REMEMBER 85% OF PUREBRED DOGS ARE RAISED IN  FIVE MIDWEST STATES ARKANSAS, IOWA, KANSAS, MISSOURI AND OKLAHOMA BUT 85% OF THE U.S. POPULACE IS 1 - 2 HOURS FROM AN OCEAN. IF PUPPY BUYERS  LIMIT THEMSELVES TO  LOOKING ONLY IN THEIR LOCAL NEWSPAPER OR OBTAINING THEIR PUPPY FROM A  LOCAL BREEDER OR WHAT IS ONLY  AVAILABLE IN DRIVING DISTANCE OF THEIR HOME STATE,  ODDS ARE THEY WILL NOT FIND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. IF YOU ARE SOME OF THE LUCKY FEW THAT DO, YOU COULD WAIT FOR UP TO OR OVER A YEAR FOR YOUR PUPPY AND THE PRICE YOU PAY COULD BE DOUBLE ( DEPENDING ON WHERE IN THE U.S. YOU LIVE) THAN FROM A BREEDER IN THE MIDWEST. THE KEY..... BE AN EDUCATED INTERNET PUPPY BUYER.  IF YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO READ ALL THE INFO BELOW YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY TO A GREAT EXPERIENCE IN USING THE INTERNET TO FIND YOUR NEXT PET COMPANION!  

Responsible Breeder Vs. Irresponsible Breeder

Interested in dogs and their wellbeing

Not interested in dogs

Belongs to dog clubs and organizations

Is not involved in clubs and organizations

Proves the quality of their dogs by competing for titles and certificates in fields like obedience, agility, field trialing, Schutzhund, herding, tracking, etc.

Is not interested in tests or trials. For them dogs are just pets or breeding machines.

All dogs bred will have their papers

Dogs will not have papers

Is knowledgeable about the breed and researches genetics when choosing mates

Is not knowledgeable of the breed, does not know genetic defects that affect it and doesn’t consider mate’s genetics

Willing to give references

Has no references

Knows the puppy’s ancestry

Does not know the dog’s pedigree

Will do a follow up with the owner to check on the wellbeing of the puppy

Has no concern for the dog once it leaves the kennel

Purebred quality dogs will typically cost $500+

Dogs are relatively cheap, usually $200 to $400

Puppies are sold with a contract and a health guarantee

Puppies are sold without a contract and no health guarantee

Dogs on the property are socialized, trained and friendly

Dogs on the property are not trained, are aggressive or shy

Does not own more dogs than they have room, time for

Puppy mills will own to many dogs and seem overloaded

Tests puppies to match their temperaments with buyers’ personalities

Knows nothing about matching a puppy with a buyer and allows buyers to pick the ‘cute one’

Never sells to impulse buyers

Is not worried if buyers are not ready for a dog

Encourages or requires buyers to spay/neuter pet-quality pups

Encourages buyers to breed, regardless of quality

KOTV - 10/24/2007 9:00 PM - Updated 10/25/2007 9:27 AM

Questions To Ask A Breeder

  1. How Long have you been involved with your breed?
  2. How many litters do you usually have in a year?
    More than several litters is probably too many.
  3. What are the health issues in the breed?
    Breeders should know the health issues associated with their dogs.
  4. What are the health issues in your family of dogs?
    This should be an easy question for a breeder to answer.
  5. How old are your puppies when you sell them?
    Reputable breeders do not release their puppies until they are at least eight weeks old; in some states, it is illegal to sell a puppy before that age.
  6. Will the puppy have had all of the necessary inoculations when we get it?
    Reputable breeders have vaccinated their puppies, wormed, etc.
  7. Do you screen your breeding dogs for health issues?
    Reputable breeders will test the parents for genetic problems and have the paper work to back up the tests.
  8. Do you give a written contract?
    There can be misunderstandings if you do not get something in writing, and if things go bad it's your word against theirs.
  10. May I meet the parents? Can I see the area where they dogs are kept?
    A good breeder will show you where the dogs eat and sleep, and the parents if they are on site. Sometimes breeders fly studs in for breeding a litter. BREEDER NOTE: I DISAGREE WITH THIS ONE STATEMENT. IN YEARS PAST BREEDERS LIKE MYSELF WHERE ABLE TO HAVE BUYERS COME TO THEIR HOME BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND SO HAVE THE HEART AND INTENTIONS OF CERTAIN PEOPLE. TWO MY NEIGHBORS HAD PEOPLE COME TO THEIR HOME TO LOOK AT A LITTER PUPPIESAND THE PARENTS. THEY LEFT EMPTY HANDLED. BOTH BREEDERS THE NEXT NIGHT LOST THEIR PUPPIES. ALSO SOME CANINE DISEASES CAN BE TRANSFERRED FROM PEOPLES PANTS AND SHOES. BREEDERS MUST PROTECT THERE PUPPIES. I MEET MY PUPPY PARENT S IN A PUBLIC PLACE, NEAR MY HOME WHERE IT IS SAFE FOR ME AND MY PUPPIES. I HAVE NOT HAD ONE SINGLE COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS POLICY WITH ANY OF MY BUYERS.... IT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE THEY APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THE CAUTION I HAVE TAKEN. THEY CAN VIEW MY KENNEL FROM PICTURES ON MY WEBSITE.       
  11. What dog organizations are you involved with?
    Breeders who do not answer to a knowledgeable dog organization may be a red flag.
  12. Can I breed my dog if I want to?
    Good breeders don't want just anyone breeding. It can lead to more health problems in the breed. BREEDERS NOTE: AMEN TO THAT ! ALL OF OUR PUPPIES SOLD ON THIS WEBSITE ARE SOLD WITH LIMITED AKC REGISTRATION. THIS IS WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR PET!

KOTV - 10/24/2007 9:00 PM - Updated 10/25/2007 9:27 AM