Responsible Breeders Checking out your breeder

 

Who are responsible breeders? How do you go about checking them out?

Responsible breeders usually have contracts, they will take their dogs back if there is a problem. They have contracts and guarentee their pet and show puppies. Remember show puppies and dogs are usually guarenteed better than pet puppies, but pet puppies should be guarenteed against crippling hip dysplsia. Some breeders such as myself guarentee their pet puppies against deadly genitic diseases for the first 2 years of the dogs life. If your dog drops dead of a heart attack at 1 and half years of age I will replace that puppy. Show puppies are usually guarenteed to finish championships providing the person gets out and shows the dog or at least attempts to. They are also guarenteed against all genitic diseases as they are potential breeding stock. Responsible breeders abide by their contracts. If a person tells you they have never had a health problem they are probably lying. Everyone has had something at one time or another if they have had enough litters. If the breeder has not had but a few litters or this is their first litter they can honestly say they have not had a problem. However, they should be able to tell you about known health problems in the line.

How do I check out a breeder?

Start by going to a local show. Check out the dogs, look and talk to people there. Ask the breeder you are thinking of getting a puppy from for references. Use the internet look at their website, check out other websites in the area to see if anyone has dogs of theirs up on their websites. Watch out for people who say I have never ever had a health problem. There are health issues out there. Look over their contract carefully know what you are getting yourself into. Talk to your local kennel club ask for reccomendations from them. Check with the parent breed club of the breed of dog you want. Once again I can't stress enough use the web check out the OFA data bases see if there are any problems that are shown on there. You can look up the sire and the dam, siblings from other breedings. Ask how many litters the mother of the pup you are interested in has had. Go to the breeder's house look at their dogs see how well they are taken care of. Where were the puppies born, are they in the house and are they getting lots and lots of people time. See the personalities of the parents if both are on sight. If not both at least you can meet the mother of the puppies. Watch all the puppies play are they shy? Do they come running up to be petted? If they act shy or they are not out going puppies this could possibly be an indicator of a problem. Maybe not but Maybe so. Puppies should be out going and playful if the puppies are listful and have no energy problem. Now if they have just eaten and are sleeping that is a different story. Also, the age you are looking at them makes a difference too. At 5-6 weeks of age they should be playful. I can't stress enough to talk to people, ask questions, but be leary of breeders who give evasive answers, or flat out don't answer any of your questions. Especially ask questions about health issues, ask about the contract does the breeder offer one, would the breeder be willing to take the dog back if there is a problem that you can't deal with even if the dog has been spayed or neutered? Ask if you can call them and ask questions after getting your puppy if you need to. Will they be there to help you out with issues that may possibly arise? Do they want to know how their puppies are doing after leaving their house even if a pet. I ask all my puppy people pet and show to please send me pictures once in awhile so I can see how my babies are doing. I also ask them to keep in touch with me via email so I know my guys are fine. To me these are my babies I helped bring them into this world I want to know they are well cared for and loved through their lives.

A good article to read to help with making a choice for a breeder Omerta the breeders code of silence.