Responsible Breeders

Buying a puppy is a process, not a transaction. Buying a puppy from a responsible breeder should be more time-consuming than buying an automobile.

While responsible breeders may have a website showcasing their dogs and puppies (and many do), they don’t sell puppies online and they don’t ship you a dog after taking your credit card number via a web page or over the phone. Don’t buy an animal based on excellence in marketing; instead look for excellence in breeding.

No responsible breeder sends their puppies to a pet store or puppy outlet – EVER, no matter what the sign in the pet store says. Think about it. No pet store would EVER tell you that they get their puppies from puppy mills; who would buy from them? A responsible breeder also doesn’t use eBay or Craig’s List to sell puppies.

Responsible breeders do not sell a puppy on impulse; do not buy a puppy on impulse.

Responsible breeders will be happy to honestly answer any questions you may have about their dogs and their breed in general. They will be able to tell you what health testing their breed should have, and will be able to provide you proof of health testing on their dogs.

Responsible breeders ask many questions of their potential buyers. The bottom line is this: responsible breeders put the welfare of their dogs first. Consequently, they don’t breed more puppies than they can place and their main concern is that the puppy be able to lead a long, happy and healthy life in a forever home. So if a breeder doesn’t grill you with a lot of tough questions about your expectations and ability to care for a dog, you’re probably in the wrong place.

Buyers that aren’t willing to provide the answers will be best suited to finding a puppy elsewhere. You will no doubt find many places that will not ask as many questions, and you will certainly even find more than a few that only ask one question – what your credit card number is. A breeder that cares more about how they are going to be paid than where their puppy is going to (hopefully) spend the rest of its life has nothing invested personally in that puppy; just money. Is that the kind of start you want your new companion to have?