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Candy317 · 05-29-2008, 07:36 PM

Author: Kate Connick ©2001

So you want to add a new dog to your family. You've decided that you want a puppy, and you have a particular breed in mind. Everyone you know has told you horror stories about pet stores, so you cross them off your list. You need to select a breeder, but you don�t know how to narrow your search. You don�t need a fancy show dog or a high-performance hunting dog. You just want a pet. You want a companion who will fit into your lifestyle without being emotionally and financially burdensome. In simplest terms, you want a physically and mentally sound animal - a healthy, happy dog with which to share your life.

Consider that this is a decision that will be with you for the next dozen or more years. Choose wisely. Not all breeders are created equal, and neither are the puppies they produce. Keep in mind that, by definition, anyone who owns a female dog at the time it gives birth is a "breeder." It is not always easy to tell the difference between a good breeder - a responsible hobby breeder - from an unknowledgeable "backyard breeder" or a commercial "puppy mill" breeder. Things to look for as you search for your breeder:

How long has the breeder been involved in this particular breed? If it is a breed that has recently become popular, beware of someone who has jumped on the bandwagon to make a fast buck. They may not have the best interests of the breed nor buyer in mind. The person with the slickest web page is not necessarily the best breeder!

Does the breeder produce animals markedly different from the typical examples of the breed? Beware of non-standard deviations from a breed being marketed as "rare" to justify exorbitant prices. Non-standard variations of purebred dogs (eg., white Dobermans, longhaired Whippets, miniature Dalmatians, etc.) are generally considered undesirable by legitimate breeders. Nonetheless, if you are insistent that you want a non-standard version of a pure breed, make sure you demand the same in terms of health and temperament scrutiny that you would of someone breeding conventional purebred dogs.

Along the same lines, are the animals being bred actually purebred dogs belonging to a breed recognized by some legitimate registry? I love mutts, but there�s no excuse for someone to charge hundreds of dollars to sell what is essentially a glorified mutt (eg., Cockapoo, Schnoodle, etc.). Unscrupulous breeders will claim that cross-breeds are somehow immune to the genetically-based health problems of their purebred brethren. This is not true. Again, if you are insistent that you want a cross-breed, make sure you demand the same of the breeder that you would of someone breeding purebred dogs.

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05-29-2008, 07:36 PM	#1
Candy317 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 77	Evaluating a Pet Dog Breeder Author: Kate Connick ©2001 So you want to add a new dog to your family. You've decided that you want a puppy, and you have a particular breed in mind. Everyone you know has told you horror stories about pet stores, so you cross them off your list. You need to select a breeder, but you don�t know how to narrow your search. You don�t need a fancy show dog or a high-performance hunting dog. You just want a pet. You want a companion who will fit into your lifestyle without being emotionally and financially burdensome. In simplest terms, you want a physically and mentally sound animal - a healthy, happy dog with which to share your life. Consider that this is a decision that will be with you for the next dozen or more years. Choose wisely. Not all breeders are created equal, and neither are the puppies they produce. Keep in mind that, by definition, anyone who owns a female dog at the time it gives birth is a "breeder." It is not always easy to tell the difference between a good breeder - a responsible hobby breeder - from an unknowledgeable "backyard breeder" or a commercial "puppy mill" breeder. Things to look for as you search for your breeder: How long has the breeder been involved in this particular breed? If it is a breed that has recently become popular, beware of someone who has jumped on the bandwagon to make a fast buck. They may not have the best interests of the breed nor buyer in mind. The person with the slickest web page is not necessarily the best breeder! Does the breeder produce animals markedly different from the typical examples of the breed? Beware of non-standard deviations from a breed being marketed as "rare" to justify exorbitant prices. Non-standard variations of purebred dogs (eg., white Dobermans, longhaired Whippets, miniature Dalmatians, etc.) are generally considered undesirable by legitimate breeders. Nonetheless, if you are insistent that you want a non-standard version of a pure breed, make sure you demand the same in terms of health and temperament scrutiny that you would of someone breeding conventional purebred dogs. Along the same lines, are the animals being bred actually purebred dogs belonging to a breed recognized by some legitimate registry? I love mutts, but there�s no excuse for someone to charge hundreds of dollars to sell what is essentially a glorified mutt (eg., Cockapoo, Schnoodle, etc.). Unscrupulous breeders will claim that cross-breeds are somehow immune to the genetically-based health problems of their purebred brethren. This is not true. Again, if you are insistent that you want a cross-breed, make sure you demand the same of the breeder that you would of someone breeding purebred dogs. MORE..