TIPS FOR FINDING A REPUTABLE BREEDER

• Never be in a hurry to purchase a puppy. Your relationship with your dog and it's breeder will last for many years. There is a responsible breeder out there with a puppy for you. Wait until you find him or her.
  
  
• Contact the national breed club or local/regional club and request names of reputable breeders near you.
  
  
• Avoid breeders that advertise in the newspaper. Rarely, if ever, will you find a reputable breeder advertising in a local paper. The type of breeder that advertises in the newspaper usually breeds for profit, without regard to their dog's or the puppies health and well being. More often than not, this type of breeder does not perform the testing and health clearances necessary in almost every purebred breed of dog to ensure that their offspring are as free as possible of genetic defects. Sometimes this is out of ignorance, but usually it is because it costs a lot of money. Irresponsibly bred puppies may suffer from hereditary diseases that surface as the dog matures, often at great expense and heartbreak to the unsuspecting new owners, and often causing pain and suffering for the dog.
  
  
• Call the breeder. Don't write. Most are very busy and your letter may be overlooked. A good breeder will ask you LOTS of questions: Do you have a fenced yard? Do you have children? Have you had dogs before? What happened to your last dogs? Why do you want a dog of this particular breed?
  
  
• Ask questions. A responsible breeder will be prepared to tell you the bad as well as the good points about the breed, and about his/her lines. Ask about health problems. A responsible breeder will be informed about the genetic problems in the breed, and in their lines. A responsible breeder will also guarantee in writing that your puppy is free of these defects.
  
  
• Ask to see copies of the OFA certificates for hip and elbow dysplasia on the sire and dam. The breeder should be knowledgeable about the hip scores of the last 3-4 generations in the puppies pedigree. For more information on certificates and hip/elbow dysplasia, visit the OFA website.
  
  
• Ask if the breeder has cleared eyes, heart and thyroid in the sire and dam and if so, ask to see copies of the CERF certificate for eyes, and OFA certificates for thyroid and heart.
  
  
• Ask if your breeder belongs to any dog clubs. Most responsible breeders belong to their national breed association or one or more regional clubs. Verify with the clubs that the breeder is a member in good standing.
  
  
• Ask if your breeder shows in conformation, obedience, agility, schutzhund, etc. Responsible breeders seldom sit home cranking out puppies. Nearly all of them are involved in one or more activities with their dogs. If the sire and dam are titled, ask to see the AKC certificates for any titles earned.
  
  
• Inspect the premises where the puppies have been raised. This includes a look at the parents, if both are available, or at least the dam. The area where the puppies are raised should be clean, well-lighted, and in close proximity to people and interesting sights and sounds. The breeder's dogs should display the temperament appropriate for the breed, but they should not be shy, fearful, or menacing. The dogs should all be clean and well-groomed.
  
  
• Beware of a breeder who has many different breeds. A good breeder normally concentrates on one or two breeds at the most.
  
  
• Be prepared to wait. A good breeder is unlikely to have puppies available all the time. Be cautious about making a deposit on unborn litters. Ask for a referral to another responsible breeder who may have puppies on the ground.
  
  
• Be prepared to pay a fair price for the puppy. A responsible breeder is lucky to break even. Most are bleeding money by the time they have paid the costs of breeding, raising, immunizing, and training their puppies. Buying from a pet shop or backyard breeder usually results in paying more and higher vet bills.
  
  
• When you buy a puppy, you should receive an AKC registration certificate, a written health record, and written instructions for the puppy's care and feeding. Many responsible breeders will also require you to sign a written sales contract with a spay/neuter agreement.