Puppy 101: Finding a Reputable Breeder

Let’s say you’ve decided to get a puppy and you have a specific breed in mind.  And let’s say you’ve decided to go with a breeder and not a rescue or shelter.  Maybe you’ve conducted some online research and narrowed it down to a few different breeders.  How do you differentiate between a reputable breeder and a puppy mill or “backyard breeder”?

Maribel Taylor-Mattox of Virginia based rescue A Forever Home had this advice to offer:  “Never buy a dog or pup without having met the pet in person.  Always insist on seeing the mother of the puppies and where the pets are kept.  Dogs should be living in an indoor clean environment.  They should also be well socialized, including the parent (s) of the pup.  Be sure to research your breeder ahead of time.  Ask for vet reference and references from others that have bought from them.”

I also spoke with a reputable Virginia dog breeder, who offered some additional advice on what to look for and/or look out for:

• Breeders should treat their breeding dogs as house pets.  How many dogs are on the property?  Are they kept outdoors?  Are the dogs only allowed to come inside the house for weather related reasons? 
• Puppies should be exposed to different people and situations in order to be well-socialized.  They should be introduced to children, visitors and household noises.  Beware of a breeder who does not allow visitors ever.  For health reasons, many breeders hold only occasional open houses or only allow visitors once puppies are at least six weeks old, but it’s a red flag if a breeder will not allow any visitors at all.
• Health testing should be done on the parents and you should be able to see a record of that.  Ask to see results of the following tests:  hips, elbows, patella, cardiac, thyroid and CERF.
• Ask what the dog’s/puppy’s diet consists of and check that they have had their regularly scheduled vet visits.
• Ask if the breeder is a member of a nationally recognized breed organization.  If not, why?
• Ask if the breeder offers a health warranty.  It should be at least a two year health warranty.  Get details on what that warranty entails. 
• It’s also a good idea to ask for contact information for families that have previously purchased their dogs from that breeder.

Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to. After all, a puppy is a long term commitment and the decision to find one through a breeder should be carefully thought out. One very important thing to know is that reputable breeders do not sell their puppies to pet stores. So while the winter holidays are coming up and you would like to have that puppy from the puppy store under your tree complete with a red ribbon, resist that urge. Do your research and find the best breeder you possibly can. Realize that you may have to travel a bit to find one and don’t act out of the desire for convenience. 

If you have decided on that Christmas puppy, please know that even the most well socialized puppies are sensitive creatures and it is never a good idea to present your new pet as a gift under the tree. It’s better to wait until the hustle and bustle of the holidays is over. A new puppy should never be a surprise, but really a well thought out decision that the entire family agrees upon. If a puppy is a “gift” for the kids during the holidays, one suggestion is to wrap up some puppy toys and supplies and present those and never the actual puppy. It will work out better for everyone involved.

If you are just beginning your search for a purebred puppy, the AKC is a good resource. The website includes general information on each breed, as well as a list of breeders and breed organizations.