Help with Choosing a Puppy- Choosing a Good Dog Breeder

   When choosing a dog breed, the dog should fit your life-style. If you are not active then maybe you want a laid back dog breed. If you don't like a lot of dog hair in the carpet, then you don't want a dog breed that sheds too much. If you have allergies, then you will need to find a dog that is non-allergenic.
   Odds are, if you don't pick the right dog breed for your lifestyle, then it will become one of the millions of animals that are put to sleep every year through no fault of its own. You might give the dog away to another person, but down the road they might have the same problems and take the dog to the pound.
   A dog is a lifetime commitment. When buying a puppy as a gift, PLEASE do not just go out and buy a puppy for them. Have them help pick the breed, read up on health issues such as genetic or common health problems with that breed. It's your job to research the breed and the breeder. Our recommendation is that you should always take a puppy to at least 2 obedience classes so that your puppy will socialize with other dogs and other people. Dog owners need to continuously train their dog the right way. It's a job that needs done!

BEFORE PURCHASING A PUPPY:
Before calling a breeder or buying a puppy we recommend to visit our other page, HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD BREEDER. It is up to the individual to check if the breeder or kennel or puppy is or can be registered by the international or national kennel clubs or specialty clubs in that country such as AKC, CKC, FCI, KC or other major kennel clubs, specialty breed clubs. Check with breeder if the puppies parents has been thoroughly checked by foundations that screen for health problems such as OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals). Some other associations are PennHip - University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program, the VBDM - Veterinary Medical Database and CERF - Canine Eye Registration Foundation. Do your research of the breeder, the breed itself, breed's health and diseases, life span, puppy's parents, proper paper work, etc. before buying a puppy.

PART I: KNOW THE DOG BREED

1. Find out what dog clubs represents your breed.
There are many different types of dog clubs.
International dog clubs being from different countries representing the majority of dog breeds.
Examples: American Kennel Club www.akc.org or the Canadian Kennel Club www.ckc.ca
Breed clubs or specific dog breed clubs representing only 1 dog breed.
Example: Labrador Retriever Club of Canada

All breed dog clubs located in different countries, states or provinces.
Example: Brantford and District Kennel and Obedience Club.
Rescue dog clubs representing 1 breed or all dog breeds.
Example: Rottweiler Rescue Club

2. Read and study different breed standards.
A breed standard states facts of what the dog breed should look like, how large the dog is, the features and colors, the dogs coat style or colors, spots or highlights of colors, etc. Please note that there are some dog breeds that standards might slightly vary from 1 breed club to another. A Rottweiler with Canadian bloodlines compared to a Rottweiler with German bloodlines might differ in size, etc. There both registered or purebred Rottweilers, but you will have to choose.
Beware of ads that advertise things against the standard: such as unacceptable colors and sizes (ex. teacups, red Rottweilers, white/albino Dobermans, curly coat where straight coat is in the standard, etc.)
Go to breeders websites, clubs websites, dog directory websites and read up on the breed standards.

If you need dog breed information, visit our home page and click on the breed or visit some of these links below:

AKC Standards Index (American Kennel Club)	NZKC Standards Index (New Zealand Kennel Club)	ANKC Standards Index (Australian National Kennel Club)
KC Standards Index (The Kennel Club)	UKC Standards Index (United Kennel Club)	PetCARE Information Center Index (University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine) An EXCELLENT WEBSITE!

3. Know The History and Original Purpose of the Dog Breed.
Classifying dogs by breed purpose is a sound method for evaluating potential behavior. Even though every dog is an individual and will be affected by early environment and training, if you truly want a retriever or hunting dog, it is important to start with a breed that has generations of expertise bred into him and let training accentuate what comes naturally. An example of some classifications of dog breeds are:

Sporting Dogs - pointing breeds, game flushers, setters and retrievers
Hounds - hunters with a keen sense of smell and sight
Working - guard dogs and draft workers
Terriers - hunters of vermin and bred to go into burrows
Toys - pets and lap dogs for companionship
Non-Sporting - dogs that perform a variety of tasks
Herding - livestock herder (primarily cattle and sheep)
Misc - other breeds

4. Call the national or local breed rescue, animal shelter or veterinarian practice.
NATIONAL BREED CLUB RESCUE NETWORK
Lets face it. Even when a dog breed is popular, dogs are given up. Find out what the most common problem is when your dog breed choice is given up. Examples are often too high energy, bark too much, whining, stubborn, not easy to train, etc. Learning about the common "complaints" will help you decide if this breed is a poor choice for your family and life-style.

5. Attend some dog shows or field trial events and meet some of the breed and their owners or professional show dog handlers personally.
You can find these by asking the breed club for local events or, with AKC dogs, checking

6. Read and learn about your chosen breed.
Visit breeders websites. Talk to both pet and show/work owners.
Visit posting or discussion websites that post information about the dog breed.
Sometimes discussion groups have arguments about the breed or dislikes of a breeder that does not stand up to their "code of ethics"
There you will see issues about health, care, training, problems, etc.
Visit the PCF Dog Boards and AOLs Talk About Dogs. TALK to owners there who can be both great sources of information before you get a dog and help and support afterwards.
Do searches on the internet for breeders websites and read what they have to say about the breed. Look for a website that gives good and bad information about the breed.

