Choosing A Breeder
There is so much to think about these days when you consider bringing a new four-legged addition into your household. Controversy over puppy mills, "backyard" breeders, pet stores and a huge variety of breeders (that have an equally huge variance on ethics and practices), make it a bit confusing. Here is some information that will hopefully make your search a little bit easier.
Many of us remember going to the pet store as kids and finding it to be a wonderful experience. It was almost like going to the petting zoo. We loved to be able to see different animals and all the supplies that each animal was playing with. The thing we did not know, is that many of those cute puppies were purchased on a bulk agreement through a puppy mill. These dogs come in all different breeds, shapes and colors - but the one thing that they have in common is that they are all bred, born, and raised for the express purpose of profit and nothing more. The parents are often poor quality dogs (even though they may still be of purebred status) who are genetically inferior. These dogs do not get selected based on bettering their respective breed. They are bred simply because they were cheap and they see a profit from the puppies. Many corners are cut in the care of these dogs to cut down further on cost and make profit higher. Once they stop producing; they are thrown away like yesterdays trash. They often live out their short lives in horrendous conditions with sub-standard food, housing and medical care. They do not receive love and attention and so are usually mentally damaged as well, which tends to be passed on to the poor puppies who are often taken away from their parents well before they are mentally or physically ready. If you see those sad eyes in the store and think that you are rescuing this poor baby - in a way, you might be helping that individual, but the store will just pick up the phone and order another one in just like him - and so the bad circle is encouraged to continue as the store and the original puppy mill have made their profit and can continue to breed.
True or False? Puppy mills will always have a large number of dogs, and so are easy to spot.
False! If dogs are being bred indiscriminately with no regard as to what they are breeding, when they are breeding and where they are running their operation and their sole motivation for breeding anything is to gain profit, then it can be a puppy mill with as few as 3 or 4 dogs. Sometimes it is not that easy to spot a puppy mill as people that run their programs tend to get smart and start hiding the tell tale markers. Try to see the dogs right at home, ask to see their kennel or where they raise the puppies. Be reasonable about what you see (after all, the second you get everything nice and tidy somebody will piddle), but be watchful for signs of obvious neglect.
Ask Questions.
This is the big one. A good breeder will be willing to spend the time with you to go over all your concerns, and should have a few questions of their own that they would like you to answer. Ask the breeder about any health testing they have done, how they vet their dogs, the age of the puppies and when they wean them. Ask if the breeder has both parents and if they are available to interact with if you were to come and view the puppies. Ask about the temperaments of the parents and the history of the dogs in the family (siblings, parents etc - are there any health issues that can be passed genetically?). If the dog is registered as a purebred, there should be a pedigree available to view, and often with a little research you can learn a certain amount regarding the ancestry of the line. Ask about how the animals are housed, if they are housebroken or peepad trained. You can also ask about their training practices. Often by the time a puppy is ready to be weaned, their breeder will have already taken the care to start a bit of peepad training/housebreaking.
Some breeders give their own vaccinations and deworming, but you need to make sure that the puppy or dog has been in to see a certified vet at least once before you bring him or her home. This is to ensure that the dog does not have any surprises, such as luxation in the patella, or problems with the heart (ie. Murmur) that an untrained person cannot quantify. Even the best of pedigreed dogs can still have the occasional problem and a good breeder will have a good relationship with their vet. They should also feel comfortable in giving you their vet's name as a reference.
In return, you should expect the breeder to ask you about what kind of housing situation you have, do you rent or own? They may want to know how long the puppy will be home alone on average and if you have young children or other dogs. These types of questions help them to know if their puppies will be a good match into your household and help them to select a puppy that will match your lifestyle best. Do not be offended if they will not sell you a puppy at that time - it could be that they don't have anything that they believe will be suitable and it is in all parties interests that a good match is made right from the start so that both owner and dog will have a good experience.
A good breeder will encourage you to come to their home or kennel so that you can interact with the dogs in a place that is familiar to the dogs and the best judgements can be made as to suitability. If the dog owner is willing to meet you at the mall or stop by the 7-11 with a puppy to do a quick exchange - red flag. They should not be willing to sell to the highest bidder or the first person who shows an interest.
