As Promised: How to Spot a Good Breeder

Heyo~ Most of the time, I feel somewhat strange writing a blog all about dogs. The truth is, I have two cats (gasp) and I'm often described as a cat person (double gasp!). However, one of them is really fat and could probably suffocate a small dog with his weight, while the other exhibits sulky teenage behaviors, so it's a little like I have a small, fat dog and a teenage daughter. Keep in mind though, my first love was the dog; I've always loved animals, but dogs have had a special place in my heart (now cohabited by cats).

So as I promised in my blog yesterday, we will be discussing how to spot a good breeder. This is a sort of continuation of my Adopting vs Buying post, if you guys want to see the first part you can check the archive on the right!

Here's a comic for motivation:

To start, I present you with a golden rule to live by: do not buy puppies over the internet. The internet is very sketchy (In fact do not buy puppies from puppy mills, or sketchy persons milling parking lots either).A good breeder should ONLY sell a puppy to someone he has met in person. He should allow you to visit the living areas of the puppies, and said living areas should be clean and spacious (relative to the breed's needs). A good breeder should not have a gazillion puppies milling about, and should only have one or two breeds he specializes in. The puppies that are bred from a good breeder should appear healthy and clean, have vaccination and medical records, and should not be caged 24/7 or show fear of strangers.

In addition, a good breeder is responsible. This entails caring for each and every life it creates--many breeders will have you sign a contract to confirm that should you not be able to take care of your dog, your dog will be safely returned to the breeder instead of a shelter or a pound. Responsible breeders should also have you sign a contract stating you will spay or neuter your puppy, unless there are extenuating circumstances. 

A good breeder should keep his puppies the way any responsible person keeps his pets: healthy, clean, and happy. Should you have any questions about the puppy's parents or any genetic disorders, your breeder should be able to answer them and may even offer his assistance in regards to future training, or give references to veterinarians. Most good things in life do not come easily, and neither should buying a puppy. Hope this helps. :)

~S