Dog Breeders Gone Wild: 5 Things to Look Out For
New dog owners should always make sure that their purebred pup comes from a
reputable and responsible breeder.
This really is the only way to ensure
that the animal will be free of any medical or behavioral problems.
If a
breeder you speak with displays any of the following 5 behaviors, he or she
probably isn't breeding healthy puppies in accordance with standards that have
been set for the breed.
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1. The breeder is willing to sell you any puppy you want, no questions asked.
All reputable dog breeders care about what happens to each and every puppy they
breed, even after it leaves their care.
Indeed, a good breeder will ask you
many, many questions 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
breeder will also require that you sign a contract in which you agree to: have
the puppy fixed 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
your breeder doesn't seem to care about the puppy's future and only seems
interested in payment, go to another breeder.
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2. The breeder seems reluctant to answer questions about the puppy's pedigree.
A reputable breeder knows all about the pedigrees of the puppies he or she
sells.
He or she knows who the parents were and can provide you with each
puppy's lineage, going back several generations.
You will also want to register
your purebred puppy with the American Kennel Club (AKC).
The breeder is
supposed to supply you with an AKC registration application with his or her
portion already filled out.
After you fill out and submit your part of the
application, you'll receive an AKC registration certificate.
If the breeder you
are dealing with cannot provide you with any documentation or registration
papers for either the litter or the parents, be extremely wary.
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3. The breeder does not seem too concerned with the health of his or her
animals.
Any potential buyer of a purebred puppy should be able to see the facility in
which the animal was bred.
Do the puppies and other dogs there look healthy?
If
not, then the breeder may not be maintaining an appropriate standard of care.
This could definitely affect the current and future health of the puppy in
which you're interested.
The breeder should also have a record of the puppy's
health care, from birth to the present, and should be happy to provide you with
copies.
He or she should also guarantee that the puppy is free from any genetic
disorders.
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4. The breeder will not allow you to see the breeding facility.
Any reputable breeder will be happy to give you a tour of their facility.
If
the breeder you've chosen is not willing to let you see where your potential
puppy comes from, the breeder may be running a puppy mill.
Puppy mills are
facilities that breed puppies only for profit, not for the benefit or love of
the breed.
Often, multiple dogs are crammed into one cage, the living
conditions are filthy and the dogs there do not receive the proper nutrition or
medical care.
If the puppy you want comes from such a facility, it will most
likely have serious medical and behavioral issues related to its stay there.
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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, there may be something wrong
with the dog.
Perhaps it comes from a puppy mill or has some serious medical
issues.
If the breeder also sells to pet stores, you can be pretty sure that he
or she is operating a puppy mill.
Reputable breeders usually concentrate on one
or two breeds.
If the breeder advertises that he or she 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.
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