dog) not to be on the premises, but be very suspicious if you can´t meet the puppies´ mother.

The health of the puppy is just as important as its personality, so be prepared with lots of questions for the breeder about what shots the puppy has had, and if it—and its parents—have been tested for any genetic disorders that are common for that breed. This is another area where the AKC parent club can help you, by telling you what questions to ask.

"I feel that, now, people are more educated about dogs in general. They´ll ask about [dogs´] hips and eyes. Before, people didn´t have a clue what hip dysplasia was," said Jody Thomas, breeder referral contact for the Labrador Retriever Club.

In addition, be prepared to answer some questions yourself.

"If you feel like you´re getting the third degree from a breeder, that´s excellent. That´s what you want," said Ms. Staub. "You want a breeder to interrogate you." This indicates that the person cares about where their dogs go, and isn´t just looking to unload them and make money.

Copyright VetCentic.com Reprinted with permission.