Buying Your Dog From a Responsible Breeder

Responsible breeders….

• Ask prospective owners lots of questions, and happily answer questions
• Want to match the right dog to the right owner
• Make a lifetime commitment to dogs they sell
• Give their dogs high quality care and have clean facilities
• Have dogs that are clean, healthy, and friendly
• Are knowledgeable about their breed
• Continue their education with ongoing contact with other dog groups & participation in dog shows & events
• Show evidence of at least a few years of serious interest and education in their breed - i.e. dog club memberships (the AKC doesn't count!), show ribbons, and Championship and/or performance (obedience, agility, tracking, field, etc.) titles.
• Screen breeding stock for genetic defects
• Require spay/neuter of “pet quality” dogs
• Will take back a dog of their breeding at any time in its lifetime if you cannot keep it
• Do not sell dogs to pet stores for resale

Irresponsible breeders…

• Breed only to produce puppies to sell
• Claim that all of their puppies are "show/breeding quality"
• Sell puppies that are less than 8 weeks old
• Claim that their breed has no problems
• Breed a mother on every season or more than once a year
• Sell puppies to pet stores or to people they have not met or screened personally