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You've checked out all the breed rescue groups, looked at all the pups at the local shelter, but just
can't find that special dog for you. You decide you want to go to a breeder. But how do you tell a
"good breeder" from a puppy mill? Check out the information from The Humane Society of the United
States, and other links below to help.
can't find that special dog for you. You decide you want to go to a breeder. But how do you tell a
"good breeder" from a puppy mill? Check out the information from The Humane Society of the United
States, and other links below to help.
HOW TO FIND A GOOD DOG BREEDER:
So you’ve decided to get a dog. You’re prepared to feed, exercise, train, clean up after, work through problems with, and love a dog every day for the
next 10 to 20 years. You’ve evaluated your lifestyle and know exactly what sort of dog you’re looking for (e.g., a high energy dog to go running with you or
a more sedate dog to lounge on the couch with you), and you know that you need to seek desired characteristics in individual dogs, not just a breed,
because breed is no guarantee of temperament or likes and dislikes.
Because you know that about one in every four dogs in U.S. animal shelters is purebred, you start there, because you want to do a great thing and help a
homeless dog. You know that most dogs lose their homes because of “people reasons” like cost, lack of time, lifestyle changes (new baby, divorce,
moving, or marriage), or allergies, and not because of something the dog has done. You’ve checked out the purebred rescue group for your desired
breed, but still haven’t found “The One.” And you know better than to buy a puppy from a pet store because most of those puppies come from mass
breeding facilities better known as puppy mills.
So you’ve decided to buy a dog from a breeder---but you don’t want to support someone who doesn’t have the dogs’ best interests in mind.
How do you identify a reputable breeder? First, know that good breeders don’t breed to make money —they don’t sell their puppies to the first person who
shows up with cash in hand. Too often, unsuspecting people buy puppies from “backyard breeders” (or neighbors) who breed their dogs to make a little
money or simply because they have dogs “with papers.” Too often, the result of such practices includes puppies with poor health or temperament
problems that may not be discovered until years later. Unfortunately, these new pet families often end up heartbroken, with dogs who have genetic health
problems or who develop significant behavior problems due to a lack of early socialization. In some cases, these problems can cost thousands of dollars to
treat.
So to avoid these pitfalls and choose a good breeder, look for one who at a minimum:
In addition to those criteria, you’ll want a breeder who requires some things of you, too.
The breeder should require you to:
If the breeder you’re working with doesn’t meet all of these minimum criteria, The Humane Society of the United States advises you to walk away.
Remember, your dog will likely live 10 to 20 years, so it’s well worth investing some time now to be sure you’re working with a reputable breeder who
breeds healthy, happy dogs. You can find reputable breeders by asking for referrals from your veterinarian or from trusted friends, contacting
local breed clubs, or visiting dog shows. Remember, a reputable breeder will never sell dogs through a pet store or in any other way that doesn’t allow
interaction with buyers to ensure that the puppies are a good match for the families and that the buyers will provide responsible lifelong homes.
Please don’t ever buy a dog without personally visiting where he or she was born and raised. Take the time now to find the right breeder and you’ll be
thanking yourself for the rest of your dog’s life.
Reprinted by permission of The Humane Society of the United States.
The Humane Society of the United States
Promoting the Protection of All Animals
©2003 The HSUS. All rights reserved.
For more information about responsible pet care, contact
The Humane Society of the United States,
2100 L Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20037.
202-452-1100
So you’ve decided to get a dog. You’re prepared to feed, exercise, train, clean up after, work through problems with, and love a dog every day for the
next 10 to 20 years. You’ve evaluated your lifestyle and know exactly what sort of dog you’re looking for (e.g., a high energy dog to go running with you or
a more sedate dog to lounge on the couch with you), and you know that you need to seek desired characteristics in individual dogs, not just a breed,
because breed is no guarantee of temperament or likes and dislikes.
Because you know that about one in every four dogs in U.S. animal shelters is purebred, you start there, because you want to do a great thing and help a
homeless dog. You know that most dogs lose their homes because of “people reasons” like cost, lack of time, lifestyle changes (new baby, divorce,
moving, or marriage), or allergies, and not because of something the dog has done. You’ve checked out the purebred rescue group for your desired
breed, but still haven’t found “The One.” And you know better than to buy a puppy from a pet store because most of those puppies come from mass
breeding facilities better known as puppy mills.
