Where to Get Your Dog: Breeders

The first place many people start when thinking about getting a puppy is a breeder. Breeders are people who take two purebred dogs (hopefully) and make more dogs. The problem with breeders is that its hard to tell if they are good breeders or not. Most of the breeders who advertise on Craigslist, or in the local paper are what I would call a "Back Yard Breeder". This is a person who gets a dog, and thinks "I just paid $600 for this purebred dog, lets find another and make babies. If we have 6 puppies, that $3,600 with out me doing much work!" The reason you want to avoid these people is because they see this as an investment, not creating life. Any time money is involved with animals, corners inevitably get cut. Maybe they aren't getting as good of food as they deserve, or maybe they aren't getting the vet care they need. When you have puppies, they are living, breathing, loving creatures that need care and attention. I've seen a lot of puppies come into my store that are from back yard breeders, and are way to young to be weaned to solid food, let alone away from their moms. The first weeks of a puppies life can help shape how they look at the world, and if they aren't getting the attention from humans, they may shy away from human contact in the future. 

When looking at breeders, ask a few things to figure out if they are a good, reputable breeder or not. 

•  How many times has the mom have puppies? if its more than two, they are probably trying to get more out of her than is good for her. Having puppies, like having babies, is hard on the body. 

•  Ask how many adult dogs they have around. The more dogs, the less likely they are able to give good, consistent care to all of them, and again, they are probably just trying to get as much money out of it at they can. Good breeders are doing it to better the breed, not make as many puppies as possible. Also if they breed more than one type of dog, its a red flag, for the same reason.

•  Ask about what they look for in their breeding stock. Temperament and health should be at the top of the list, and physical attributes shouldn't really be mentioned, unless they are breeding show dogs. Anyone who claims to breed the smallest, or biggest, or funny colors should also be avoided. Playing with genetics this way causes health issues. Tea cup dogs are usually dogs that have a dwarfism, which causes its own health issues.

•  Do they get genetic testing before they breed? Many breeds are plagued by genetic problems, that can be avoided by simply not breeding the dogs that have genetic issues. 

•  Do they have a waiting list? Good breeders wait until they have homes lined up before breeding their dogs. 

•  Do they have a contract? Contracts are important because it shows that they are concerned about the dogs after they leave. Many will specify that if you ever need to find the dog a new home, you bring it back to them. They also should want to know if your dog ends up with any health issues so that can remove related dogs from the breeding, if necessary. 

Can you meet the parent dogs? This is important so you can see their health and temperament. If the dogs look unhealthy, they probably are, and the puppy probably will be too. If you are looking for something very specific in your dog, then a breeder might be the place you find your perfect puppy. Breeders are great if you want a hunting dog or a working dog, but often if you just want a companion, a shelter dog might be perfect!

If you decide to go with a dog from a breeder, be sure to do a lot of research on the breed before you buy. Beagles like Gus are adorable, but are also stubborn and full of energy. Border Collies are incredibly smart, but need lots of stimulation or they become escape artists. Be sure to ask the breeder, and anyone else you know who has the breed in question, how the dogs really behave. Remember though, breeders are trying to sell you something, so they often sugar coat things, which is why  suggest doing extra research.

Happy Training,
Lauren.