How to find a responsible dog breeder

[Redyre Rotties]

Some links to help in finding a responsible dog breeder. Happy puppy hunting!

http://www.akc.org/breeders/resp_breeding/Articles/breeder.cfm

http://www.dogpage.us/dog-breeders/choosing-a-dog-breeder.php

http://www.clivir.com/lessons/show/how-to-find-responsible-purebred-dog-breeder.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2176686_responsible-dog-breeder.html

http://www.dogplay.com/Breeding/ethics.html

http://dogs.about.com/cs/before/a/ethical_breeder.htm

 

[RabbitMage]

Thanks for this-always good info to have handy!

 

[michickenwrangler]

Word of mouth is how we've always gone. A good breeder will also ask about your situation to see if the dog is matched to you.

My mother told me that the breeder that sold her her current dog sold a golden retriever to one of her co-workers who lives on a 6th floor tiny apartment and works 10 hour days. She ended up giving him to the Humane Society and getting a small dog.

 

[RabbitMage]

Even with word of mouth it's a good idea to check up on the breeder, to make sure they're really doing all of the testing and so on they should be doing.

 

[Brindlebtch]

I have had some really bad experiences with supposedly reputable breeders. Talk to other people who have gotten dogs from the same kennel. Research health issues in your breed of choice and ask the breeder specifically about those issues. If the breeder prevaricates or blames another kennel they bred to for faults or health issues you've got a problem.

Sometimes breeders put so much time, money and ego into their kennel lines they can't let go or admit there is a problem and keep breeding dogs with heart, hip and eye problems, genetic ataxia, dilated cardiomyopathy, severe skin issues, thyroid problems, cancer problems etc. The list goes on and on.

The best breeder I know had a genetic cancer problem (all dogs of various litters started dieing of cancer before 5 yrs.). They stopped breeding their line of many years and started over with new dogs.

Beware of breeders who breed a lot of litters per year. Sign a spay neuter contract, if you want, but a reputable breeder will NOT ask you to sign a 'litter back' contract or require you breed a b*tch for a pick puppy back unless you are also a breeder.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

If breeders really have the best interests of their breed and the dogs at heart they will require ALL PUPPY BUYERS to do the appropriate health testing on their puppies, and also require them to disclose all results to the data base.

All my health testing results are released, good bad or indifferent. This is important information not only for people looking for puppies, or people breeding dogs, but also for people generations down the line who will be planning breedings.

http://www.offa.org is your friend if you are looking for a puppy OR a breeder.

 

[Rosalind]

Quote:
Hunh, every breeder I bought from did the testing themselves and then included the certificates in the folder with the AKC paperwork. Other breeders don't test puppies before releasing them to new owners? Seems kinda odd, how can you be certain the new owner can follow through on their promises?

Easiest thing for me to do was to find a local breed club, really. They maintained breeder lists, and whenever a breeder showed up on Google searching as also being a breed judge for shows, professional training services, rescue work, or when their kennel was listed in various pedigrees for Awesomest Dog Ever, then they turned out to be pretty good.

You're right, that means that some dogs will not be sold to you for any money. When I was looking for my Newf, one breeder who was planning to sell me a slightly older puppy ended up having to cancel because the puppy flunked her heart exam. They referred me to another breeder who was very good and had two dogs available, though, so it all worked out in the end.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

Quote:
Hunh, every breeder I bought from did the testing themselves and then included the certificates in the folder with the AKC paperwork. Other breeders don't test puppies before releasing them to new owners? Seems kinda odd, how can you be certain the new owner can follow through on their promises?

Most of this health testing needs to be done with the dog is 2 years old. At 2 years old they are screened for hip and elbow dysplasia, inherited eye disease, and inherited heart disease. Often I like the heart test done twice, at one year and at age 2 as well.

My compliance rate so far has been pretty good. I have a litter turning 2 years old next month, so we will see how many I have to track down and remind.

There is not much you can test puppies for before they go to new homes in Rottweilers. In certain other breeds some disorders can be ruled out or discovered using DNA testing. We do not have that option for the things we currently test Rottweilers for.

I do have puppies thoroughly checked over, hearts listened to, etc, before they go to their new homes at around 9 weeks.

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[redhen]

Id have no problem getting the testing done if the breeder paid for it. I've never heard of a breeder making a buyer get their dogs tested. Wouldnt a responsible breeder know if they have a bad gene in their line if they test the parents and maybe keep back a pup or 2 every generation and get them tested themselves. Just think its weird the testing falls on a buyer and not the seller.. Seems to me the breeders that expect a buyer to do and pay for the testing are getting free test results from the people that already paid good money for their dogs. Seems to me it mostly is benefitting the breeder to keep their line going...

Maybe i'm not understanding you correctly though.. Sorry if i am mistaken.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I believe the point is that the breeder cannot keep a pup back from every generation just to "see". Because each dog has it's own DNA, something may show up in one dog that does not show up in another. So, keeping one pup back from every generation may hide something that is in the lines.