If the dog is being sold as purebred, by Canadian law, it must be registered in one of the few recognizable registration bodies, including the Canadian Kennel Club, Canadian Border Collie Association, the Canine Federation of Canada, the Working Canine Association of Canada and the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation. Be careful to ask if a dog is being sold as CKC registered whether it is with the Canadian Kennel Club (official governing body) or the Continental Kennel Club. Also, if purchasing a dog with Canadian Kennel Club papers, it is the full responsibility of the seller to make sure that the papers have been transferred to the new owners name (at the seller's expense).
What should I look for when going to view a puppy or dog?
Look at the dogs themselves. Are they groomed? If they are messy, it is not necessarily a sign that it is a puppy mill. Look for larger quantities of feces in the hair, larger hairballs that would take time to acquire, discharge around the eyes, nose or anus (primarily purulent, thick discharge that is a yellow or green color). Check the dogs feet for splayed, deformed or injured foot pads (can indicate that the dog is living on a wire surface), feces in the hair in the pads, and how long the nails are? If the dog will let you, try to see if you can look in his/her mouth and check out the dental situation there. Are there teeth missing? How bad is the tarter? Breath? Dental issues are common in small breeds, so it is good to have a baseline to work from, especially if you are buying a mature dog as there are reasonable chances that it may require some dental work. Also, many small breeds can get some clear "tearing" around the eyes. This is a possible concern if you are looking for a breeding/show animal, but not so much if they will be a spayed or neutered pet - on its own it does not indicate bad care, as there are many things can cause tearing.
Remember - Not All Breeders are Puppy Mills!
Breeders tend to get a bit of a bad rap today because of the outrage against puppy mills. Sometimes as soon as a person comes to a house and there is a higher-than-average number of dogs running around, it is assumed to be a puppy mill. This can be the farthest thing from the truth and it is hard for breeders that put their souls into their breeding programs to hear such. Make sure that if you go see an operation that you observe the things that make the difference between a breeder and a puppy mill.
These things would be:
Equally - Not All Home Breeders are "Backyard" Breeders!
Sometimes people expect that a breeder will have a large number of dogs. This is not always true either. There are many home or "hobby" breeders who breed a very small number of dogs for their own enjoyment and to better the breed on a small scale.
How do you tell the difference? A backyard breeder is just like a puppy mill except on a smaller scale. They are primarily after the profit that they think they will gain breeding their dogs and do not have much care for what traits they are breeding for.
By contrast, a good breeder will always be selective about what they are breeding. Each puppy is especially important to their program and their goal is to produce a high quality puppy out of the specific lines that they have chosen. The pups will almost always be registered, and the lineage clearly traceable.
They will be equally selective about homes for their pups, both to make sure that owner and animal are compatible, and to make sure one of their puppies does not end up in a puppy mill/backyard breeder type situation. Finally, most responsible breeders will be careful about what they sell with breeding rights, as their main goal is to improve the breed, not produce more animals.
What is included with your new puppy?
A couple more tips:
We wish you the best of luck and the best of experiences on your puppy search!
Lori Reinhardt
Pom Beach Pomeranians
Copyright May 2014
This article may be re-published with the consent of Lori Reinhardt (e-mail)
Other Articles of Interest:
More on Puppy Mills
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppy_mill
http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/byb.htm
The Canadian Kennel Club Policy Statement – Definition of a Puppy Mill
(Effective March 2002)
"The term “Puppy Mill” generally refers to a high-volume, sub-standard dog-breeding operation, which sells purebred or mixed breed dogs, directly or indirectly to unsuspecting buyers. Some of the characteristics common to puppy mills are:
(a) Sub-standard health and/or environmental issues;
(b) Sub-standard animal care, treatment and/or socialization;
(c) Sub-standard breeding practices which lead to genetic defects or hereditary disorders;
(d) Erroneous or falsified certificates of registration, pedigrees and/or genetic background.
Note: These conditions may also exist in small volume or single breed establishments."
They sell primarily to retail pet shops (usually via a broker), but occasionally sell directly to individual consumers. Dogs are bred solely for profit, with no concern for their physical health or psychological well-being - most are disease-ridden; all are force-bred continuously. They often use "Kennels" or "Farms" in its business name. Dogs and puppies are usually in squalid living conditions and are off-limits to the public."
