How to Choose a Top Dog Breeder

Breeding dogs can be both a very exciting and fulfilling experience, but prospective breeders should be well informed about the entire process, from the selection of an appropriate mate to labor and right through to placing puppies in a good home.

Finding a dog breeder is easy - it's finding a great breeder that's the hard part. Keep reading to learn why choosing a good breeder is important and how to spot one.

Why is a Good Dog Breeder Important?

A quality, reputable dog breeder breeds with a dog's health, temperament, and breed characteristics in mind. This means they watch out for common genetic diseases and health problems while simultaneously keeping good breeding records.

A good breeder will also provide a lot of hands-on assistance to a new owner. Quality breeders are invested in their animals, so this means they want to see them go to good homes and are sincerely interested in their long-term well-being.

How Do You Find a Good Breeder?

Looking for a quality breeder should go beyond the newspaper or the yellow pages. Ask your friends or a local veterinarian for their referrals on trusted, quality breeders in your area.

Next, make sure you visit the breeder. Their kennel or home should be very clean and obviously well-maintained. Note how they care for the animals. If the breeding conditions are poor or dirty, then your dog could be at risk for disease.

While there, ask to see all the dogs. The animals should be well-nourished and healthy looking, with no obviously runny noses or eyes. Ask your breeder if he or she belongs to any registered breed associations, organizations, or clubs. A good breeder will stand behind their animals with a solid guarantee.

Professional breeders always ensure that both prospective parents are healthy and ready to produce healthy and strong offspring. They avoid over-breeding and also the more routine breeding of dogs with any genetic defects or substantial health problems.

Both prospective parent dogs should be tested for possible diseases and have available as much information about their ancestry and health records as possible. Ideally, the further back the health histories go, the better.

What Types of Breeders Should You Avoid?

Stay away from puppy mills, pet shops, and "backyard breeders." A backyard breeder is an unregistered breeder with limited knowledge about their animals and is breeding more for monetary purposes than the love of the animals.

A puppy mill is a slang term that refers to large scale businesses designed to produce a lot of dogs - like a dog factory. Disease can spread rapidly in these conditions, poor health conditions are rampant and serious emotional problems are often overlooked.

Because puppy mills frequently adhere merely to absolute minimum requirements, they usually sell only to pet stores and dog brokers who have much lower standards than the individual buyer.

Finding a quality, reputable breeder could mean a longer, healthier and happier life for your pet. Choose wisely and select a breeder who stands behind his product, is really invested in the animal, and sincerely cares about each dog's long-term health and well-being.