How to tell legitimate puppy ads from scammers and puppy mill ads.

[HeritageGoose13]

the easiest way to find a responsible breeder is to go to dog events geared toward your breed. obedience, agility, flyball, the list goes on and on when it comes to options. find dogs that you like and talk to the owner about where they purchased their dog. Don't interrupt them when they are preparing to perform but otherwise we all love to talk about our dogs!
also, check out your national breed club. they have referral lists of breeders who are members and it makes a good starting point - members agree to follow the groups code of ethics and are usually well-informed when it comes to the pitfalls and bonuses of their breed. You'll still have to do your homework and check out the breeders but it's a starting point to find several breeders listed in one place.

That's not an option in many places. There are no dog shows/events of any kind where I live, except shelter fundraisers.

 

[dainerra]

there are few places that don't have something going on somewhere. Or at least a kennel club that covers your area to look for breeders. There are almost always dog events going on of some type. Here in rural AR, there are events several times a year just from one club. Then you have UKC, various livestock and herding events, "meet the breeds" type educational events, "fun days" parades and other outdoor events where dogs are welcome to attend. Believe me, they are out there though you sometimes have to know where to look to find out when/where they will be.

Of course, dog people don't consider it "outside the home area" unless you are driving more than 4 hours to an event lol I know many people who drive 3 1/2 hours one way just to go to training classes for IPO.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Maybe, but I have looked and looked for years and never found anything nearby. I would like to see some of these events just for fun but have had no luck.

 

[dekel18042]

Maybe, but I have looked and looked for years and never found anything nearby. I would like to see some of these events just for fun but have had no luck.

Are there any dog or training clubs nearby? They can be a source of information.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

I don't know... where would I go about finding out?

 

[dainerra]

look up "dog training " or go to www.akc.org and check out upcoming events for your state (and nearby states if you live on the border). There is also UKC, if you live in the northern Midwest where it has the strongest presence. Word of mouth with people involved in the dog world in your area is often the easiest way to learn where to look locally.

 

[Finnie]

I don't know... where would I go about finding out?

look up "dog training " or go to www.akc.org and check out upcoming events for your state (and nearby states if you live on the border). There is also UKC, if you live in the northern Midwest where it has the strongest presence.

Word of mouth with people involved in the dog world in your area is often the easiest way to learn where to look locally.

Also, look up puppy kindergarten classes. Sometimes they are affiliated with obedience training clubs, or run by an independent person who is involved in obedience. Even without a training club, puppy kindergarten is popular, and you should be able to find some just about anywhere. Then that lead might springboard you to someone who does know about a training club.

Another thing you can do is contact county and state fair grounds in your area to ask for their event schedule for the year. The person on the phone when you ask for it might happen to already know whether dog shows are regularly held there. And it is likely that event schedules are published on line.

 

[dekel18042]

I don't know... where would I go about finding out?

You can google all kinds of things on line. Since you didn't mention breed (Now might be a time to do it so if it is a breed known to participate in something we can get more specific.) You can try googling "Agility events" AKC is not the only show in town. Depending where you live, there are CPE and DOCNA and UKC and NADAC and USDAA and UKI shows, tracking demonstrations in AKC and UKC, herding, obedience, flyball rally, carting, dances with dogs, etc.
Also, knowing the area in which you lived for example northwestern area of -------- state, sit's easy to look and see what is in that area or nearby.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Okay, I found some events (breed doesn't matter to me, I'm interested in most dogs) but I don't understand any of the terminology.

Like...

CPE and DOCNA and UKC and NADAC and USDAA and UKI

I have no idea what any of that is!

The next event(s) is a Saluki event. This is what I found:

Saluki Club of America

Event Number: 2015134011
Event Status: Approved
Entry fees: $29.00 / $20.00
Add to My Events List
Get Club Info
Club Map
East Windsor, CT PS / JSHW / SWPC Aug 28, 2015 Aug 8, 2015

​

Saluki Club of America
Event Number: 2015134014
Event Status: Approved
Entry fees: $29.00 / $20.00
Add to My Events List
Get Club Info
Club Map
East Windsor, CT PS Aug 29, 2015 Aug 8, 2015

​

Empire Saluki Club
Event Number: 2015211210
Event Status: Approved
Entry fees: $29.00 / $20.00
Add to My Events List
Get Club Info
Club Map
East Windsor, CT S / JSHW Aug 29, 2015 Aug 8, 2015

​

Empire Saluki Club
Event Number: 2015211211
Event Status: Approved
Entry fees: $29.00 / $20.00
Add to My Events List
Get Club Info
Club Map
East Windsor, CT S / JSHW / SWPC Aug 30, 2015 Aug 8, 2015
So... these are two clubs hosting one event, right? Why are some of them listed for one day and the others for another day? And the first entry fee is for non-members, I presume? Is that entry to enter a dog or just to go to the event? How do I know where the actual event is? It says East Windsor but where in East Windsor? I'm new to this and don't really understand any of it. And the event type... I guess that S stands for Show? What about the others?

Poultry shows are not nearly so complicated!

 

[Finnie]

For that information you posted, it looks like there are some links in it, but they do nothing when I try to click on them. Did they have links in the original source where your found them? That would be the first step to answer some of your questions.

The Saluki Club of America will most likely have info on this show on their web site, so you can google Saluki Club of America.

I'm guessing you are in or near Connecticut? Have you tried googling "dog shows or events in Connecticut"?

I'm not up on every dog club acronym, but I know UKC is United Kennel Club, and I think NADAC and USDAA are agility organizations. Their websites ought to list their upcoming events, probably for the whole country, and maybe by state. (Like how the poultry shows are listed.)

Go ahead and google all those acronyms. They may stand for more than one thing, but the dog organizations ought to pop up.

Did you by any chance already go to the AKC website?

It's been a long time, but I think the two different prices might be for the first dog entered, and for subsequent dogs entered. That part doesn't concern you, since you are a spectator and not an exhibitor. Whatever entrance admission there is, is probably specific to the venue location, and sometimes just means a parking fee when you come in the gates.