Questions to Ask Breeders Tips

Should You Use Experienced Dog Breeders?

You've been thinking that newer is usually better, but does this hold true when you are comparing new and experienced dog breeders? Actually, in this case, you may want to go with established breeders. New breeders can have beautiful, show quality dogs, but unless they've been working with dogs for a long time before they started to breed them, they simply miss many things that experienced breeders will catch.

One thing an experienced breeder will look at is the bite of each puppy before he or she puts the litter up for sale. The upper and lower teeth should meet properly. Over or under bites, which is when one set of teeth juts out instead of aligning with the other set, are disqualifying flaws for otherwise show quality dogs. Of course, this doesn't mean that a dog with a bad bite is not going to be a good pet, but it is nice to know that your puppy has a flaw like this and choose to buy it anyway instead of being surprised by the information when you visit the vet.

Another flaw breeders with a bit of experience will spot is a hiatal hernia. This is a common defect in some puppy breeds and often corrects itself, but the breeder will usually have a vet check it to be sure it is not bad enough to need corrective surgery.

Comments

   

Finding a Reputable Breeder

Sometimes, searching for a puppy that is available right away isn't the best way to get a new dog. Instead, you may want to focus on finding a reputable breeder. Once you find a breeder you like, you may have to wait for a litter of puppies to be available, but getting a healthy, well adjusted puppy will make the wait worthwhile. To find a good breeder, you should ask a few questions.

• Does the breeder belong to any dog related organizations? Joining breed clubs is a way for breeders to find out more about their dogs and to work with others to better the breed.

• Are any of the breeder's dogs regulars in the show ring? A breeder who shows is trying to create dogs that have the right physical appearance and personalities that sparkle. This means that even pet quality puppies should be nice pets.
• Can the breeder give you several references? Don't just take a list of names and numbers and then forget to call them. People who don't have good references count on potential customers to forget to follow through. When you call the references, you may just find out that the breeder has some seriously disappointed pet owners on the reference list.
  

Comments

   

Questions to Ask Dog Breeders

When you are shopping for a new puppy, the breeder's philosophy and kennel standards are almost as important as the actual animal you are buying. However, when you are shopping for a puppy long distance by using a service like puppyfind.com, it can be a bit of a challenge to get an accurate picture of what the breeder's standards are. This is why you should make a list of questions to ask dog breeders before you start actively looking for a puppy.

One very important question to ask the breeder is exactly where the puppies are raised. Some puppies do not know what the inside of a house looks like, while others spend their first eight weeks in the kitchen or family room, surrounded by family. Since socialization is important for young puppies, the environment can make a big difference.

Another good thing to ask about is the people the puppies interact with. Do they get plenty of playtime with kids or do they live in a home where they only see the breeder? If you have an active family, a puppy raised with kids should fit right in, while a puppy used to a quiet life will probably need some help adjusting.

Comments

   

Breeders With Several Dog Breeds

You're all excited about finding your dream puppy on puppyfind.com when your breeder drops a bombshell. He mentions another dog breed he owns. Immediately, visions of that puppy you're already attached to being raised in an old clothes dryer leap into your mind. After all, breeders who have several dog breeds are puppy mills, right? Actually, the breeder you are talking to may be just fine. However, you should ask a few questions:

• How many different dog breeds do you have? The breeder may very well respond with an earth shattering number like 47, but an answer of three or four shouldn't send you into a panic yet.
• Are they all breeding dogs? If the breeder says yes to this one, you have someone who is raising dogs for money and they are probably not excellent examples of the breed. This is especially true if there are several litters of different breeds all available at the same time. If the answer is no and one breed is represented by an aging Standard Poodle and another is an altered mixed breed that belongs to the breeder's spouse, you can probably relax. The breeder probably just enjoys more than one type of dog, but is especially attached to one dog breed, which is the one he or she raises.

Comments

   

Breeder or Broker

As you ask some breeders a few questions, you may notice that a pattern is emerging. The breeder is vague about the whereabouts of the adult dogs. One is on an outing with family members, despite the fact that she has a litter of six week old puppies. Another is at the groomers. A third was actually a friend's dog and the friend took the animal back. What is going on here?

Some people who call themselves dog breeders are not actually breeders. In fact, despite the fact that they have puppies coming out their ears, they may not own a single adult dog. These people are actually brokers, or people who buy entire litters from hobby breeders, puppy mills, or accidental breeders and resell them. Many brokers will also buy puppies from Amish families that do not want the added hassle of dealing with customers. You can get a sweet pet from a broker, but the chance of it being a very healthy, beautiful example of the breed is on the slim side.

The problems with brokered puppies are:

• You have no idea where the puppy was actually born and raised. The conditions could have been deplorable.
• Socialization was probably minimal before the puppy reached the broker, who was probably too busy caring for several dozen puppies to really work with your dog.
• There are probably no pictures of parent dogs and there is no way to know their temperament.

Comments

   

What Questions to Ask a Dog Breeder When You Want a Show Quality Dog

While most people looking for puppies just want an adorable dog that will provide love and companionship, some are considering learning how to compete in dog shows and are interested in being sure they get a show quality dog. If you are one of those people, you may be wondering what questions to ask a dog breeder when you want a show quality dog.

• Do you show your dogs? Breeders who show their dogs are more apt to have show quality puppies than ones who don't. However, some breeders who don't show will carefully select and breed dogs to conform to the standard. Many times, these breeders just don't enjoy the stress of traveling the show circuit.
• Do you have a pedigree for the parents? A pedigree shows several generations of dogs and includes a record of any championships the dogs' ancestors have won. Asking how many dogs have championships will give you an idea of the quality of the bloodlines the parent dogs carry.
• Has a well known breeder or a judge seen the puppies? Sometimes, a breeder looking to bring new genes to a bloodline looks at other breeders' puppies and will identify the puppies that are closest to the breed standard.

Comments