If you are looking to add a purebred puppy to your home, we strongly suggest first looking into breed-specific rescues before going to an ethical breeder. If you do go the breeder route, we know that it can feel overwhelming and confusing trying to figure out the most responsible and ethical breeder. Unlike puppy mills or backyard breeders, ethical and responsible breeders are dedicated to the health, temperament, and overall preservation of their breed. Responsible breeders are committed to producing the best and healthiest puppies possible as well as finding the right homes for them. Below is a list of key things to look for when trying to select a responsible and ethical breeder include.
Health Testing:
The health of the puppies they produce will be the primary responsibility of any responsible breeder. Responsible breeders will enthusiastically provide you with information about the health testing and genetic screenings they have done on the dogs in their breeding program. Breeders will be conducting OFA or Pennhip orthopedic screenings. They should also perform all health testing as recommended by their specific national breed clubs. This could include eye screening and heart screening depending on what condition the breed is prone to. Breeders will also do temperament testing to ensure their temperament is breed appropriate. Responsible breeders produce a small number of litters, they won’t breed dogs before it’s age appropriate for that breed to do so. Responsible breeders prioritize breeding dogs who have proven themselves with training and titles. For responsible breeders, the goal is not just to make more puppies, but to produce the highest quality puppies.
Puppy Socialization:
One of the benefits of a responsible breeder is that they are committed to setting up the puppies they raise to have the best possible start in life. Puppy behavior and temperament can be heavily determined by the mother dog’s overall temperament and her experiences after the puppies have been whelped/born. Although the term “socialization” gets thrown around often amongst dog lovers. The true socialization window for dogs is very short and just between the ages of 3 and 12 or 14 weeks. During this time puppies are learning life-long lessons about how they will respond to new situations, interactions with other dogs and people, etc. A responsible breeder will be focused on beginning to socialize puppies from birth to age-appropriate new smells, sounds, sensations, and being handled. When looking at responsible breeders, don’t be afraid to ask them about their approach to socializing puppies. Responsible breeders will also have introduced puppies to the collar, leash walking, and crate training.
Places Puppies Selectively
One way to easily determine if a breeder is a responsible breeder is by looking at their process for placing puppies with their new families. Responsible breeders are not interested in just selling a puppy to whoever can write a check. Ethical breeders are focused on finding the best homes possible for their puppies. Most responsible breeders will have a robust interview and screening process to determine what potential buyers are a good match for one of their puppies. Responsible breeders will work with approved buyers to find the right puppy for their home and family. Responsible breeders don’t allow people to pick a puppy based on how they look. Instead, a breeder will take the individuals’ lifestyle in mind while selecting a puppy from their upcoming litters. Responsible breeders often have a waitlist for their future litters.
Breeder Contracts:
Responsible breeders will generally have involved contracts that puppy buyers will need to sign. These contracts generally include information on how the dog will be required to be kept over the course of its life. This includes inside / outside living, food, regular veterinary visits, and grooming. Contracts often stipulate that if a puppy buyer for whatever reason is unable to care for their dog in the future, it will be returned to the breeder. This is a core component of being a responsible breeder and is why dogs who are responsibly bred shouldn’t ever end up in shelters or rescues as they will always have a guaranteed home with their breeder. Responsible breeders are dedicated to the preservation and betterment of their breeds and stand by the dog they produce. As a result, responsible breeder produces a small number of dogs and often will have a wait list to buy one of their puppies.
Look For Proven Dogs:
Responsible breeders aren’t just producing dogs that look nice, they are breeding dogs that carry the breed traits and temperament that are appropriate for that breed. Responsible breeders will be active in their breed clubs and show their dogs. Conformation dog shows (what most people think of when they hear the word dog show) aren’t just a “beauty contest.” Dogs aren’t only being judged on appearance, instead, they are evaluated on how closely a dog matches its breed standard. A responsible breeder will be actively showing and titling dogs in the breed ring, and/or in performance sports. By actively titling dogs a breeder is independently verifying that their dogs are the best example of their breed. Even if you don’t want to show your dog, and don’t have an interest in dog sports you want to look for a breeder who is doing these things with their dogs as they will have the greatest likelihood of producing puppies most closely aligned to the breed standard.
Finding A Responsible Breeder
If you’re looking to get a puppy from a responsible breeder it can be helpful to get involved in your local dog community. The American Kennel Club maintains a directory of national clubs associated with every breed. These national breed clubs will generally have a volunteer who is happy to talk with you about the breed and can provide resources to responsible breeders across the country as well as local and regional breed clubs you can get involved with. You can also look for breeders who have the AKC Breeder of Merit distinction. These breeders are the most conscientious and committed breeders involved in a specific breed. Attending dog shows in your local area as a spectator is an excellent way to see breeds you like in action and is a great way to meet responsible breeders in your area.
When looking to add a puppy to your family it’s important to find an ethical and responsible breeder. A breeder will be interviewing you, but you should also be interviewing and evaluating breeders. Look for breeders that are transparent about their breeding process, health testing, and history. A responsible breeder will be forthcoming about their socialization process and will be happy to introduce you to their adult dogs. Keep in mind that finding the right breeder may take some time, and you’ll likely be on a waitlist for your dream puppy.
