I know that some backyard breeders do care about their dogs but they usually do not know much if anything about genetics. Many of them do not even have a pedigree for their dogs and if they do they know precious little about it except that there may be some champions in the background.
A "responsible" breeder would not only do testing but also be very aware of the line their dogs originated from and what the dogs have produced. A good breeder has proven males and females and knows pretty much what they will produce because they know what the past generations have done as well as what their line is producing. A pedigree is a lot more than just which dogs have been championed. A champion may look very nice but not be able to produce puppies as good as it's self. A good breeder keeps their puppies long enough to know which ones are pet quality, which ones may be breeding quality and which ones are possible show potential. When a breeder is very aware of their line and it's potential they are also much more capable of knowing the health prospects of the puppies they are producing.
Just because a breeder shows dogs does not mean their dogs are healthy. As in any area of life there are always those who decide to take short cuts to get what they want.
A pedigree would be a starting point. Talking to that breeder about their line will tell you a lot about how much time they have taken to research their pedigrees and learn the genetics involved in the line. That is why you will see some big differences in how much a breeder can charge for their puppies. If they have an established line of their own that has consistently produced dogs that are healthy and good representatives of the breed then they are several steps ahead of others that are just starting out. However, if a person who has only been breeding a few generations has done their homework and own stock from one of those established lines then they have some good standing also.
The whole show dog world is complicated. I hate it when someone just advises a buyer to buy from a show/breeder. That is way too simplistic. Take your time and talk to several breeders and learn just by listening. If you get a bad vibe from someone move on. Get some of the breed publications that are out there. The more informed you are the less likely you are to walk into something that could bring a lot of heartbreak. |