Guide: Choosing the Right Dog Breeder
Do thorough research before choosing a dog breeder
It is tricky to choose a breed and even harder to choose a breeder. But since you want to give your four-legged friend the best start in life. The chosen parents and the first stage of life are the breeders' doings. Your responsibility is to make an informed choice.
SELECT BREEDERS
If you’ve settled for a breed, congratulation! A large piece of the puzzle is in place. The next step is to choose a breeder. A registered kennel with a good reputation is a good start. Avoid puppy factories and imports you know little about. Of course, many unregistered breeders do a great job, and some registered ones can be less suitable for the task. This makes your choice very hard and important. So choose a breeder wisely. Critical thinking is key.
Seven tips to narrow the field:
1. Ask the experts
Ask around in breed groups or ask reputable experts belonging to your breed club. You can also call the SKK's (Swedish Kennel Club) breeding council and ask for tips on good breeders. Gather several who have solid training, experience and good breeding results. You want to be able to check all three boxes, one is not enough.
2. Health is important
Talk to a few chosen breeders. Ask if they are aware of the breed's health issues and how they work to minimize them. Are there any specific breeding strategies applicable to your breed? If so, read up on them in advance to be able to ask relevant questions. This is essential if your breed has health issues that can lead to suffering. If any breeder gives you answers that sound odd or uninformed, take it as a red flag and keep searching. Don't let the short supply of puppies push you into a purchase that felt wrong from the start. It could end in tragedy.
3. Validate their knowledge
Ask the breeders about their dog knowledge and breeding education/expertise. Be informed of the practical routines around mating, delivery, and puppy care. Ask how socialization, environmental training, car driving, and handling training is done at the breeders. If the breeder doesn’t engage in it or in a substandard way, move on, this is not your breeder. Also, ask how the puppies live and where they spend most of their time. Ask if they will have access to the dog mom and what feeding routines are like. You want your puppy to be indoors and outdoors and have access to the mother dog as much as possible. If you suspect a problem, ask follow-up questions or move on to the next breeder on your list. Also, ask if there are other dogs, animals, or children in the home. How old are they? And will they get to interact with the puppies? Adolescent dogs around puppies can get out of hand and harm more than socialize. Likewise, if children are allowed to “play” with them without supervision or guidance, choose another breeder. If you don’t like what you hear, choose another breeder. Don’t risk anything. As soon as the puppy is sold, the results of bad breeding become your heartache.
4. Compare costs
Ask what the puppies cost and compare the price tag to other breeders' fees. A "cheap" puppy may be attractive, and an expensive puppy is not always better. But raising puppies and running a kennel costs money. A serious breeder covers their costs and working time. If not something might be shady. As a breeder, you need to get paid if you put in a solid amount of work.
5. Let it take time
Visit several breeders. Research time is a good investment in a life-changing purchase. You cannot research a breeder's suitability enough. And remember, a genuine breeder has nothing to hide, and your questions will be understood. They want you to be 100% sure, and getting there takes time. If the breeder needs more understanding, you probably can only count on a little support after the puppy is bought. A supportive and committed breeder is valuable, especially if this is your first rodeo. If you need help with socializing your puppy properly, you can read more in our article on Socializing your dog properly.
6. Ask other puppy buyers
Ask to check in with the breeder's previous puppy buyers. A reputable breeder is transparent and allows you to contact previous buyers. Ask the breeders' earlier customers about the breeder and their dogs' mental and physical health, the process of picking up the puppy, and if they ever experienced anything alarming when dealing with the breeder. Remember that a lot can happen after a puppy leaves the breeder, a former puppy buyer's dilemma with their dog doesn't have to be the breeder's fault, but the support given can say a lot about a breeder. But make sure not to turn a blind eye to recurring stories such as aggression, fear, or insecurity.
7. Check out the statistics
See if your country has a register over purebred dogs' health status, or ask the breeder if you can see health and screening results. Look into previous litters, your puppy’s parents, and maybe even grandparents. What has the status of hip and elbow joints looked like a couple of generations back? Are there allergies in the bloodlines, ear or eye problems, deafness, spondylosis, or other back issues? Do the work. It will help you make an informed choice. You can only make a thought-through decision after thorough research. Take the time, and find the best possible breeder for your puppy. See our article Puppy preparations: essential purchases before the puppy comes home.
Good luck!
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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