A Peek into Picking the Perfect Puppy
I recently spoke to a gentleman who was looking for puppy training. He had picked out a breeder and the puppy was coming home in July. He was excited to tell me all about the plans he had for his puppy, and told me all about how the breeder he had picked out was responsible and reputable. Unfortunately, upon further inspection into the breeder, I found some concerning red flags. The gentleman buying the puppy was trying to do all the right things, and really tried to do his research, but ultimately fell off the mark. If somebody who attempts to do their due diligence can be bamboozled by a less than stellar breeder, how can anybody hope to find the right breeder and the right puppy? Here’s a reputable breeder checklist which I have compiled over the course of the last 5 years through discussions with responsible breeders, firsthand experience training puppies from both reputable and less than reputable breeders. In my Pick the Perfect Puppy Program, I go through this checklist plus loads more information in detail, with your specific breed or breeder in mind.
A reputable breeder will:
1. Have only as many adult dogs on the property that they can care for with a reasonable standard of care. For example, my personal limit at my own house is 8 dogs, though I only have one currently. That leaves enough time for feeding, cleaning, exercising, play, training, grooming, and just hanging out with the dogs! Some people have a higher or lower limit.
2. Not necessarily have the male on the property. A reputable breeder may find a mate for their female across the country and use artificial insemination, because a reputable breeder will be making sure that the genetics will combine in such a way that will improve the breed.
3. Do some form of showmanship or activity with their adult dogs. This may include Conformation or Obedience or may be more breed-related such as cart pull, herding, or therapy work. This is a way of proving that the stock they are producing are of sound body and mind and can still do the jobs they were created for as well as being a good pet.
4. Screen for appropriate genetic issues on all their breeding dogs, or have proof that their dog's line has been screened free of genetic issues. (For the breed this gentleman was looking into, issues include thyroid imbalance, which is especially important as this contributes to aggression; x-rays for hip and elbow dysplasia, which are completely crippling in larger breeds; and progressive retinal atrophy.)
5. Only sell to buyers who meet a quality of care standard, which may be confirmed either by an interview or an application. This includes not selling to pet shops or puppy brokers, or over the internet sight unseen.
6. Be careful about selling dogs for others to breed, as a reputable breeder cares about each member of the breed and wants to ensure that the breed stays healthy and sound of mind, and isn't watered down by poor breeding practices.
7. Vaccinate for parvovirus and distemper at appropriate ages, as well as vaccinating for rabies and keeping up to date on all other veterinary care.
8. Keep puppies with their mother and siblings until at least 8 weeks of age, and in some cases 10 weeks. This helps build better dog communication skills, which is crucial for a stereo-typically aggressive breed.
9. Raise only so many litters in a timeframe that will allow them to adequately socialize puppies during the critical socialization period, which runs from 3-16 weeks. It is a reputable breeder's responsibility to make sure they give that puppy 5 weeks of stellar socialization so that you can continue them on that path. Again, this is super critical for a more aggressive breed. This socialization includes being raised in the house (not a garage, kennel, or outdoors), being exposed to many different places, being exposed to strange people and friendly healthy dogs, and lots of handling exercises to help them tolerate grooming and veterinary care. When I have raised litters in the past, this comes down to about an hour a day for the first 4 weeks, and 15 minutes per puppy per day fort the weeks following. For me, my limit would be no more than one litter at a time, possibly only 1-2 per year, and that's with me only having a few other dogs.
10. Register their dogs with an appropriate kennel club. For most US breeders, this is the American Kennel Club, but can also be the United Kennel Club or a breed specific registry. Championship bloodlines are not enough to ensure a well-bred dog, as genetics can be watered down very quickly when not bred the correct way.
I hope these 10 checklist items can help you or a friend on the search for a reputable breeder. Of course, there is so much more to picking the perfect puppy, and choosing a reputable breeder does not guarantee a good match for your family. What other items do you personally look for in a reputable breeder? Tell me in the comments!
