How to recognize a good dog breeder?

All puppies should be bought from a responsible dog breeder. Such a person is not easy to locate.

Besides, many people claim to be good dog breeders and will, if you go to them, make a terrific sales pitch for their puppies. First of all, avoid owners who try to catch you in a parking lot or who sell on the side of the road. You need to see the puppies, their parents and the conditions in which the puppy was raised.

When you enter the kennel or pet store to find which puppy you want to take home, you may be tempted on many occasions to take more than one puppy home with you. You’ll see all their adorable faces and may not be able to resist the temptation to go home with more than one of them.

Observe and Judge
You can learn a lot about a breeder by visiting their home or kennel. A dedicated Shar- Pei breeder will be passionate about the breed. He will have Shar-Pei objects/ornaments/pictures on view and will happily talk about his pets from dawn to dusk and beyond.

Kennel Conditions
The kennel may consist of outside runs and exercise areas or it may simply be their home, but it should be clean, warm and comfortable. Puppies should be clean and their area should be free of excrement.

Puppies
Sometimes, a good dog breeder may not allow you to choose from his litter. However, if you are allowed to choose from a litter, avoid any puppy that seems ill. Actually if only one puppy seems ill, avoid any pup from such a litter. There should be no discharge from eyes, nostrils or ears. They should be active, happy and outgoing. There should be no sign of fear. It’s all right if, in the beginning, they approach you warily. They should be able to relax and play later.

Pups that cringe in the corner with fear are either going to develop into fear biters or are going to need a very special home which can deal with their fearful temperament. On the other hand, the pup that rushes excitedly up to you, shoving his littermates aside in his eagerness to be the first one to greet you, who bites at your hands and jumps at your chin, occasionally giving you a few little nips, is going to be a true handful, needing strong discipline. Puppies with this type of temperament can become child biters, as they seem to view a child who is smaller than adults as one of their kind rather than a person to be obeyed.

In general, these are some of the signs you should watch out for:

• An active pup. However, puppies sleep a lot and it takes them a while to wake up.
• A pup that greets people and does not appear shy.
• He should have no sign of discharge from the eyes, nose, or ears. He should have pink and firm gums.
• He should not have a distended belly (not to be confused with a normally fat puppy)
• He should move around easily, with no signs of lameness. Look for a puppy that naturally stands square with all four feet facing forward and sits squarely. This should be done over a period of time, as puppies lack coordination and muscle tone and will not sit or stand the same way consistently.
• Look for a puppy that naturally follows you.
• Watch the puppies’ reactions to sounds. You want a dog that recovers easily and does not become hysterical over sudden sounds.
• Look for puppies that have the confidence to explore new areas without fear.

The Parents
Puppies should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible after purchase for a general health appraisal. Ask to see the parents. How is the mother? Is she friendly and attractive? By the time the pups are 6 weeks old, the mother should not be aggressive or protective. If the father is present, is he willing to make friends with visitors? Do not buy a pup whose parents do not have good temperaments. It is hereditary.

Are the puppies kept in the house near people and everyday activities or a kennel? Human contact is very important in the first few weeks of life in order for the dog to bond to humans.

You want puppies that have been raised in constant contact with people, household events and sounds.

Observe the other dogs on the premises. Are their coats clean and brushed? Do they have fresh water and warm, clean, comfortable living conditions? Do they move around easily, and appear bright, happy and healthy? Are they friendly and outgoing toward people? Pay particular attention to older dogs, especially the ages of the puppies parents/grandparents.

A Good Dog Breeder
You can always tell a good breeder by his willingness to show you around and answer questions.

Find out about his background and his activities. Is the breeder actively involved in dog clubs and/or shows? A responsible breeder is always learning and being involved in dog clubs and shows keeps them informed about what is happening in their breed.

A good dog breeder will not knowingly breed from unhealthy dogs and never from dogs that show any signs of FSF or Swollen Hock. Have the pups been checked for worms and will they receive at least one injection before you take yours home?

Are the pups old enough to leave the litter? Pups should never ever be taken from the litter before six weeks of age. They need to interact with their littermates for at least that long.

Seven weeks would be even better. On the other hand, a pup who is kept with its litter mates past the age of 10 weeks may have become dependent on his mates. . Be sure the breeder has given individual attention and training to the pups.

Is the paperwork in order? You should receive a contract (signed by both buyer and seller), and a Pedigree. Most responsible breeders sell their pet pups on spay/neuter contracts, which means you will receive the registration application AFTER your dog has been spayed or neutered. That should be explained in the contract. You should not have to pay extra for the pedigree.

Does the breeder have a number of litters at the same time? Are the litters separated and the individuals identified? How many of the past puppy buyers is the breeder still in contact with after 1 year? 2 years? 5 years? Have the pups been hearing tested? Deafness is not uncommon in Dalmatians for example. It can be detected at an early age, and affected pups should be humanely destroyed.

Have the parents been X-rayed for hip dysplasia? Is the breeder aware of the genetic problems in the breed and is he breeding for sound healthy dogs with stable temperaments?

Will you receive a supply of food, instructions about the care and feeding, a list of necessary supplies and health record? Does the breeder supply dog care books, as well as information about vets and training schools?

Is the dog breeder experienced? Will he be able to answer your questions or help with any problems that arise? That’s one of the biggest disadvantages in buying a pet shop or commercially raised pup. No one cares whether or not you’re having trouble. They only want your money.

Did the dog breeder insist that you take the dog through obedience training? Responsible breeders make that a requirement for sale. All dogs should have at least one basic obedience class.

Did he tell you about the good and bad features of the breed? All breeds have their drawbacks, and they should have been explained to you. Did the breeder talk to you about dog crates, explain how to use them and stress how helpful they are?

Is the breeder curious about you? A responsible breeder is concerned about the welfare of their puppies and will insist on certain criteria before placing a puppy. Be prepared to be grilled by him.

He may check with you on the following issues:

• Fenced garden
• Doghouse.
• Proper veterinary care
• Proper care and nutrition
• Socialization, training, obedience classes
• Spaying, neutering (if applicable)

A good breeder should be able to answer almost any breed specific question that you ask

And be prepared, he may insist on visiting the puppy in your home.

Common questions asked by reputable breeders are:

Are you aware of the problems (health, temperament, conformation or whatever) in this breed?

If you answer in the negative, expect to be educated at great length if this is an applicable subject. Will your dog be a housedog? Many breeders will not sell to anyone who does not want the dog in the house.

One very common question is whether you have children. Most good breeders will insist on seeing your family, especially if you say that the children want a dog. This is done to observe how well mannered the children are. If they’re obnoxious brats who never listen to their parents then chances are, they won’t be nice to a puppy.

Are you aware of the size of the adult dog? You may be surprised but some owners get rid of their dog because it got too big. Some people don’t properly research a breed before they make a decision to buy and the adult size or coat may be more than they want to cope with.

Are you aware of the temperament traits of this breed? He may ask if everbody in the house wants this pet. (A home where the wife loves dogs and the husband or kids don’t like dogs may end up being a bad home.)