If you think you have been to a mill or have seen substandard conditions at a breeder's establishment please call your local SPCA/Humane Society IMMEDIATELY to report what you saw. Only personally witnessed accounts can be reported.
Many of us remember going to the pet store as kids and finding it to be a wonderful experience. It was almost like going to the petting zoo. We loved to be able to see different animals and all the supplies that each animal was playing with. The thing we did not know, is that many of those cute puppies were purchased on a bulk agreement through a puppy mill. These dogs come in all different breeds, shapes and colors - but the one thing that they have in common is that they are all bred, born, and raised for the express purpose of profit and nothing more. The parents are often poor quality dogs (even though they may still be of purebred status) who are genetically inferior. These dogs do not get selected based on bettering their respective breed. They are bred simply because they were cheap and they see a profit from the puppies. Many corners are cut in the care of these dogs to cut down further on cost and make profit higher. Once they stop producing; they are thrown away like yesterdays trash. They often live out their short lives in horrendous conditions with sub-standard food, housing and medical care. They do not receive love and attention and so are usually mentally damaged as well, which tends to be passed on to the poor puppies who are often taken away from their parents well before they are mentally or physically ready. If you see those sad eyes in the store and think that you are rescuing this poor baby - in a way, you might be helping that individual, but the store will just pick up the phone and order another one in just like him - and so the bad circle is encouraged to continue as the store and the original puppy mill have made their profit and can continue to breed.
True or False? Puppy mills will always have a large number of dogs, and so are easy to spot.
False! If dogs are being bred indiscriminately with no regard as to what they are breeding, when they are breeding and where they are running their operation and their sole motivation for breeding anything is to gain profit, then it can be a puppy mill with as few as 3 or 4 dogs. Sometimes it is not that easy to spot a puppy mill as people that run their programs tend to get smart and start hiding the tell tale markers. Try to see the dogs right at home, ask to see their kennel or where they raise the puppies. Be reasonable about what you see (after all, the second you get everything nice and tidy somebody will piddle), but be watchful for signs of obvious neglect.
Ask Questions.
This is the big one. A good breeder will be willing to spend the time with you to go over all your concerns, and should have a few questions of their own that they would like you to answer. Ask the breeder about any health testing they have done, how they vet their dogs, the age of the puppies and when they wean them. Ask if the breeder has both parents and if they are available to interact with if you were to come and view the puppies. Ask about the temperaments of the parents and the history of the dogs in the family (siblings, parents etc - are there any health issues that can be passed genetically?). If the dog is registered as a purebred, there should be a pedigree available to view, and often with a little research you can learn a certain amount regarding the ancestry of the line. Ask about how the animals are housed, if they are housebroken or peepad trained. You can also ask about their training practices. Often by the time a puppy is ready to be weaned, their breeder will have already taken the care to start a bit of peepad training/housebreaking.
Some breeders give their own vaccinations and deworming, but you need to make sure that the puppy or dog has been in to see a certified vet at least once before you bring him or her home. This is to ensure that the dog does not have any surprises, such as luxation in the patella, or problems with the heart (ie. Murmur) that an untrained person cannot quantify. Even the best of pedigreed dogs can still have the occasional problem and a good breeder will have a good relationship with their vet. They should also feel comfortable in giving you their vet's name as a reference.
In return, you should expect the breeder to ask you about what kind of housing situation you have, do you rent or own? They may want to know how long the puppy will be home alone on average and if you have young children or other dogs. These types of questions help them to know if their puppies will be a good match into your household and help them to select a puppy that will match your lifestyle best. Do not be offended if they will not sell you a puppy at that time - it could be that they don't have anything that they believe will be suitable and it is in all parties interests that a good match is made right from the start so that both owner and dog will have a good experience.
A good breeder will encourage you to come to their home or kennel so that you can interact with the dogs in a place that is familiar to the dogs and the best judgements can be made as to suitability. If the dog owner is willing to meet you at the mall or stop by the 7-11 with a puppy to do a quick exchange - red flag. They should not be willing to sell to the highest bidder or the first person who shows an interest.