7. Know what the breed recommended tests for genetic and health problems should be done. Do not accept excuses for a breeder not having the major ones done.
The breed club will often have these listed in their "Code of Ethics" but if you do not find them, ask for a list.

8. Decide what you want the dog for, pet, show, working?
Do you really need a perfect show quality puppy? Do you want an older dog where some of the training has already been done or the dog has picked up some bad habits? How about a rescue dog? An advantage to adult dogs, particularly rescue and shelter dogs, is you will quickly see what the dog's temperament and genetic problems might be already evident.

Part II: FINDING THE RIGHT SOURCE

1. Don't buy off a pet store.
Reputable breeders as a standard "Code of Ethics" don't sell to a broker or pet store, or to supply a dog for an auction or raffle.
Responsible breeders place their own animals, with contracts. The best way to find a breeder is through the breed club referral, then meeting and getting references.

2. Most breeders do not advertise locally or in the phone book yellow pages.
To find responsible breeders you may have to do much more than open a newspaper.
However, some breeders do advertise, so learn how to read the advertisements to find those that do.
Today, more are more breeders are turning to the internet instead of local newspapers to promote their breed
Reading Classified Ads

3. Talk to different breeders.
If a breeder who does not have time for you now, or is unwilling to set up a time to talk, is probably not going to have time for you later. By talking to different breeders you will pickup on what to look for in a good breeder and what to watch out for with bad breeders.

Questions a breeder should ask you

Questions to ask your breeder

4. Be sure and see certificates of health testing on parents.

For Example:

HEART -- cleared by a CARDIOLOGIST within the previous year (not just regular vet).
OFA - Heart Registry

EYES--Sire and dam should have a current (within the last year) CERF test by an OPTHAMOLOGIST (this also cannot be a regular vet).
Canine Eye Registration Foundation

PATELLAS--Luxating, or slipping, patellas, or kneecaps are a common problem in toy breeds. A (regular) vet needs to check sire and dam before breeding. Certification can also come from the OFA.
For some basic information:
Luxating Patella: A Knee Problem in Dogs

HIPS--OFA An xray is taken by a regular vet and sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for a grading of excellent, good, fair, borderline, or degrees of dysplasia. The OFA website has some excellent information and you can check the status on any dog
OFA Genetic Databases - Hip Dysplasia.

Blood Disorders such as vWD.
von Willebrand's Disease

5. Health Paper Work

Check out the paper work from their vet for the puppies vaccinations, worming, and any other vet visits that the puppy might of had.
Make sure you see proper paper work results that the puppies parents have had done about common hereditary defects in the breed.
Examples in some breeds, yet not all are:
eyes, hearing, hip dysplasia, heart murmurs, etc.
See if the paper work results are done by their own local vet or sent to a well known animal lab.
Ask for written guarantees against hereditary defects
Ask about a written return policy and their time limit in case things don't work out.
Inquire about registered papers for the puppy and special arrangements such as non-breeding contracts, meaning you can not breed the puppy you are buying without the permission of that breeder.
Inquire about your puppy spayed/neuter agreements, showing agreements, professional dog show handler agreements, advertising your puppy, registered names, etc.

6. Shelter Dogs:
Many of the breed clubs will work with you if you decide to adopt from a shelter in evaluating the dog.
Unless you are a professional trainer or very experienced, do not take on dogs with any aggression problems. If there is some question or the dog needs some temporary training, it might be possible to have a rescue group foster and work with a dog that you find if you are willing to sponsor the dog until it is ready for placement. If you can get the aid of a good breed rescue, this is a very good evaluation tool. It may be worth the expense to pay a trainer to help you evaluate any shelter dog.
IMPS: Evaluating Shelter Dogs

7. Rescue groups:
Most breed club rescues will have evaluated and often fostered a dog for several weeks or months before placement.
Like responsible breeders, most will also take back the dog if for any reason things do not work out.

8. Puppy Mills:
Know what a puppy mill actually is.
There are tons of websites that warn you how to suspect a puppy mill.
www.nopuppymills.com

Part III: SELECTING THE RIGHT DOG

Many breeders will meet with you, get to know what you seek and will help match you to the right puppy. If you do not trust the breeder to do this, it is possible that you have chosen the wrong breeder. A breeder that will allow you to pick any puppy might not be an experienced breeder. Not all puppies are suitable for all families and not all families are right for certain puppies.

Puppies should rarely leave the litter prior to 8 weeks of age, and with some breeds not until 10 to 12 weeks of age. While many breeds cease nursing by 4 weeks of age, it is critical they remain with their littermates to learn pack behaviour and biting inhibition. Anyone willing to place a puppy less than a few days short of 8 weeks should be viewed with caution. Be aware it is also ILLEGAL in some states to place before 8 weeks of age. These links should provide some basic understanding of what goes into evaluating a puppy.

Puppy Aptitude Test

How to Evaluate a Litter