How to Find a Reputable Dog Breeder: Everything You Need to Know

While it’s always a good idea to try to rescue and adopt an adult dog, sometimes that’s just not a feasible option for a family. Purebred dogs offer people who would like a new puppy the chance to match the needs of their families with the traits of certain dogs.

This helps people find the best dogs for their homes and can ensure that the bond between dog and family is lifelong and everlasting.

There’s no sure bet on the temperament of a purebred dog. However, purchasing a purebred offers a solid idea of what to expect and what a puppy will grow up to look like.

If you’re looking to adopt a purebred puppy but aren’t sure how to find a reputable dog breeder, read on to learn more.

Where to Look

A dog show is a great place to start for anyone looking to buy a purebred puppy. Whether you’re still deciding on the breed you’d like or you already have your heart set on a specific one, that’s a good place to start.

Most AKC breeds are represented at a dog show, and breeders will be around as well. This is a great chance for you to meet different breeds in different stages of stressful situations.

Here, you will get a nice sense of what breeds are laid back and which are high strung. You will also get a good idea of the breeders you like as well.

If going to a show isn’t right for you, PuppyJoy.net is another great option. They let you look up specific breeds in your state.

AKC Breeder Referral

As you find the kind of dog you want, you can learn more about them from the AKC Breed Parent Club. They give you links to each of the clubs, and they work with the AKC to support health research, rescue programs, and maintenance of the breed standard.

They’ll also have breeder referral listings there, with links to member breeder’s websites. What better place to find a breeder than the AKC itself?

What to Look For

As you look for through the websites, you’ll want to look for a few things. The breeder should be working with dogs in the canine community. You should see the evidence of this through titles and competition in conformation, therapy, or performance areas.

When a breeder has these titles, it lets you know that they are producing dogs that are fit to do the work they were designed to do. Titles also tell you that the breeder is active in working to socialize and train their dogs as well.

A breeder should also have health clearances for the stock on their website. OFA scores for hips and elbow clearances are generally expected today.

Most specific breeds have issues that require testing and examination to spot. Learn what health screenings your breed needs before breeding and make sure the breeder does them.

The AKC also recently added a new title called the Breeder of Merit program. These Breeders must have at least 4 titles on their dog’s progeny and participate in AKC events for 5 years. They also have to perform all health testing for their breed and achieve 100% AKC registration for all of their litters.

You can check out the Breeders of Merit here.

What to Avoid

You should avoid websites that show one or two dogs of each breed. You want to see the breeding program focusing on the progeny they’ve produced. Too many dogs per breed and multiple breeds can suggest a breeding farm or a puppy mill.

It’s also a good idea to Google the breeder. When a buyer is disappointed, they get very vocal about the poor treatment they were given and any health issues that their puppy had.

Puppies need to be with their brothers and sisters for socialization lessons until they are 8 weeks old. Any breeder that will let go of puppies before that date is not a breeder you want to buy from.

Any breeder willing to spay or neuter puppies between 2 and 6 weeks old shouldn’t be trusted either. Those hormones are essential to the growth of the puppies. Wait until your puppy is six months old before altering them.

Starting With a Breeder

Once you’ve found the breeders you’re interested in, contact them via email. Tell your breeder about yourself, what experience you have with their breed, details about your home and children, information about your yard and so on. They’ll also want to know if you want to use your dog as a companion or a performance dog.

As you speak with the breeders, ask for a copy of their sales contract and read it over.

What’s In a Contract?

A good breeder’s contract will offer a health guarantee. This usually states that the puppy will be free from genetic defects up until 1 year of age. Usually, if an issue comes up, the breeder should offer to replace the puppy with one from a new litter.

Before replacing the puppy, the breeder will need documentation from a reputable veterinarian that they are sick. Don’t expect to get your money back in the instance of a defective puppy. You’ll likely need to give the puppy back in order to receive your new puppy.

Most contracts will place restrictions on the puppy up until one year of age. You shouldn’t work or jump a puppy this young over things more than 6 inches high. It should also require that you return the puppy to them if you can’t keep it. Some contracts will let you rehome if the breeder approves.

Most pet contracts require spaying or neutering after six months of age. Breeding contracts will place limits on when you can breed the puppy and where you can sell the new litter.

Important Breeder Characteristics

When you buy a puppy from a breeder, you want to make sure that they’re attentive and able to communicate well with you. A good breeder will want to know about any health concerns and questions you might have.

If you notice the breeder to be arrogant or judgemental, steer clear. You’ll want someone you can work with.

How to Find a Reputable Dog Breeder

Finding a new puppy is hard! It’s made even harder when you’re trying to figure out how to find a reputable dog breeder. But if you’re diligent and ask the right questions, you should have no problem finding the puppy that’s right for you and your family.

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