Choosing a Good Dog Breeder
Have you ever purchased a car that was a
lemon? Problems rob you of the pleasure of enjoying the new
car. Unfortunately there are dogs that are 'lemons' also. A
dog with health problems can lead to an empty checkbooks and a
lot of heartache. A good breeder will stand behind health
guarantees and will do everything possible to assist in the
case of an animal with a serious health issue.
There are several types of dog breeders. The first are those
that show dogs and work hard to maintain the breed standard.
The animals this breeder sells will be more expensive than
others, but there are many advantages to buying one. These
dogs are tested for genetic diseases; only the best dogs are
bred because they are breeding dogs to acquire a new
generation of champions. This means that while all puppies may
not be show quality they will generally still be exceptional.
The second is called the backyard breeder. This type of
breeder rarely shows dogs and often has a litter of puppies
simply because they want others to have a dog like theirs.
This type of breeder rarely tests for diseases or understands
what traits to look for in accordance of breed standard.
The third is called a puppy mill breeder. This type of breeder
generally has many different breeds of dogs and will breed the
females until they become run down and die. The puppies that
come from this breeder are generally poor examples of the
breed and may have genetic health problems as well as diseases
such as Kennel Cough.
Everyone wants to find a good dog breeder. Unfortunately,
knowing the importance of finding a good breeder doesn't make
it easy to locate one. If the right signs are looked for and
the right questions asked, it should be easy to tell if the
breeder is a good one.
First, look at how the breeder advertises. Breeders who
advertise in the paper are not necessarily unethical. Many
love the breed and simply choose not to participate in the
show arena. Be wary of advertisements that list many puppies
of different breeds, and poodle mixes.
Second, ask the breeder to allow you to look at the puppies. A
breeder may refuse because of safety concerns but it could
mean that the breeder's kennel is dirty and the dogs care is
unacceptable.
Third, ask the breeder if the dogs have been to a vet and what
type of health guarantee he offers. Some breeders do give
vaccinations themselves but if the shots weren't administered
correctly the animal could still be vulnerable to disease.
Also a preliminary exam by a veterinarian would uncover any
serious genetic or health problems.
Finally ask for references from previous owners and get the
name and phone number of the breeder's veterinarian. Follow up
on the references with a phone call and ask about their
experience with the breeder and how their puppies turned out.
If the reports are positive call the vet to verify that the
breeder has sought care for the puppies.
If the breeder passes these simple tests it is safe to
purchase a puppy. The most difficult part is deciding which
one to buy!
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