What to look for in a Responsible Breeder

Starting the Search:

Attend a local dog show. Show catalogs list the names and addresses of the owners of entered dogs. You can also talk to the owners and handlers of the dogs (though not when they're about to go into the ring!) and get some leads that way.

Learn about your breed before you look to buy one. Read the breed standard, find out about grooming requirements, typical temperaments, health problems that are common in the breed, etc. Irresponsible breeders hate educated buyers! Responsible breeders love them!

Price alone should not be a factor in deciding what breeder to buy from. While a high price doesn't necessarily guarantee high quality, a very low price often does not turn out to be a bargain in the long run. Find out what typical prices are for show and pet quality puppies of your breed in your area. Anything dramatically above or below that range should be a red flag.

Be patient. You may have to wait a few months (or longer) to find the right dog from a good breeder. This is a very short time compared with the twelve to fifteen years or more that a beagle will live with you.

Remember to ask a lot of questions, and expect to have a reputable breeder ask YOU a lot of questions too. Don't take offense at what may seem like quite personal questions - these people only want what is best for their puppies.

Responsible Breeders DO:

Breed in order to improve the breed and produce the best puppies they possibly can.

Usually plan to keep one puppy at least for themselves - that is WHY they bred the litter.

Ask a lot of questions about your home and life.

Sell on a non-breeding agreement unless you are buying the dog as a show prospect.

Show evidence of at least two or three years of serious interest in their breed, i.e. dog club memberships in addition to a CKC membership, show and match ribbons, and Championship and/or performance (obedience, agility,tracking, field, etc.) titles.

Breed only dogs that closely match the breed standard and are free of serious health and temperament problems.

Tell you if they think you would be better off with another breed of dog, or no dog at all.

Provide referrals to other breeders if they don't have anything available.

Use a written contract and guarantee, or at least an oral agreement, when selling a dog, with clear terms that you can live with.

Provide a registration (within 6 months), a pedigree, and up-to-date shots/health records with every puppy they sell.

Honestly discuss any special problems/requirements associated with the breed.

Offer assistance and advice on grooming, training, etc., for the life of the dog.

If, for any reason and at any time, you cannot keep the dog, will take it back.

If they offer stud service, are fussy about what bitches their dog is bred to; requiring to see a pedigree, inquiring about titles and health clearances.

Have dogs that are clean, healthy, happy, and humanely cared for.

Responsible Breeders DO NOT:

Suggest that you can 'make back' the cost of your puppy by breeding it later - probably after paying them a stud fee for their stud!

Offer their dog at stud to any and all comers for a price.

Appear overly eager to sell a puppy.

Breed simply to produce puppies to sell.

Breed a bitch on every season, or more than once a year.

Claim that all of their puppies are "show/breeding quality".

Claim that their breed has no health problems.

Sell puppies to pet stores or to anyone that they have not met and screened personally.

Sell puppies without papers or charge extra for papers.

Have more than one or two litters at any given time, or litters of several breeds.

Breed mutts or 'designer breeds', like 'labradoodles' or 'puggles'.

Attach such unreasonable conditions to their guarantee that it is unlikely that they would ever have to honor it; i.e., "dog must not be spayed or neutered, must never have been bred, and the ears must stand correctly".