So you’ve decided to buy a dog from a breeder---but you don’t want to support someone who doesn’t have the dogs’ best interests in mind.
How do you identify a reputable breeder? First, know that good breeders don’t breed to make money —they don’t sell their puppies to the first person who
shows up with cash in hand. Too often, unsuspecting people buy puppies from “backyard breeders” (or neighbors) who breed their dogs to make a little
money or simply because they have dogs “with papers.” Too often, the result of such practices includes puppies with poor health or temperament
problems that may not be discovered until years later. Unfortunately, these new pet families often end up heartbroken, with dogs who have genetic health
problems or who develop significant behavior problems due to a lack of early socialization. In some cases, these problems can cost thousands of dollars to
treat.
So to avoid these pitfalls and choose a good breeder, look for one who at a minimum:
- Keeps dogs in the home as part of the family---not outside in kennel runs
- Has dogs who appear happy and healthy, are excited to meet new people, and don’t shy away from visitors
- Shows you where the dogs spend most of their time---in a clean, well maintained area
- Encourages you to spend time with the puppy’s parents---at a minimum, the pup’s mother---when you visit
- Only breeds one or two types of dogs and is knowledgeable about what are called “breed standards” (the desired characteristics of the breed, such
as size, proportion, coat, color, and temperament) - Has a strong relationship with a local veterinarian and shows you records of veterinary visits for the puppies and explains the puppies’ medical
history and what vaccinations your new puppy will need - Explains in detail the potential genetic problems inherent in the breed (every breed has specific genetic predispositions) and provides
documentation---through organizations such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)---that the puppy’s parents and grandparents have
been tested to ensure that they are free of these genetic problems - Offers guidance for caring for and training your puppy and is available for assistance after you take your puppy home
- Provides references from other families who have purchased puppies
- Feeds high quality “premium” brand pet food
- Doesn’t always have puppies available but rather will keep a list of interested people for the next available litter
- Is actively involved with local, state, and national clubs that specialize in the specific breed; good breeders may also compete the dogs in
conformation trials (which judge how closely dogs match their “breed standard”), obedience trials (which judge how well dogs perform specific sets
of tasks on command), or tracking and agility trials - Encourages multiple visits and wants your entire family to meet the puppy
- Provides you with a written contract and health guarantee and allows plenty of time for you to read it thoroughly; the breeder should not require that
you use a specific veterinarian
In addition to those criteria, you’ll want a breeder who requires some things of you, too.
The breeder should require you to:
- Explain why you want a dog
- Explain who in your family will be responsible for the pup’s daily care, who will attend training classes, where the dog will spend most of his or her
time, and what “rules” have been decided upon for the puppy---for example, whether or not the dog will be allowed on furniture - Provide a veterinary reference
- Provide proof from your landlord or condominium board (if you rent or live in a condominium complex) that you are allowed to have a dog
- Sign a contract that you will spay or neuter the dog unless you will be actively involved in showing him or her (which applies to show-quality dogs
only) - Sign a contract stating that you will return the dog to the breeder should you be unable to keep the dog at any point in the dog’s life
If the breeder you’re working with doesn’t meet all of these minimum criteria, The Humane Society of the United States advises you to walk away.
Remember, your dog will likely live 10 to 20 years, so it’s well worth investing some time now to be sure you’re working with a reputable breeder who
breeds healthy, happy dogs. You can find reputable breeders by asking for referrals from your veterinarian or from trusted friends, contacting
local breed clubs, or visiting dog shows. Remember, a reputable breeder will never sell dogs through a pet store or in any other way that doesn’t allow
interaction with buyers to ensure that the puppies are a good match for the families and that the buyers will provide responsible lifelong homes.
Please don’t ever buy a dog without personally visiting where he or she was born and raised. Take the time now to find the right breeder and you’ll be
thanking yourself for the rest of your dog’s life.
Reprinted by permission of The Humane Society of the United States.
The Humane Society of the United States
Promoting the Protection of All Animals
©2003 The HSUS. All rights reserved.