If the dog is being sold as purebred, by Canadian law, it must be registered in one of the few recognizable registration bodies, including the Canadian Kennel Club, Canadian Border Collie Association, the Canine Federation of Canada, the Working Canine Association of Canada and the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation. Be careful to ask if a dog is being sold as CKC registered whether it is with the Canadian Kennel Club (official governing body) or the Continental Kennel Club. Also, if purchasing a dog with Canadian Kennel Club papers, it is the full responsibility of the seller to make sure that the papers have been transferred to the new owners name (at the seller's expense).
What should I look for when going to view a puppy or dog?
Look at the dogs themselves. Are they groomed? If they are messy, it is not necessarily a sign that it is a puppy mill. Look for larger quantities of feces in the hair, larger hairballs that would take time to acquire, discharge around the eyes, nose or anus (primarily purulent, thick discharge that is a yellow or green color). Check the dogs feet for splayed, deformed or injured foot pads (can indicate that the dog is living on a wire surface), feces in the hair in the pads, and how long the nails are? If the dog will let you, try to see if you can look in his/her mouth and check out the dental situation there. Are there teeth missing? How bad is the tarter? Breath? Dental issues are common in small breeds, so it is good to have a baseline to work from, especially if you are buying a mature dog as there are reasonable chances that it may require some dental work. Also, many small breeds can get some clear "tearing" around the eyes. This is a possible concern if you are looking for a breeding/show animal, but not so much if they will be a spayed or neutered pet - on its own it does not indicate bad care, as there are many things can cause tearing.
Remember - Not All Breeders are Puppy Mills!
Breeders tend to get a bit of a bad rap today because of the outrage against puppy mills. Sometimes as soon as a person comes to a house and there is a higher-than-average number of dogs running around, it is assumed to be a puppy mill. This can be the farthest thing from the truth and it is hard for breeders that put their souls into their breeding programs to hear such. Make sure that if you go see an operation that you observe the things that make the difference between a breeder and a puppy mill.
These things would be:
- If they do have a large quantity of dogs, are they all well looked after?
- Are the coats in good condition and the general health of the populace adequate?
- Are they living in large enough spaces for their size?
- Are they living on a wire surface and in crates? How much of the time are they in crates? (If a dog is in a crate, this does not automatically mean it is a puppy mill - they may be in quarantine or in heat).
- Is time or space available to them to get adequate exercise?
- What is the condition of the food and water?
- Are they living in a clean, well maintained area?
- What is the behavior like towards unknown humans? (are they fearful, aggressive or are they curious and happy to meet someone new? Bear in mind that barking in and of itself is not an indicator of aggression, as Poms tend to be a very vocal breed)
Equally - Not All Home Breeders are "Backyard" Breeders!
Sometimes people expect that a breeder will have a large number of dogs. This is not always true either. There are many home or "hobby" breeders who breed a very small number of dogs for their own enjoyment and to better the breed on a small scale.
How do you tell the difference? A backyard breeder is just like a puppy mill except on a smaller scale. They are primarily after the profit that they think they will gain breeding their dogs and do not have much care for what traits they are breeding for.
By contrast, a good breeder will always be selective about what they are breeding. Each puppy is especially important to their program and their goal is to produce a high quality puppy out of the specific lines that they have chosen. The pups will almost always be registered, and the lineage clearly traceable.
They will be equally selective about homes for their pups, both to make sure that owner and animal are compatible, and to make sure one of their puppies does not end up in a puppy mill/backyard breeder type situation. Finally, most responsible breeders will be careful about what they sell with breeding rights, as their main goal is to improve the breed, not produce more animals.
What is included with your new puppy?
- Many breeders registered with the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) will opt to use the 6 week free insurance trial that they are offered (in the case of Canadian Kennel Club, this is through PetSecure). This is nice for new owners as peace of mind. Most breeders will also include their own guarantee as to genetic health issues that are, or can become, life threatening to the dog. If they have knowledge of a health concern, they should be willing to disclose it to you and also be willing to give the authorization needed for you to discuss the issue with their vet.
- The puppy should have their immunizations and dewormings (or other type of preventative therapy such as Nosodes) done and up to date for their age group. The puppy or dog should come with its full health record and microchip or tattoo information (any dog registered with the Canadian Kennel Club must have either a tattoo or microchip).
