Why Should You Buy Your Next Puppy from a Responsible Breeder?

Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting time. While puppies provide us with companionship, love, and unrivaled affection, bringing a puppy home is bound to raise a slew of questions. You may be wondering what you will need to buy your puppy, how to prepare your home, and how the transition process will go for you and your new dog. Do you know why you should buy your next puppy from a responsible breeder? 

Responsible breeders use pedigrees to research the relatives of their breeding dog, going back many generations to find the best possible matches that will produce healthy puppies that are good representations of the breed.

What is a Responsible Breeder?

A good breeder is concerned about what happens to the puppies they produce. They don’t want their puppies to end up in a shelter or, worse, on the streets. Reputable breeders almost always return a puppy for any reason and at any stage of the dog’s life.

If one of your family members develops an allergy to the puppy, or if you ever find yourself in dire straits due to a divorce, job loss, health crisis, or any other reason, it’s reassuring to know that your breeder will be there to assist you in rehoming the puppy.

Responsible breeders provide their dogs with high-quality care, including giving them quality food, clean water, adequate shelter, exercise, socialization, and professional veterinary care, maintaining the cleanliness and grooming of dogs, and raising dogs intended to be kept as pets in the home.

If you’ve never owned the breed before, a reputable breeder can advise you on what to expect and help you determine whether the breed is a good fit for your family and lifestyle. Good breeders aren’t in it to make a buck; they will never force you to buy a puppy if the breed isn’t a good fit for you.

Before the puppies go to their new homes, a responsible breeder will take the entire litter to the vet as often as necessary. They will set up a time for you to pick up the puppy, ensuring that it is socialized and mature enough to leave its mother. When you pick up your puppy, they will have it cleaned and free of any illness. If they believe the puppy is not yet ready to go home, they will inform you and work with you to reschedule.

Reputable breeders are so concerned about the health of their dogs that they provide health guarantees. The terms of each breeder’s health guarantee will differ, so when inquiring about a puppy, ask for specifics. In general, health guarantees may state that if the puppy develops a disease covered by the agreement, you will either receive a refund on the puppy’s purchase price, a replacement puppy, or the breeder may contribute a certain amount of money toward the puppy’s health issue.

(Source: Animal Bliss) 

What is the Importance of Disease Testing?

Breeders who are responsible want to produce the healthiest dogs possible. They are well aware of the common genetic diseases in their breed and perform specialized health testing on their dogs before breeding them to avoid breeding dogs with faulty genes. This means that the puppy you buy will be less likely to develop a genetically linked disorder.

What Should You Ask the Breeder Before Buying a Puppy?

1. Can I see the puppies and their mother?

• Because temperament can be inherited, ensure mum is a nice, friendly dog. Please take into account that she may be protective of her puppies. If you are not permitted to see them together, it is possible that they are not her puppies!

2. What age are the puppies?

• To leave their mother, they must be at least eight weeks old.

3. Were the puppies wormed?

• At birth, all puppies have worms. Worming should begin around two weeks old with the breeder, be repeated every two weeks, and be continued by you.

4. What kind of food should I give my puppy? Do you want to take a diet sheet with you?

• A good breeder will provide you with enough food to continue on the same diet for a few days. They should also give you a diet sheet that shows how your puppy’s feeding should change as he grows.

5. What kind of socialization or experiences has my puppy received thus far?

• Puppies should ideally be raised in a home with all of the noise and traffic of a typical home. Those raised in kennels away from home will require more intensive socialization training to ensure they can cope with day-to-day life as pets. Puppies who have already met other dogs, domestic animals, and humans will be more confident than those who have not.

6. May I see the Full Litter? 

• If your puppy’s litter is still alive, you should be able to visit the entire litter. On your first visit to the litter, it’s best to stand back and observe them quietly. You can observe the puppies’ normal behavior while doing so. Do they get along? Is there any unusual aggression among them? Are they comparable in terms of size, health, and temperament? 

Take note of how the mother and puppies interact. Some puppy mills will use houses as “storefronts” to present themselves as responsible breeders. In this case, the “dam” may not be interested in the puppies at all.

7. Have the parents had any health tests?

• Health tests for both parents are essential when purchasing a healthy puppy. Your breeder should test for the common health conditions in their breed. According to the AKC, German Shorthaired Pointers should have the following evaluations: hip evaluation, elbow evaluation, cardiac exam, ophthalmologist evaluation, and a cone degeneration DNA test. These tests should be administered to both parents.

How To Spot Unethical Breeders?

You should be able to ask the dog breeder as many questions as you want. A responsible breeder will appreciate that you took the time to do your research.

1. The dogs in the shelter appear to be in poor health.
2. Puppies are allowed to be adopted before reaching the appropriate age (under eight to twelve weeks of age).
3. They breed dogs before they reach the age of two.

Other ways for you to avoid and spot an Unethical Breeder : 

There are ways of guaranteeing you source your puppy from an appropriate breeder by looking at the AKC Breeder of Merit Program. The AKC provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date list of breeders and available pedigree puppies.

Before purchasing your puppy, request a Contract of Sale from the seller. This should outline both the breeder’s and your responsibilities for the puppy and any caveats in your contract. If your puppy is a pedigree, you will need information about their ancestors, and it is the breeder’s responsibility to make you aware of any health issues.

All responsible breeders will adhere to recommended breeding guidelines and use health screening programs to assist owners in forecasting the puppy’s future health. Your breeder should be able to provide a clear picture of what this entails and what they hope to achieve with their dogs.

If you are looking for a puppy and believe you have found one from a puppy farm or unethical breeder, contact your local police station or animal charity as soon as possible and report the incident. (Source: Animal Bliss) 

Should You Maintain a Relationship with the Breeder?

It’s normal to face difficulties with a new puppy and even in your dog’s later years. Who better to answer your questions and assist you in finding solutions than the breeder? 

As a new puppy owner, you may believe that once you’ve purchased the puppy and brought him home, the breeder’s role is complete, and you’re on your own. So do you think you should maintain a relationship with the Breeder? 

Yes, and Absolutely Yes! Here are some reasons why : 

A Lifetime Advice Partner

Most importantly, the breeder knows your puppy better than anyone else and is eager to serve as your advisor. There’s probably not much about the breed that he or she hasn’t seen before. Stay in touch with your dog throughout his or her life, not just when he or she is a puppy. A responsible breeder will always be a valuable resource and connection.

Helping The Breeder

You’re sharing information that your breeder will appreciate by staying in touch. To make future breeding decisions, they will want to know about any temperament, health, or other issues your puppy has. The breeder is concerned with producing the healthiest dogs possible, and your input is valuable.

An Important Connection

In rare cases, your circumstances may change to the point where you can no longer keep the dog. You must contact the breeder in this case. Any reputable breeder will accept the puppy back, even if he is in his later years. Don’t be afraid to call if this happens to you because you’ll be judged. Breeders tell us that their first responsibility is to the dog and that they will return the dog and do everything possible to find him a new home. Any good breeder will advise you to make the first call to them.

(Source: Animal Bliss)