For more information about responsible pet care, contact
The Humane Society of the United States,
2100 L Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20037.
202-452-1100
DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE ABOVE HSUS "GOOD BREEDER CHECKLIST" TO HELP YOU FIND THE
RIGHT BREEDER
RIGHT BREEDER
TAKE THE PET STORE CHALLENGE. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW YOUR LOCAL PET STORE RATES.
GET THE FACTS ON PUPPY MILLS FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES BY CLICKING HERE
WANT TO ADOPT? CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON RESCUE GROUPS, SHELTERS WHERE TO LOOK AND WHAT TO EXPECT
It is your sole responsibility to fully investigate any breeders that you may adopt a puppy from. We STRONGLY
recommend that you do your homework before adopting a puppy. Fully check out the breeder you are dealing
with. Ask them if they require spaying or neutering of their pups. Ask them if they do DNA testing before
breeding and how much in-breed, line-breed or cross-breeding they do. Find a breeder that seems to care about
the welfare of the puppy they are adopting out. If the breeder does not ask you any questions about your home
life and the conditions the puppy will be living in, our advice is to steer clear of that breeder. A good breeder
cares where their puppies end up. Look for a breeder that is willing to take a puppy back in a case of bad health
or homes that do not work out. A good breeder will care about their puppies and will not want it to end up in the
pound. Ask the breeder about the health of the puppies parents and grandparents. This will tell you a lot about
the health of the puppy. Ask the breeder if they do rescue work. A good breeder will do some sort of rescue in
the breed they are breeding and sometimes in other purebreds and mixed breeds as well. Whether it be taking in
unwanted pets or offering verbal advice to people who need help in their breed. Any breeder who is willing to
bring more puppies into an already over populated world should also be involved in helping the unwanted dogs in
at least the breed they are breeding. A good breeder should never get annoyed at your questions even if they
appear to be petty. There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers. You should feel comfortable asking the
breeder any questions that are on your mind. If the breeder makes you feel uncomfortable asking any questions
related to the puppy, steer clear.
When you are looking to adopt your new puppy. BE SMART. Do your homework. Investigate the breeder and
the breed you are looking to adopt. All breeds are different and require different types of homes and owners. We
recommend you go to http://www.ripoffreport.com and http://www.bbb.com to see if there are any complaints filed
against any breeder you are thinking about adopting a puppy from. If you have any complaints with any breeder
you should file with both of these sites to warn others about your experience.
recommend that you do your homework before adopting a puppy. Fully check out the breeder you are dealing
with. Ask them if they require spaying or neutering of their pups. Ask them if they do DNA testing before
breeding and how much in-breed, line-breed or cross-breeding they do. Find a breeder that seems to care about
the welfare of the puppy they are adopting out. If the breeder does not ask you any questions about your home
life and the conditions the puppy will be living in, our advice is to steer clear of that breeder. A good breeder
cares where their puppies end up. Look for a breeder that is willing to take a puppy back in a case of bad health
or homes that do not work out. A good breeder will care about their puppies and will not want it to end up in the
pound. Ask the breeder about the health of the puppies parents and grandparents. This will tell you a lot about
the health of the puppy. Ask the breeder if they do rescue work. A good breeder will do some sort of rescue in
the breed they are breeding and sometimes in other purebreds and mixed breeds as well. Whether it be taking in
unwanted pets or offering verbal advice to people who need help in their breed. Any breeder who is willing to
bring more puppies into an already over populated world should also be involved in helping the unwanted dogs in
at least the breed they are breeding. A good breeder should never get annoyed at your questions even if they
appear to be petty. There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers. You should feel comfortable asking the
breeder any questions that are on your mind. If the breeder makes you feel uncomfortable asking any questions
related to the puppy, steer clear.
When you are looking to adopt your new puppy. BE SMART. Do your homework. Investigate the breeder and
the breed you are looking to adopt. All breeds are different and require different types of homes and owners. We
recommend you go to http://www.ripoffreport.com and http://www.bbb.com to see if there are any complaints filed
against any breeder you are thinking about adopting a puppy from. If you have any complaints with any breeder
you should file with both of these sites to warn others about your experience.
