breeds.
National clubs and registries, such as the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), and The Kennel Club (England), can provide you with overall information on a specific breed as well as their parent or affiliate clubs. These clubs usually have breeders listed on their websites and/or membership coordinators who can put you in touch with breeders in your area. Membership in a parent club is not a guarantee that the breeders are responsible or ethical, but it is a good place to start. Again, you will need to do your due diligence.Many breeders talk with great knowledge about pedigrees and conformation, but keep in mind that their opinions can be very biased. Of course, they will tell you that their puppies are the best! Therefore, you will want to talk to many breeders and ask a lot of questions so that you have something to compare before making your decision, and always, always visit the breeder’s facilities.
You will want to see firsthand the breeder’s home or kennel, all of the puppies, the dam, and possibly the sire, if he’s available. You want to see how the breeder keeps his or her dogs. This point cannot be stressed enough. Are they house dogs? Indoor/outdoor dogs? Are the dogs clean and well cared for? Are they kenneled 24/7 or—heaven forbid—tied to a tree or doghouse?
But what if the breeder is several hours or several states away, you ask? It’s completely possible that you may not find the puppy you’re looking for close to home. You can purchase a puppy and have him shipped to you by the breeder, be it across the state or across the country. However, unless you personally know the breeder, or the kennel has outstanding references from people you trust, it is always prudent to meet the puppy in person. Selling dogs online has become increasingly popular, but online photos can be deceiving and will not tell you anything about the puppy’s temperament, personality, or health.
As puppy mills have come under increased scrutiny, many disreputable puppy brokers (who call themselves “breeders”) have moved their operations online. Sadly, not all people who breed dogs are trustworthy, and the puppy you choose from an online source may be a far cry from what arrives at your doorstep. The best way to be certain you are acquiring a puppy from a responsible breeder is to visit the kennel personally. If a breeder tells you that you can’t visit his or her house or facility or see the mother and the littermates—or if the breeder makes excuses, such as telling you that the mother is tired or at the groomer—do not buy a puppy from this breeder.
An important point to consider is why breeders have litters to sell. Anyone can be a breeder, but why he or she is breeding may send up a red flag—or two! Does the breeder breed working or show dogs, or is this person simply breeding his or her pet dogs to make money? Was this an “oops!” breeding?
In your search, you’re likely to come across breeders who are not interested in the well-being of their dogs or the betterment of the breed. “"Backyard breeders,"” as they are called, are easy to spot once you know what to look for and understand the characteristics of a responsible breeder. Backyard breeders have little regard or concern for their dogs’ pedigrees, working ability, or the finer points of the breed standard. Their bottom line is almost always money, and they usually sell their dogs on a first-come, first-served basis with little regard for the future welfare or living conditions of the dogs.
That said, some backyard breeders are not necessarily bad people, and they don’t all have unscrupulous intentions. Some of them truly love their dogs and provide good care. However, they are ignorant about the complexities of canine health, structural issues, temperament, inherited characteristics, and the long-term consequences of breeding dogs. Many are unaware that they are contributing to an even larger problem—pet overpopulation.
Purchasing your puppy from a backyard breeder is a gamble. You may pay less up front for a puppy, but it’s highly likely that you will pay a good deal more in vet bills down the road—especially if the dog has serious health or temperament problems.
Be smart. Do your homework. If you are going to purchase a puppy, buy from a responsible, knowledgeable breeder who understands and cares about the breed—someone who will be there to help you through the transition periods, offer training advice, and help you make serious decisions regarding the care and well-being of your new puppy.
Rescue Organizations
Rescue organizations are a viable option, although they tend to have more adult dogs than puppies. That’s not to say you won’t find the puppy of your dreams via rescue. Sometimes pregnant mama dogs or young puppies find their way into rescue.
Dogs end up in rescue through no fault of their own. Too many of these dogs are surrendered because their owners made an impulse purchase, did not give sufficient thought to taking on a dog, or did not understand the time and effort required in owning, training, and caring for a dog. Some owners failed to research their chosen breed thoroughly and got a super-active Irish Setter when what they really needed was a low-key Pekingese. Some dogs in rescue have been abused or mishandled. Others are given up or abandoned after they outgrow the cute puppy stage. Many of these dogs are strays or have been voluntarily surrendered to animal shelters because of their owners’ personal or family illness, divorce, death, or other changes.
Numerous rescue organizations exist—large and small, independent and breed-club supported. Most national breed clubs sponsor their own rescue groups. If you are looking for a particular breed, consider contacting the breed’s national parent club, which can put you in touch with a rescue coordinator.
Rescue organizations carefully evaluate each dog for health and temperament issues. Some dogs are placed in experienced foster homes, where they receive veterinary attention, training, grooming, and lots of love until they can be placed in permanent homes.
Plenty of wonderful, loving companions have come out of rescue. Many go on to excel in canine sports, including obedience, agility, herding, flyball and more—proving that dogs can flourish in the hands of responsible people who are willing to love, train, and provide for their dogs’ physical and mental needs.
If you go this route, be sure to go in with eyes wide open. Understand that many of these dogs were not trained properly in their prior homes and may have behavioral issues. Are you prepared to commit to a rescue dog? If so, find out as much as you can about the dog—his history, training, behavior, and so forth. If no history is known, and oftentimes it is not, be sure to consult an experienced trainer or behaviorist for advice.
Pet Shops
Best advice: steer clear of pet stores that sell puppies. Your heart instinctively will go for the adorable but shy, skittish puppy. It is human nature to feel sorry for sad pups in a store window, but these puppies are risky business. Many have had the worst possible start in life, and your life—and your puppy’s—may be fraught with challenges, especially health issues and the associated veterinary expenses.
Responsible breeders—who usually belong to a parent club and abide by a code of ethics—would never sell their puppies to pet stores or any other third-party seller. Therefore, the majority of pet-shop puppies come from puppy mills or farms, where the sire and dam live under deplorable conditions and are bred over and over again purely for profit. These dogs are unhealthy and receive little or no veterinary care, and the puppies are taken at very young ages and sent to dealers or directly to pet stores. Because the puppies are taken from their mothers too soon, they receive no socialization or parental guidance and are often timid, fearful, and downright spooky.
Don’t be fooled by the kennel club registration papers. Many a pedigree has been faked, and none of the documents accompanying a pet-store puppy is an indication or guarantee of quality. Purchasing a puppy from a pet store only encourages irresponsible breeders to produce more litters—purely for financial gain.
Humane Societies and Shelters
Puppies
