What (I feel) makes a responsible dog Breeder
and how to find them
Adapted by: Jennifer Dupree
In the paragraphs that follow I have tried to put together a guideline on what to what to look for in a breeder. My hopes are to help the average dog purchaser to make an educated decision in what they are looking for from a breeder so that when the day comes to take their puppy home they are confident in their decision. There is so much more I could add. but with this basic guideline I hope you find the help you need in choosing who to purchase your puppy from.
Many people are quick to express their opinions on what they consider to be good or bad practices when it comes to breeding. However, many of the most opinionated and vocal people are, ironically enough, novice breeders or pet owners that have never bred before. Novice breeders tend to breed “by the book” or the way they are “told” or what they have “heard” is the right way. They can quickly offer the information they have accumulated and usually they offer it as facts. But, when asked to clarify their rational behind their thoughts, they are often unable to explain their reasoning. Often stating that the reason is that that is how it is done. That all “reputable” breeders do it that way. Experienced breeders make discoveries and venture into new territory, helping others along the way and sharing the knowledge that they have accumulated. They should be eager to share the reasoning behind their thoughts and how they have gained their insights.
Experienced and reputable breeders spend time educating themselves because they are willing and wanting to learn how to be better breeders, how to better their breed and of course how to produce the next generation of quality pups for their breeding program. They know that their learning never stops and readily admit that they do not know everything and are open minded enough to continually learn from others.
A reputable breeder should have goals. Some breeders are breeding to perfect type or color, temperament, health or working abilities. Some breeders put two dogs together for the long term goal of using their own creative efforts. A breeders goals for their particular breeding program will depend on that individual breeders beliefs, practices and the directions they are willing take in order to best meet their breeding goals. As a result, not every breeder will breed the same way or by the same guidelines.
Often people will site that how many dogs a breeder owns will define them as a good or bad breeder. In reality, no matter how many dogs a breeder owns each and every dog should be well cared for and be mentally and physically in good condition which, usually, in and of itself, will limit a breeder to a manageable number of dogs. That directly correlates to people saying that a breeder having x amount of litters per year indicates whether or not they are a good or bad breeder. In reality, all that matters is that litters are produced responsibly. This means that all pups should be mentally and physically in good condition, well socialized, and be sent to good, loving homes. The number of litters does not indicate a good or bad breeder. Rather, the goals in producing the litter, the health and care of the pups produced, the condition of the facility or the home that the puppies are raised in, the condition of the sire and dam and the breeders ability to have all the pups placed in quality loving forever homes should be the first things taken into consideration. Those things should be indicative of the quality of the breeder in question. Which again, will usually in itself, self limit a breeder to the manageable amount of litters the breeder can properly raise and care for.
A breeder should be able to point out the flaws in their breeding stock. Whether they show or not they should know the breed well enough to know their own dogs imperfections. No dog is perfect. From the leading champion in the country to the dog next door every dog has faults. Not only should they be able to point out these flaws, but they should be willing, I'd say even excited, to express to you their plans for their breeding stock. For instance: My first female is high in the rear. To correct this in the pups I will be breeding her with a male who has an even topline. You won't get an even topline from two dogs with the same or two different faults. For instance, if you breed a rear high dog to a dog with a low rear you get puppies with high and low backs. Breeding to a dog with the proper topline ensures us the biggest chance of having that fault corrected in the pups. These are things that breeders should understand... basic genetics for conformation and color in their chosen breed.
Breeders should be able to exercise creative choices as long as the physical health of their dogs and puppies is insured above all else. A breeder should be constantly improving and getting closer to the ideal for their breed and the characteristics they are trying to achieve with their goals. Some breeders achieve nothing with their dogs other than producing puppies and they feel justified in selling these pups for breeding purposes. (I personally feel that this is not a worthy goal.) When trying to find a breeder ask them what their goals are for their lines. Do they want to eventually show? Are they planning on training their dogs for agility or therapy work? Are they just trying to produce healthy, quality pets for people to love? Do you agree with their vision? If not, then that is probably not the right breeder for you.
I could go on expressing my opinion for pages but I think we've hit the main points. For myself, I ask a million questions. And the breeders who answer them to my satisfaction, the ones who take the time to make me feel good about their dogs, their goals and their vision.... those are the breeders I trust. The ones I will recommend to others, and the ones I would purchase a dog from. I hope this will be some help to you in your search for your new family member! Good Luck!
