SELECTING YOUR PUPPY… WHAT TO LOOK FOR FROM A REPUTABLE
BREEDER

Making a decision to bring a new puppy into your family is an important one
that should be made by the entire
family. It should never be an impulse decision. All puppies are cute, but they
grow up quickly. You need to know
what the puppy will be like as a grown dog. What will be his size, his
personality, etc.? The responsibility for the
care of your new puppy should not be only one person’s job. The whole family
should share in the puppy’s care
and training. The amount of time you devote to your puppy during the first few
months he is home with you, will
pay you back a thousand fold. It is recommended that you take your puppy to
Puppy Socialization class and to
Basic Obedience class. Besides making your puppy a biddable family member,
these classes will make your
puppy a good citizen in your community.

At times it may be necessary to be placed on a Quality Breeder’s Waiting List.

• Your breeder should belong to their local kennel club and to their National
Breed Club. Ideally the breeder may
belong to numerous clubs and organizations. Usually participation in dog clubs
indicates depth of involvement.

• Your breeder should be involved in some form of sanctioned competition. This
means your breeder is not
breeding in a vacuum. The breeder who does not exhibit may have no idea of
the dog’s qualities and is deprived of
the opportunity to share information and ideas with peers. Exhibiting provides
competition, which encourages
breeders to produce better dogs. Even though you may not want a show dog, you
deserve a pet that is the end
result of a carefully planned litter.

• Your breeder should give you a reasonable period of time to have your puppy
examined, by a veterinarian of
your choice, to determine its state of health. Most breeders include a health
guarantee in their contracts.

• The breeder should give you written instructions on feeding, training, care
and grooming. You should also receive
the puppy’s health and immunization records.

• A dedicated breeder wants to be consulted if any problems arise, to make sure
that they are resolved quickly. A
breeder that offers you their services, knowledge and experience will be a great
asset. Their assistance does not
stop when you leave with your puppy. Not only will they offer you their
assistance for the life of the dog, but
also should you be unable or unwilling to keep the dog, they will take it back.

• Be prepared to answer a battery of questions from the breeder who is looking
for the best possible homes for
their puppies. Do not be offended with any questions. Some breeders may have
you fill out a puppy
questionnaire. In turn you may ask the breeder whatever questions you would
like. A reputable breeder will gladly
answer with honesty and directness. Quality breeders are proud of their dogs
and have nothing to hide.

• Breeders should be willing to have you visit their premises and should be able
to exhibit a clean environment, well-
socialized puppies and a dam with a good temperament. Puppies should be
happy and self-assured. Often the sire
of the litter is hundreds of miles away.

• Breeders should be willing to give you references…names of people with
whom they have placed puppies and
the name of their veterinarian.

• Reputable breeders will provide you with a written contract. You will also be
given your puppy’s three-
generation pedigree and the American Kennel Club registration papers.

• Breeders will often require that your pet be spayed or neutered when it
reaches the proper age and may withhold
registration papers until proof is provided. Spayed and neutered dogs are far
less prone to many serious maladies.
Serious breeders spend a lot of time and effort planning breeding programs
designed to improve their breed. They
carry out their programs with only the best quality available. Reputable
breeders do not want their dogs used just
to make puppies, or worse yet, end up in a “puppy mill” where they will be used
to mass produce.