QUESTIONS TO ASK A BREEDER - ARE THEY A PUPPY MILL OR ARE THEY REPUTABLE?
The American Kennel Club highly recommends puppy buyers research and locate reputable breeders in their area that have puppies for sale. The below topics will help insure that you are buying a pet from a reputable breeder, and not from a puppy mill...
Thinking about buying a dog?
So you've decided to purchase a dog. Owning a dog can be the beginning of years of happiness as the special bond between humans and canines exceeds even the greatest of expectations. However, to ensure the best relationship with your dog, you must be prepared for some important responsibilities. Please see below to learn about essentials prior to purchasing a puppy.
So you've decided to purchase a dog. Owning a dog can be the beginning of years of happiness as the special bond between humans and canines exceeds even the greatest of expectations. However, to ensure the best relationship with your dog, you must be prepared for some important responsibilities. Please see below to learn about essentials prior to purchasing a puppy.
Selecting A Reputable Breeder
Buy your puppy from a responsible and well-respected breeder. Responsible breeders are concerned with the betterment of the breed. For example, they work on breeding healthier dogs with the appropriate temperament for their breed. Your AKC breeder referral contact will direct you to a breeder who is concerned with the future of the puppy. Once you select a breeder, screen the breeder. Ask to see at least one of the parents (the dam or the sire) of your puppy. See how the dogs in your breeder's home interact with your breeder. Are they friendly and outgoing or do they shy away? AKC recommends when you start looking looking for a puppy, you should visit the home of the breeder to see their condition of their whelping facilities - is it clean? Are the dog well-cared for? Is there adequate room for all their dogs? Do the dogs temperaments appear "happy", or are they confrontational and stressed. Once you select a breeder, screen the breeder. Ask to see at least one of the parents (the dam or the sire) of your puppy. The responsible breeder will also be screening you, looking for the best home for each of their puppies.
How Much Does A High Quality Puppy Cost?
This is not the time to hunt for a bargain. Your new puppy will be a member of your family for his lifetime of 12-15 years or longer, so you'll want to make a wise investment. You don't want to pay $500, $600 or more and in less than 6 months the dog has hip
dysplatia. Hip dysplatia can be surgically-corrected but at a cost of approximately $2,000 per hip. Where's your cost-savings then?
Obedience Training Is For Everyone!
One way to make your dog a good neighbor is through obedience training. Puppy Training Classes typically begin at 8-12 weeks of age. A poorly behaved dog is a problem for everyone. A well-trained dog is not only a pleasure to own, he is a goodwill ambassador for the entire canine community. Obedience classes are available in most communities - your local vererinarian is probably your best
source for locating a Puppy Obedience Class. Time spent training your dog is time well spent and makes for a "finished" product
Helpful Tips When Purchasing a Puppy
When you finally select a reputable breeder, be prepared to ask a lot of questions about the puppy or dog you hope to acquire.
1. Have the adults had any veterinary genetic screening for hip dysplatia, elbow dysplatia, any eye problems, are they DNA-Registered
to insure there is no cross or line-breeding and are all the medical documents available for viewing? Do they have an official AKC
Pedigree on each of the parents and is this too, available for viewing? Have they been screened for EIC and CNM?
2. How far back did the breeder investigate in their selecting a future breeding dog?
3. When you take your puppy home, what type information is given to you by the breeder? Are you given any sort of Health Warranty
for Hip dysplatia, or etc? Has there been a Health Record started on your puppy so you know when to give the next sets of puppy
inoculations? Do they give you a copy of the parent's pedigrees? Is the litter AKC-Registered and are you given your copy to
register your dog? Are you given any sort of Puppy Starter Kits? Are you given any sort of information on what to feed your puppy?
4. Can the breeder furnish past clients telephone numbers or addresses to verify good dog "genetics?"
The breeder you select should be willing to answer all of your questions fully. If they can't answer these basic questions, you
have made contact with a "Backyard Breeder"....RUN BEFORE YOU FALL VICTIM!!! A reputable breeder should also ask questions about you, your lifestyle, and your family. If a contact doesn't respond to your inquiries, or doesn't show any interest in the life the dog will lead after it leaves his or her premises, you may want to look elsewhere. A responsible breeder is committed to making a good match between prospective owners and the dogs in their care; that's the kind of person you want on your side as you make the journey into dog ownership.
