Traits of responsible breeders
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Humans have selectively bred dogs for centuries to emphasize all kinds of traits and to fill all kinds of
roles: small, cuddly companions and lap-warmers for noble ladies, hunting dogs for all kinds of game, herding dogs for all manner of flocks in all kinds of terrain, guard dogs, search and rescue dogs, sled dogs, and so on. The point of dog breeding in modern times is that there is a breed for everyone’s tastes and lifestyle – assuming one wants to have a dog. The trick is in making the correct match. If you are a sedentary apartment-dweller in a large metropolitan area, don’t fall in love with a large, high-energy breed requiring a lot of exercise and room to roam! |
They breed dogs because they admire their breed and want to contribute to its betterment.
They consider the puppies they produce to be their responsibility for the life of that puppy,
so they follow-up frequently to see what's going on.
They consider the puppies they produce to be their responsibility for the life of that puppy,
so they follow-up frequently to see what's going on.
Keep your eyes open when you're visiting breeders
Here's a check-list of what to look for in a good breeder.
The dogs live inside.
Puppies who are going to be family dogs should be raised inside with the family,
not in a backyard, basement, or garage.
Puppies who are going to be family dogs should be raised inside with the family,
not in a backyard, basement, or garage.
The dogs and puppies are relaxed around people.
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If the parent dogs and puppies seem comfortable with humans, that's a good sign that they've been properly cared for and socialized. |
The place is relatively clean.
Don't worry about the dirty dishes in the sink--just make sure the dogs' living area is safe, sanitary,
and that they're supplied with fresh water, beds, and toys. Is there a toilet area in the puppy's living
quarters, or is it all one big toilet? If it's the former, the puppies have a head start on housetraining.
A breeder who has presentable premises with little or no odor, whose dogs are friendly or relatively
so, who is proud of her dogs and enjoys showing them off is a breeder who deserves a closer
look. If she also has a contract that protects the buyer and the dog as well as herself,
requires sterilization of puppies sold as pets, stay and talk.
Don't worry about the dirty dishes in the sink--just make sure the dogs' living area is safe, sanitary,
and that they're supplied with fresh water, beds, and toys. Is there a toilet area in the puppy's living
quarters, or is it all one big toilet? If it's the former, the puppies have a head start on housetraining.
A breeder who has presentable premises with little or no odor, whose dogs are friendly or relatively
so, who is proud of her dogs and enjoys showing them off is a breeder who deserves a closer
look. If she also has a contract that protects the buyer and the dog as well as herself,
requires sterilization of puppies sold as pets, stay and talk.
The breeder asks you to sign a spay/neuter contract
If you're buying a dog who's not going to be bred, the breeder should ask you to sign a contract
promising to spay or neuter your pup, to avoid contributing to pet overpopulation.
If you're buying a dog who's not going to be bred, the breeder should ask you to sign a contract
promising to spay or neuter your pup, to avoid contributing to pet overpopulation.
The breeder doesn't specialize in sizes or colours
that are unusual for the breed
For one thing, extremely small or extremely large dogs are more likely to have health problems.
For another, trying to breed for rare colors or extreme sizes is a sign that the breeder is more
interested in making money out of a sales gimmick than in producing great puppies.
that are unusual for the breed
For one thing, extremely small or extremely large dogs are more likely to have health problems.
For another, trying to breed for rare colors or extreme sizes is a sign that the breeder is more
interested in making money out of a sales gimmick than in producing great puppies.
The breeder is up-front about the breed's drawbacks
Whether that means a tendency to develop certain health problems or a temperament that's not for
every owner. A good breeder wants you to love and care for your new dog for his entire lifetime,
and she knows that's more likely if you're well prepared.
Whether that means a tendency to develop certain health problems or a temperament that's not for
every owner. A good breeder wants you to love and care for your new dog for his entire lifetime,
and she knows that's more likely if you're well prepared.
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The breeder wants to meet the whole family and welcomes you to make several visits To make the best match, the breeder will want to meet everyone who'll be living with the puppy. And she'll want you to take the time to make the right decision; high-pressure salesmanship is a red flag. |
The breeder asks you lots of questions
This shows she wants to know exactly what kind of home her puppies are going to. She may ask who's
going to be home during the day, what your dog-owning history is, and why you're interested in the breed.
Don't be defensive; she's just doing her job, which is taking care of the pups she brings into the world.
going to be home during the day, what your dog-owning history is, and why you're interested in the breed.
Don't be defensive; she's just doing her job, which is taking care of the pups she brings into the world.
The breeder will take the dog back, at any stage of the dog's life
Reputable dog breeders, consider their puppies as members of the family and agonize
over making the “right” placements. In addition, a puppy from a reputable breeder comes with a
guarantee that you can bring it back if it doesn’t work out in your family for some reason. A good
breeder will insist on this. Again, she wants to make sure the puppies she brought into
the world will always be taken care of.
Reputable dog breeders, consider their puppies as members of the family and agonize
over making the “right” placements. In addition, a puppy from a reputable breeder comes with a
guarantee that you can bring it back if it doesn’t work out in your family for some reason. A good
breeder will insist on this. Again, she wants to make sure the puppies she brought into
the world will always be taken care of.
The breeder won't let you take the puppy home before she's eight weeks old.
Playing with her littermates teaches your puppy a lot about getting along with other dogs. A puppy
who's taken away from her littermates too early is at a major disadvantage in her canine social skills.
For more info on canine socialization visit: Socialization- Eight weeks or twelve weeks
Playing with her littermates teaches your puppy a lot about getting along with other dogs. A puppy
who's taken away from her littermates too early is at a major disadvantage in her canine social skills.
For more info on canine socialization visit: Socialization- Eight weeks or twelve weeks
Advantages of buying from such a breeder are clear
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Although there are no hard and fast guarantees,
a puppy from a truly responsible breeder is more likely to be physically and emotionally healthy than a puppy from any other source, and a truly responsible breeder will remain interested in that puppy and its family for the animal's entire life. If the buyer experiences a crisis and cannot keep the puppy, the truly responsible breeder will take it back or help place it in a new home. If, in spite of all the precautions, the puppy is physically or temperamentally unsound, the truly responsible breeder will offer a replacement or a financial settlement. |
Part of above article from: http://mic.com/articles
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/sources.html
http://dogtime.com/finding-a-good-breeder.html
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/sources.html
http://dogtime.com/finding-a-good-breeder.html