How to Find a Reputable Breeder

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With so many people adopting pets over the past year and so many more looking to do so, it is very important to make sure that you are finding a reputable breeder! This is a topic I see come up A LOT in the Facebook groups I am a part of. Whenever I have ventured into the world of purebred animals, I always do a LOT of research first, as purebred dogs in particular are prone to many different health issues associated with the breed. Temperament can also be an issue. If you do not get your pup from a reputable breeder you could be in for a life of health and behavior problems and a lot of heartache.

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It can feel overwhelming when you first start looking for a breeder. You’ve picked your perfect breed, now how the heck do you go about actually finding that little fluffy bundle of joy? In this article, I have put together some tips on what to look for – and what to avoid to help you on your search!

Finding a List of Dog Breeders

Finding a registered breeder is a good start. You can take a look at the Canadian Kennel Club’s website (CKC) and find the club of the breed you are looking at. They also have a puppy list where you can see the registered breeders for each breed of dog! The American Kennel Club is the CKC’s equivalent in the US, and you can find a global list of kennel clubs here!

Health and Longevity

Good breeders will test for health and work to better the breed. Hereditary health issues associated with a particular breed should be being tested for (ask for a medical history), and the breeder should be striving to increase longevity. They spend a LOT of time and money doing this and attempting to make the best genetic matches (which helps explain why a purebred animal can cost so much)! They should be able to provide you with health results of their dogs.

Ask Questions

A reputable breeder will also ask questions to make sure that your family is a good fit for one of their precious puppies. You should also be prepared to ask questions ahead of time so make sure you do your due diligence on the breed you are looking at! I had already done extensive research and in my initial email reaching out to the breeder gave him a lot of information on myself and situation and living conditions.

Meet the Puppies and the Parents

Meeting the puppies and parents is also an important step, and seeing the living environment. Puppy mill owners do NOT want you to meet the parents or see the living conditions as they are typically abhorrible. Grace and Benson were raised in the breeder’s home and on pick a puppy day I got to go out and meet them all! I can tell you that picking just ONE each time was a difficult task! With the lockdowns after Benson’s birth I had to pick him by pictures but was a lot more comfortable given it was the same breeder I got Grace from. And I also spent a good amount of time petting and visiting with the parents to get an idea of their temperament and what I was getting myself into!

Living Conditions and Behavior

When you meet the puppies, take note of the living conditions. Make sure that it is reasonably clean and odor-free, and that the dogs and puppies are being well cared for. Also observe how the breeder interacts with the parents and puppies. The puppies should be well-adjusted and outgoing both with the breeder and strangers. Dogs or puppies that shy away from the breeder are a big red flag.

Deposits

Some breeders will ask for a deposit up front before you get to meet the puppies. The majority of them will not make you put a deposit down on a waiting list – if they ask you to, this is a potential red flag as many breeders will not take the deposits until they know how many puppies they have. Move forward cautiously in this case and be prepared to do a bit more research on the breeder. My breeder was amazing, and he did not ask for a deposit until you met the puppies and parents and picked out your pup.

Lifetime Support

Your breeder should also be prepared to take back your puppy or dog in the case that you need to surrender them for any reason. I know some that have it written right into their contract that you have to give them the first right of refusal. They will also be there to support you and answer any questions you have on your journey. They also like to hear from you and get updates and see pictures of how the dogs are doing! I do this all the time!! And they were also incredibly helpful when I was debating on whether or not to get Benson neutered…I was torn between waiting at least 18 months and dealing with his big hormone brain which was taking over all aspects of our life…No one knows the breed better than a good breeder and they are there as a resource for the lifetime of your pup! They will also want to be made aware of any health issues that arise affecting the breed as it could influence future breeding decisions.

Insurance and Health Guarantees

Some breeders will guarantee the health of their puppies for a certain amount of time. Mine had also set up insurance on the puppies for a short period of time, and you had the choice of either continuing with that coverage or choosing a different option. I ended up continuing with the same coverage after researching the different options out there.

Finding A Reputable Cat Breeder

These same rules can apply to purebred cats! I went through the whole same process to find my big boy Whiskers! I did not get to pick out my kitten, however. The breeder asked me a TON of questions and picked out the one she felt would be the best fit in my household. She was very right though as he has been an amazing fit for our family!! If you are going the feline purebred route, start your research on the TICA website.

Backyard Breeders

Backyard breeders are also to be avoided. Backyard breeders typically have not done the background testing and research on their animals and are usually just trying to sell them for a profit. Their prices are lower than a breeder’s but you have no way of knowing that the history of the health of the parents or previous generations. I know one such breeder, and many of his animals have gone on to have major health and behavioral issues.

They will usually sell to anyone who wants a puppy, instead of making sure that it is the best fit for the family and puppies. They will also not offer any health guarantees. They may overbreed their dogs and not be able to answer your questions. They may not have been to a vet and have veterinary records yet, and sometimes they will send them home before 8 weeks which is a critical time of development when they should be with their littermates and moms. There is also not the same support lifeline that you have with a reputable breeder, and likely they won’t take back puppies or dogs.

Scams

There are several warning signs to watch out for. Facebook and Kijiji are filled with scams because they know that getting a puppy is an emotional experience and will look to leverage that. They have no puppies and will disappear after taking your money. Warning signs to watch out for include:

• Puppy price is much lower than with reputable breeders
• No phone calls – if the seller refuses to have a phone call and uses email exclusively this is a big red flag as you have no way of knowing if they are who they say they are or where they might be from
• Untraditional payment options, such as gift cards, wire transfers or even Venmo.
• Stock photos or photos taken from another site – you can check this by doing an image search in Google or check the text in the picture to see if it came from another site
• Pressure to act quickly to send the money for your puppy can also be a big red flag
• Having multitudes of puppies “ready to go” as most breeders carefully plan their litters and usually only have them a few times a year and typically have buyers for their puppies already before they are ready to go home
• Being asked to pay for unusual expenses (I have seen this in particular with regards to travel and flying)

Avoiding a Scam

With the number of scams rising with the popularity of pets over the past year, here are some ways that you can avoid being a victim:

• Ask for several references, such as vet references. Follow them up.
• Check directly with an association to confirm that they are indeed registered with them
• If they will not meet with you in person for any reason, ask to do a video call as a virtual way to see living conditions, the puppies and the parents

Conclusion

Now comes the time you have been waiting for!! You are armed with research and knowledge, get out there and find that perfect puppy!!! I know for me, being careful in my decisions has brought great animals into my life! I love each one of them and the efforts taken by their breeders, and I would not hesitate to go to them again and likely will!!