The biggest reason - you save yourself from
potential heartbreak. Your
choice of a breeder could be the single most important decision
you make regarding your future dog.
In addition, how a pup is raised their first eight weeks
is important in determinging the future temperament and
trainability. A pup raised in filth will be much harder
to house break. A pup with poor early socialization may
be timid and have a hard time bonding with his new owners.
A puppy should stay with its mom and littermates to at least
8 weeks of age. Some states even have puppy laws that mandate
a puppy must be at least 7 weeks of age before it can go
to a new home. This age isn't due to weaning, it's because
the puppy learns important social skills from mom and littermates.
These social skills help make a better behaved and adjusted
dog down the road.
Specific health tests (i.e. hip and elbow x-rays, cardiac
screening, eye cerfitication, thyroid testing) offer much
more information than a regular vet visit can provide. Health
tests vary somewhat from breed to breed. Visit your breed's
parent
club to see what issues afflict the breed, to determine
what kinds of tests you should expect. Note: puppies
can not be health tested as these kinds of tests are done
on grown dogs to determine if they should be bred.
Irresponsible Breeders
There are different types of irresponsible
breeders. Some love their dog and want "one"
just like him/her. They think other people deserve a puppy
just like their wonderful "Spike". They aren't
in it for the money. They're not trying to rip anyone
off. Their dogs are well cared for and usually well-loved
members of their family.
However, they lack knowledge. They don't know what is
behind their dog in the pedigree. They don't know/understand
their standard or basic genetics for their breed. They
don't know about the potential health problems. They don't
know their own dog's faults or strengths.
Other irresponsible breeders are intentionally shady.
They might know about a health or temperament problem
and either ignore it or even attempt to hide it from buyers.
They lie and misrepresent themselves and their dogs.
Most people seem to think that it's OK to purchase from
that first type because the breeder has good intentions
at heart. The thing is, ignorance is no better
than greed when it comes to breeders.
Apathy, greed, ignorance...all bad qualities in a breeder.
While they might have different motivations, the
end result can be the same. Why not stack the
odds of good health and stable temperaments in your favor?
This is your future family member!
Traits of Responsible Breeders
Showing - Why is showing important to the pet buyer?
A common misconception is that showing is unimportant
to the pet buyer. While you, as a buyer, need not show,
your breeder should be showing their dogs.
First, why is a breed standard important? Think of
a breed standard like blueprint, to build a structurally
sound building. The more deviations from the blueprint,
the weaker the structure, until the point it is a safety
risk.
It's the same thing with dogs. A breed standard details
correct structure - not just what the novice can easily
see, but fine details of the dog's structure. The more
faults, and the greater their severity, the higher probility
of the dog's structure failing them.
The standards also detail out type - which
is what makes each breed unique.
Conformation showing is how a dog conforms
to their breed standard. Showing provides a breeder
with unbiased and educated evaluations of their dogs.
It's easy to overlook your own pet's faults, after all,
pets are perfect to their owners!
Showing is one tool for breeders to use, helping them
make appropriate breeding choices. Showing is not the
be all, end all. It does not make a breeder responsible.
There is no magic dust sprinkled on exhibitors when
they step into a show ring. There is no class or test
one has to pass before becoming an exhibitor (or a breeder!).
In addition to the actual evaluation of the dogs, showing
provides an excellent way for breeders to connect to
their peers. When people are closed off in their own
little corners of the world, they lack perspective.
Perspective affords more informed breeding decisions.
From knowing the issues in the breed, to finding the
best mate possible for your dog.
Peer connection also helps breeders learn from their
peers - both inmistakes and successes. Why reinvent
wheels and risk the lives of puppies and potential heartbreak
for their owners?
Showing also provides an excellent place for breeders
to learn. Sit ringside with a mentor. Seeing and discussing
the various specimans being shown provide way more insight
than simply reading the words written in the breed standard.
Dog show clubs also offer educational meetings/seminars
that keep fanciers abreast of important information
on health, training, rearing puppies and more. A breeder
that is involved in their breed, beyond just shelling
out puppies, is a much safer bet.
What can a pedigree tell a buyer?
"My dog has a pedigree." or "My dog has
a great pedigree!"
ALL dogs have pedigrees. See beyond names on paper. Think
"ancestors" instead of pedigree. If the dog
is AKC registered, AKC has tracked the dog's pedigree
on paper. This is no indication of quality.
Keep in mind that a pedigree is only has reliable as
the breeders behind it.
When looking at a pedigree, you want to see champions
"up close" - the parents and grandparents. Champions
generations back are irrelevant. Lots can change in a
few generations.
Good breeders
will take your time, bad breeders will take your money.
It's worth it to do your research and be patient.
OK, so you know you want to purchase from
a responsible breeder. Now what? Read How
to Find a Responsible Breeder.
