Shopping From A Breeder (4): The Small Professional Breeder (Part 1)

If your new puppy hasn't eaten as much as you think he should, if he sneezes once too often for your liking, if he howls all night when you think he should be adjusted to his new surroundings - then you can thank your lucky stars that you purchased the little guy from a small professional breeder.

Help is usually just a simple phone call away. Small professional breeders are like the Doctors back in the days whom, just like in those old television shows, would rush right over if anyone in the family had a cold, always ready and available with a sympathetic ear and good solid advice!

Small professional breeders are usually true and devoted dog lovers in every sense of the word. They are normally very active in breed clubs whose goal is the betterment of the breed. These devoted animal lovers literally eat, sleep, breath, and live for dogs!

You can find them ringside at local dog shows and at dog matches. They are professionals, but the smaller breeder is lucky if he or she financially breaks even at the end of the year. For them, it is not about the money at all, it is for the dogs.

Small Professional Breeders Are Very Careful About Selecting New Owners

In dealing with a larger breeder, one gets the feeling that they really care where their puppies wind up; but be prepared when taking on the small professional breeder, because specific questioning they may make you feel like the FBI or the CIA are all conspiring to gather as much information about you as possible!

At times, prospective buyers have found this to be offensive, but actually, it is to be admired. These breeders breed on an average scale. Chances are they have only five or six dogs in their kennel. Some small breeders have only two - the male and the female.

The small professional breeder usually will have one or two litters a year, which are products of carefully planned breeding, infinite care, and patience. To place these puppies with the right people becomes the breeder's sole reason for being. Some small breeders make baby adoption agencies seem pale by comparison.

Be prepared for such questions as: "Do you have a fenced in yard?" "Are there any other dogs in your house?" "How many and how old are they?" "What are their sexes?" "Where are they kept?" "Where are you planning to put your new puppy?" "How much time during the day are you able to spend with your new puppy?" "What about the weekends?"

These questions make a good deal more sense than the novice puppy buyers can sometimes understand. Many buyers do not give sufficient thought to the proper adjustments that the new puppy will have to make in his different surroundings. He will be in a new home, having left the only one he has ever known, plus the people who loved and cared for him, as well as his littermates.

How many people agree that breeding an animal is a good way to keep the population of all the many different breeds of dogs going? Or do you think private breeders are just adding to the number of dogs in rescues?
Some breeds of dog are now becoming very rare. Do you think this is because a particular breed is now not that popular, or is it because most people have their animal neutered?
I have 2 terriers, and they are both bought from private breeders. However i would never buy another puppy from a private breeder, i want to rescue from now on.

Sure seems like that. It seems that many reputable dog breeders (especially women dog breeders) are very suspicious of out-of-state buyers, but are much more trusting of in-state buyers. Why is that?

Men dog breeders usually don't seem to be quite as suspicious of out-of-state buyers, and usually seem more reasonable and logical about selling their puppies. Why is that?

Opinions?

Dog Breeders - Finding A Professional Breeder That Puts Health First

If you are thinking about getting a specific pure bred puppy, the best route is to go to a professional breeder. And if you want to make sure that the purebred puppy is in great health, has a sound temperament, and one that will match with your personality and lifestyle, then you need to find an honest and knowledgeable breeder, one that will help you find that perfect puppy.

The Importance Of Finding The Right Breeder

Nowadays, finding a reputable breeder is not as easy as it used to be. Many self-proclaimed breeders are nothing more than regular dog owners practicing "backyard breeding." Many of these backyard breeders lack proper knowledge, history, and understanding of the breed, other than the one that they own.

Therefore, you need to do a thorough research and find a legitimate breeder, one who is also honest and well educated about specific dog breeds. A reputable breeder should be able to give you pertinent information about his puppies, as well as answer questions you may have regarding the breed, even after you have purchased the puppy. Most importantly, a reputable breeder should have genuine interest and love for his dogs.

One advantage of going to a breeder is that he has first-hand experience and knowledge of raising that specific dog breed. These are two important factors that he can pass down to you which will help you raise a healthy and happy dog. Reliable breeders are concerned about many aspects of their dogs, with health being number one.

Health

A reputable breeder's top priority is to make sure that his puppies are free of genetic diseases that are common and dangerous to that specific breed. For instance, a breeder of Labrador retrievers should test their puppies for, at the least, diseases and disorders that are common with the breed, such as developmental diseases of the bone and joint, retinal dysplasia, and tricuspid dysplasia.

That breeder should all have an updated certificate for eye evaluation obtained from the Canine Eye Registration Foundation that ensures the puppy does not have genetic eye disease. The results of the eye evaluation should be registered at the Canine Health Information Center, where potential buyers and owners can go to and check the results.

First let me say that there are many good dog breeders who are fair and reasonable.

But there are also many dog breeders who say they won't sell a dog to someone who is going to keep it outside in a kennel, BUT at the same time the breeders themselves keep all their dogs outside in kennels FULL-TIME! So what is the deal with that? Isn't that extremely hypocritical? Isn't that a case of "Do as I say, not as I do."?

Is it possible that some reputable dog breeders don't have puppy contracts?

Some puppy contracts I have read in the past seemed absolutely ridiculous. What is everyone's opinion of puppy contracts? Are they more about the breeder's genuine concern for the puppy? Or are they more about the breeder just wanting control of the situation?

Shopping From A Breeder (8): Buying A Show Quality Dog From A Professional Breeder

Some of you would absolutely love to own a puppy that could aspire to becoming show ring material. If this is the case, it is important to realize that the breeder has no way of knowing how well an 8-week old puppy will turn out as a top-notch show dog. In fact, no reputable breeder will ever guarantee a tiny puppy as a "show dog."

If a breeder does make this claim, then be adamant about making your skepticism known. What the breeder can say, which is perfectly acceptable, is "from all appearances at this time, the puppy seems to be of show quality and if no major faults develop, he could be a great show prospect." Then it is up to you to ask what the faults are (major and minor), and keep your eyes open for them.

Breeder Contracts

At times, if a puppy is thought to be pretty outstanding, but the breeder does not want to keep the puppy at the kennel, you may be asked to sign a contract stating that you will show the dog. If the puppy is a female, you may be asked to sign a contract stating that you will allow your new dog to be bred ONLY to a male of the breeder's choice.

You may also be asked to co-own the puppy along with the professional breeder. This would mean that you are not the sole owner, and that your "partner" has a say in all matters pertaining to the puppy you take home.

When you set out to purchase your show-quality puppy, remember that no one is forcing you to buy that particular dog. If you do, and the time comes for you to live up to any agreements you have made, it would be completely unfair to have complaints. Contracts and agreements should be well thought out in advance. There are plenty of puppies to be purchased from the same breeder without any contracts involved.

When The Breeder Is Out Of State

The breeder of your choice may live too far way for you to be able to inspect the premises, and the dog you are getting. In such cases, ask for pictures of the puppy, as well as pictures of both parents. This way, you will not be surprised if you have never seen a puppy of that particular breed.

Some new owners can be very shocked when a tiny, skinny, coatless puppy arrives on their doorstep when they were expecting a small replica of an adult dog. The photographs will also give you some idea of the actual size of the puppy will be. If the photographs do not satisfy your curiosity, ask for the height and weight of the parents.

If you plan on having your new puppy shipped to you, try to make sure that he is on a non-stop flight so that you know he will not be waiting at some airport for endless hours, scared half out of his mind. Be at the airport yourself, to pick up your new friend. Chances are, the little guy will be confused and very upset, and he'll need you at that time, more than ever.