Dog Breeders: How to Choose the Right One

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 Visit…

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 isn’t 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 Breeder…

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 Contract…

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 Records…

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 puppy’s vaccination history. Because new puppies don’t 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 Learn…

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.