In the paragraphs that follow I have tried to put together a guideline on what to what to look for in a breeder. My hopes are to help the average dog purchaser to make an educated decision in what they are looking for from a breeder so that when the day comes to take their puppy home they are confident in their decision. There is so much more I could add. but with this basic guideline I hope you find the help you need in choosing who to purchase your puppy from.
Many people are quick to express their opinions on what they consider to be good or bad practices when it comes to breeding. However, many of the most opinionated and vocal people are, ironically enough, novice breeders or pet owners that have never bred before. Novice breeders tend to breed “by the book” or the way they are “told” or what they have “heard” is the right way. They can quickly offer the information they have accumulated and usually they offer it as facts. But, when asked to clarify their rational behind their thoughts, they are often unable to explain their reasoning. Often stating that the reason is that that is how it is done. That all “reputable” breeders do it that way. Experienced breeders make discoveries and venture into new territory, helping others along the way and sharing the knowledge that they have accumulated. They should be eager to share the reasoning behind their thoughts and how they have gained their insights.
Experienced and reputable breeders spend time educating themselves because they are willing and wanting to learn how to be better breeders, how to better their breed and of course how to produce the next generation of quality pups for their breeding program. They know that their learning never stops and readily admit that they do not know everything and are open minded enough to continually learn from others.
A reputable breeder should have goals. Some breeders are breeding to perfect type or color, temperament, health or working abilities. Some breeders put two dogs together for the long term goal of using their own creative efforts. A breeders goals for their particular breeding program will depend on that individual breeders beliefs, practices and the directions they are willing take in order to best meet their breeding goals. As a result, not every breeder will breed the same way or by the same guidelines.
Often people will site that how many dogs a breeder owns will define them as a good or bad breeder. In reality, no matter how many dogs a breeder owns each and every dog should be well cared for and be mentally and physically in good condition which, usually, in and of itself, will limit a breeder to a manageable number of dogs. That directly correlates to people saying that a breeder having x amount of litters per year indicates whether or not they are a good or bad breeder. In reality, all that matters is that litters are produced responsibly. This means that all pups should be mentally and physically in good condition, well socialized, and be sent to good, loving homes. The number of litters does not indicate a good or bad breeder. Rather, the goals in producing the litter, the health and care of the pups produced, the condition of the facility or the home that the puppies are raised in, the condition of the sire and dam and the breeders ability to have all the pups placed in quality loving forever homes should be the first things taken into consideration. Those things should be indicative of the quality of the breeder in question. Which again, will usually in itself, self limit a breeder to the manageable amount of litters the breeder can properly raise and care for.
A breeder should be able to point out the flaws in their breeding stock. Whether they show or not they should know the breed well enough to know their own dogs imperfections. No dog is perfect. From the leading champion in the country to the dog next door every dog has faults. Not only should they be able to point out these flaws, but they should be willing, I'd say even excited, to express to you their plans for their breeding stock. For instance: My first female is high in the rear. To correct this in the pups I will be breeding her with a male who has an even topline. You won't get an even topline from two dogs with the same or two different faults. For instance, if you breed a rear high dog to a dog with a low rear you get puppies with high and low backs. Breeding to a dog with the proper topline ensures us the biggest chance of having that fault corrected in the pups. These are things that breeders should understand... basic genetics for conformation and color in their chosen breed.
Breeders should be able to exercise creative choices as long as the physical health of their dogs and puppies is insured above all else. A breeder should be constantly improving and getting closer to the ideal for their breed and the characteristics they are trying to achieve with their goals. Some breeders achieve nothing with their dogs other than producing puppies and they feel justified in selling these pups for breeding purposes. (I personally feel that this is not a worthy goal.) When trying to find a breeder ask them what their goals are for their lines. Do they want to eventually show? Are they planning on training their dogs for agility or therapy work? Are they just trying to produce healthy, quality pets for people to love? Do you agree with their vision? If not, then that is probably not the right breeder for you.
I could go on expressing my opinion for pages but I think we've hit the main points. For myself, I ask a million questions. And the breeders who answer them to my satisfaction, the ones who take the time to make me feel good about their dogs, their goals and their vision.... those are the breeders I trust. The ones I will recommend to others, and the ones I would purchase a dog from. I hope this will be some help to you in your search for your new family member! Good Luck!