- The breeder will not allow the puppy to be released until it is of sufficient age and maturity to leave its family. Puppies that are too small or not mentally ready to leave often develop either physical or mental illness. Many puppy mill puppies are weaned too early, and develop health problems as a result.
- Enough food should be supplied to get the new owner through until they can pick up their own food (usually a couple of days' supply) so that the puppy does not have to go through the added stress of a change of diet on top of the move. The breeder will make sure that you know what food they are on and what feeding regime the dogs are used to.
- The breeder is fully responsible for both the cost and the procedure of transferring the registration papers of the puppy as per law with the Canadian Kennel Club. If the dog is already registered, you should receive a copy of its registration. If it is not, a copy of the litter registration or record of the parents' registration numbers or copies of their papers should be given. And of course you should get a receipt of any monies paid.
- Other items the breeder might send with you are a blanket with the scent of its mom or littermates, as it often makes the transition a little bit easier for the puppy. A collar or harness that fits the puppy with a short leash so that you can get the puppy home safely. A couple of peepads might be included to help you get started. A familiar or favored toy is always nice as well.
A couple more tips:
- In Canada, a person or organization who is serious about their breeding program will register a kennel name with the Canadian Kennel Club and be a member in good standing.
- Breeders who show tend to have a bit of an edge when it comes to producing animals that more strictly conform to the breed standards. They will not be able to prove their lines in the show ring if they are not quite careful about what they breed.
- Price is not always the indicator as to what type of quality you are buying. Check pedigrees for titles (the championship dog's name will be printed in red) and see if the price is fair for what you are buying.
- There are a lot of scammers out there, unfortunately. They will steal a picture of an outstanding or cute dog, copy it and make a fake ad. Also be wary of pictures that look a little too perfect, as they can be photo-shopped to look this way. If the seller is not willing to send you additional pictures from multiple angles, or if the pictures are of a puppy and they are selling a 3 year old dog, be wary. Ideally, it is great to get a recent video of the dog if you are unable to go and see the dog in person first. Many scammers will ask for payment by Western Union or wired transfer. Although some of the scammers are getting smart and will ask the "standard" questions, they will be completely satisfied with whatever you reply with. Many of them will not ask you questions, and will answer all of your questions with what you want to hear. They will try to make the sale look as easy as possible and likely will not have too deep a knowledge of what they are selling (this is especially apparent if you are importing as they will have no idea what is involved). Look for broken English or crude grammer as a lot of the scams come from other countries.
- If you find a breeder that you think is reputable, but cannot afford their dogs - ask if they may be willing to direct you to an animal shelter or if they know of any retired breeding or show dogs that may fall into your budget (but don't lowball them for a dog that catches your eye).
We wish you the best of luck and the best of experiences on your puppy search!
Lori Reinhardt
Pom Beach Pomeranians
Copyright May 2014
This article may be re-published with the consent of Lori Reinhardt (e-mail)
Other Articles of Interest:
More on Puppy Mills
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppy_mill
http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/byb.htm
The Canadian Kennel Club Policy Statement – Definition of a Puppy Mill
(Effective March 2002)
"The term “Puppy Mill” generally refers to a high-volume, sub-standard dog-breeding operation, which sells purebred or mixed breed dogs, directly or indirectly to unsuspecting buyers. Some of the characteristics common to puppy mills are:
(a) Sub-standard health and/or environmental issues;
(b) Sub-standard animal care, treatment and/or socialization;
(c) Sub-standard breeding practices which lead to genetic defects or hereditary disorders;
(d) Erroneous or falsified certificates of registration, pedigrees and/or genetic background.
Note: These conditions may also exist in small volume or single breed establishments."
They sell primarily to retail pet shops (usually via a broker), but occasionally sell directly to individual consumers. Dogs are bred solely for profit, with no concern for their physical health or psychological well-being - most are disease-ridden; all are force-bred continuously. They often use "Kennels" or "Farms" in its business name. Dogs and puppies are usually in squalid living conditions and are off-limits to the public."
If you think you have been to a mill or have seen substandard conditions at a breeder's establishment please call your local SPCA/Humane Society IMMEDIATELY to report what you saw. Only personally witnessed accounts can be reported.
