You decided you want to buy a new dog. You researched the breed that best suits you and your habits, or your whole family. From how big a dog is to what to expect from the breed. But, now is the time to find a breeder. That can be tricky in more ways than one. Whether you choose a very popular breed, such as Labrador Retriever, or a rare breed like Hanoverian Scenthound, finding the right breeder is difficult. Apart from actually finding one when the breed is rare, it is important to find the one who takes good care of their dogs. The traits a dog breeder should have that I’ll talk about are all equally important. They are not arranged in any particular order, simply numbered for clarity.

1. Transparency

 One of the first things you will be looking for in a breeder is transparency. It doesn’t matter if the breeder got recommended by your friends or family members, this is very important. What does it mean? It means the breeder has nothing to hide about their dogs or puppies they want to sell to you. 

To be more specific, you can:

• See the breeding pair (or just mom of your future pet)
• You can see the puppies (after they’ve finished their core vaccines)
• You can see where the dogs live
• You can ask and see the tests they’ve done on the puppies’ parents

What I mean by “You can see” is that you can literally come and visit the puppies and the breeder if you want to. This is something you’ll actually want to do because you’ll have a chance to see much more than what is shown to you on the website or said over the telephone.

Transparency means a breeder has nothing to hide and will gladly show you their dogs, puppies

Of course, we have to be respectful. We need to arrange the meeting, not just find the location and barge in unannounced. Also, we have to be respectful if they say the puppies are still waiting for all the vaccines. That’s a good sign. They don’t want to take any chances even if it means losing a customer.

Not all dog breeders conduct health screenings for their dogs. That doesn’t mean they are bad. However, it does make you wonder why they didn’t do it. Isn’t it in their advantage to have dogs that are healthy without any hereditary diseases that could be transferred to the offspring?

2. Love For Animals

This trait goes without any doubt. Unfortunately, the world is not a happy place with no bad people in it. I am sure you have heard of the puppy mills or backyard breeders. People who do this should be fined (I dare say, punished!) much harsher than they are now. And it horrifies me that there are still people in governments around the world who think animal cruelty is not a big deal. 

Love for animals means paying attention to the way they treat their dogs. When you visit them, you can see not only what dogs look like and where they live, but their relationship with the person – the breeder. Are the dogs scared of the breeder? Affectionate? Respective? Other important questions to ask yourself are: 

• How many puppies a year do they have (one litter, two, three?)?
• Are they looking for profit or care for their dogs?
• Is money more important to where the puppies go?

A responsible breeder is interested in where their puppies go, not just worrying about the money

Of course they do the job to get the money, that’s why it’s a business. But, it’s not hurting the dog. They are not using their dog as a breeding machine, expected to “pop out” puppies at least three times a year. And yes, they want to sell the puppies, but they care where they go. You ask them questions, but a good sign is if the breeder asks you questions too. They want their dogs to be safe and not taken away by someone who will not treat their dogs well.

3. Availability

This goes hand in hand with the previous trait. A responsible breeder will genuinely be interested in where their dogs go and will be open to answering questions after you take a puppy home. Not all the time, we have to respect boundaries. But, if you have a question about the breed or what to expect from a dog after they turn 6 months or a year, you should be able to at least send an email to your breeder and expect a response. 

Some breeders make an online group or a WhatsApp group where they connect all the buyers or puppy owners of the breed. That way you can share the experiences, ask questions, or simply share your photos. And, if a breeder is truly a human being foremost, they will be thrilled to see how the puppies have grown or where they live now. Just don’t expect they’ll become your best friend. Again, boundaries! You can’t have them on speed dial and ring for any minor question.

4. Websites Can Deceive

Having a nice-looking website that is often updated is a plus when you’re looking for a dog breeder. However, not everyone is tech savvy and not everyone cares for having a nice-looking website. They’d rather just upload photos and that’s it. Maybe they don’t have the time to update the website too often, or they rely on the good old “come and see for yourself” rule.

I’ll be direct – websites can deceive. There are, unfortunately, so many scammers today. They use websites to promote responsible breeding programs and how they treat dogs with lots of care, but it turns out to be a puppy mill. Or they don’t even sell dogs but steal information or money from unsuspecting customers. So, be very careful with the info you find about the dog breeders online. Call their number and see them in person. See the dogs. 

 You can report someone if you suspect they own a puppy mill (a puppy farm). There isn’t one number you can dial. It depends from country to country, or even state to state if you live in the USA. But, you can call the local authorities. You can contact the ASPCA in the States or the RSPCA in the UK or Australia, Deutscher Tierschutzbund (The German Animal Welfare Federation) in Germany, The Norwegian Animal Protection Alliance (NAPA) in Norway, SPCA Italia Protezione Animali in Italy, and so on. Just don’t stay silent.

Unpredictables

Even if the breeders are the best, and they tick all the boxes, some things cannot be predicted. Many dog diseases cannot be discovered via DNA tests. Some symptoms don’t show up until dogs are adults. And, some diseases are not hereditary at all. No one can guarantee you that your dog will be of perfect health all the time. That is not possible.

Consider Adopting

Having a purebred dog has its perks, especially if you want to use a dog as a working dog. You want it to have the most predictable traits as possible so that you can use it for what it was bred to do. However, if you are not interested in the family tree of a dog and you don’t care if it’s really a purebred Scottish Terrier or not, and if you just want a family pet with no need to go on Pet Shows, getting a dog from the dog rescue center is the best thing you could do. 

It can be challenging, but it is an incredible feeling – to save a life. It is also less expensive than buying a purebred dog. I have nothing against breeders and purebred dogs. It is important to keep the dog breeds in this world, as versatile as they are. But, if you, as mentioned, don’t care about the family line, consider adopting a dog. There are cons, of course, but in the end, for those who simply want a friend without care about the breed, the pros outweigh the cons. 

Summary

In the end, we are looking for a dog breeder who will be a good person. Being a breeder is different from other jobs because you’re selling a living being. It should come as natural for someone who does that to want the best for the little ones they sell. They’d want the best for their own dogs too. That means taking great care of them and being open, wanting to meet the customer, showing the premises where they keep the dogs, showing the DNA tests, and being truly interested in where their dogs go. If you choose to buy a dog, make sure to arrange a meeting, ask any questions you want about dogs, and don’t believe in everything you see on their websites. 

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Cover photo by Judi Neumeyer