Dog Breeder Questions

If you are buying a purebred puppy, ask the dog breeder questions so that you choose a dog breeder who is reputable and responsible. If a breeder displays any of the following five behaviors, then he or she probably is NOT breeding healthy puppies in accordance with standards that have been set for the breed.

1. The breeder is willing to sell you any puppy you want, no questions asked.

All reputable dog breeders care about what happens to every puppy they breed, even after the dog leaves their care. A good dog breeder questions you about your lifestyle, experience with the breed, house and property size, show or breeding experience, and any other aspect of your life that may affect the puppy's future. If your answers to these questions are not satisfactory, then the breeder probably won't sell the puppy to you.

A good dog breeder will also require that you sign a contract in which you agree to have the puppy spayed or neutered if you're not going to breed it, notify the breeder if the dog develops any diseases or medical conditions, notify the breeder first if you are no longer able to care for your dog, and do anything else the breeder feels is important for the health and well-being of the puppy and the breed. If a breeder doesn't seem to care about the puppy's future and only seems interested in payment, go to another breeder.

2. The breeder seems reluctant to answer questions about the puppy's pedigree.

Ask the dog breeder questions about the puppy's pedigree. A reputable dog breeder knows all about the pedigrees of the puppies he or she sells and can provide you with each puppy's lineage, going back several generations.

For you to register your purebred puppy with the American Kennel Club (AKC), the breeder is supposed to give you an AKC registration application with his or her portion already filled out. If a breeder cannot provide you with any documentation or registration papers for either the litter or the parents, be extremely wary.

3. The breeder does not seem concerned with the health of the dogs.

When you tour the dog breeder's facility, notice if the puppies and other dogs look healthy. If not, the breeder may not be maintaining an appropriate standard of care, which could definitely affect the health of the puppy in which you're interested. The breeder should have a record of the puppy's health care, from birth to the present, and happily provide you with copies. The breeder should also guarantee that the puppy is free from any genetic disorders.

4. The breeder will not let you see the breeding facility.

Any reputable dog breeder will gladly give you a tour of the breeding facility. If a breeder is not willing to let you see the facility, the breeder may be running a puppy mill. Puppy mills are facilities that breed puppies only for profit, often in horrible conditions. Often, multiple dogs are crammed into one cage, the living conditions are filthy, and the dogs do not receive the proper nutrition or medical care.

5. The breeder engages in questionable business practices.

If the asking price for your purebred puppy is significantly lower than other prices you've seen advertised for the same breed, something may be wrong with the dog. If the breeder has many different breeds for sale, then this is another indication that he or she may be breeding animals indiscriminately, without much concern for set breed standards. Reputable breeders usually concentrate on one or two breeds.

For more dog breeder questions, pick up a copy of Choosing a Dog for Dummies, it's a really useful read & will provide answers to most of your burning questions!.

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