Puppy Buyers Guide

Are you interested in buying a puppy?

So you want to buy a puppy and don't know where to begin? Should you buy one from the person down the block who breeds their pet for fun/money? Should you buy one from a pet store? Should you buy one from a "show" breeder? Should you adopt one from the shelter? Wondering what the differences is between breeders? Well look no further.

The first thing you want to do is make sure you're ready for a puppy. A lot of people don't realize that a puppy is a lot of work. It's similiar to having a baby. Puppies chew and destroy things if they aren't properly supervised, puppies need to be housebroken or crate trained and they have to be obedience trained so they know how to behave properly. If you decide that you can deal with that then you have to decide if you'd like a purebreed or a mixed breed. The advantages of a purebreed dog is that you will have a general idea as to how the dog will look and what traits it will have. Keep in mind that a lot of breeds were bred for different purposes and will act different. The best thing to do is research different breeds to find out which one would be suitable for you. A good place to research is the American Kennel Club website. Some people like mixed breed dogs because they're unique. After doing your research, you still may not be sure where to get a puppy.

There are a few different places to get puppies. You can get one from a responsible breeder, an irresponsible breeder, a pet store or a shelter or rescue. *I* highly suggest getting a puppy from a responsible breeder or a shelter or rescue and I'll explain why. When it comes to looking for a responsible breeder, one of the best places to start is by visiting a dog show. The best dog shows to go to are "benched" shows which means that the dogs are still on the premises when they are done showing. This is a great way to speak to owners, breeders, handlers and fanciers of the breeds. If you like a certain breed, you can check out breed clubs. Breed clubs are a great place to find out information about a certain breed and you can often find breeder referrals on there. You can also go the rescue route. A great place to check out is Pet Finder. If you are interested in a certain breed, there are breed specific rescues out there.

This guide is directed at buying a dog from a responsible breeder and gives some insight as to why you should stay away from irresponsible breeders. When I am looking to buy a dog, I look for these things in a breeder....

1. Does the breeder show and prove their breeding stock in conformation and/or other dog related events?

A responsible breeder is one who breeds for the health and preservation of the breed(s). They breed for conformationally correct dogs and/or for dogs who can do what they were originally bred for. Conformationally correct means that the dog is a great example of the breed. All purebreeds have breed standards. A breed standard is a written ideal of the breed. It's what the breed should look and act like. For example, this is the Boston Terrier breed standard. A responsible breeder will breed within/towards that. Some breeders will breed dogs that can do what they were originally bred for. For example, Border Collies are a herding dog. A lot of breeders will put a herding title on their breeding dogs as a way to show that they can do what they were bred for. There are many different events that breeders can utilize to prove that their dogs can do what they were bred for. Some breeders may even have dogs that have conformation and other dog related event titles.

In *my* experiences irresponsible breeders, such as "backyard breeders" or "BYB's" and pet stores/commercial breeders, do not breed for conformational correct dogs nor do they prove them in any other dog related event. A lot of them feel because they are breeding for "pets" that they do not have to do any of this. This is why a lot of their dogs are poor specimens of the breed or they barely resemble the breed. Some people are unsure of what a conformationally correct vs. incorrect conformation dog looks like. Here's an example....

This is a conformationally correct Boston Terrier...

This is a Boston Terrier with incorrect conformation...

It's like this in many breeds. You will find that this is a huge difference between responsibly and irresponsibly bred dogs. I don't know about you, but if I'm going to pay big bucks for a dog, I want one that looks like the breed it's supposed to be. As you can tell, I love Boston Terriers. I love their big melon heads, big Pac-man mouths and their big bug eyes. A Boston Terrier is not supposed to have floppy ears and a long muzzle. To make a long story short, if you like the way a breed is supposed to look, the chances of getting a dog that looks like the breed it's supposed to be is extremely high when you go to a responsible breeder.

A note about registries and kennel clubs. There are quite a few registries and kennel clubs out there. Very few are reputable. Reputable meaning that they're of benefit to the dogs which means they sponsor dog related events, they have health foundations and they have quite a bit of rules when it comes to registration and record keeping. The few reputable kennel clubs are the AKC, UKC, CanadianKC, FCI and ARBA. Because these registries can have stringent rules when it comes to record keeping and registration, a lot of irresponsible breeders are flocking to other registries that aren't so stringent when it comes to registration. Some registries only require a picture and "your word" that the dog is purebreed and that's enough for them to register the dog. A lot of these registries do not sponsor dog related events, they do not have health foundations and they basically exist to create "papers" for irresponsibly bred dogs because the word "papers/registration" gives people the impression that the dog is worth a higher price tag. If you want to learn more about the differences between registries and kennel clubs, click here.

2. Does the breeder utilize health testing and is knowledgeable about the breeds health issues?

ALL breeds have health issues. Some breeds have more health issues than others. A responsible breeder will be knowledgeable about what health issues afflict their chosen breed(s) and will do what they can to help reduce these issues from being passed down. This can include doing pedigree research, removing afflicted dogs from their breeding program and utilizing health testing. There are quite a few tests out there that breeders can use to help rule out health issues. The most popular are OFA which is for patellas(knees) and hips, CERF for eyes and BAER for deafness. These tests can help prevent defects such as Luxating patellas, Hip Dysplasia, Juvenile Cataracts and deafness from being passed down to future generations.

In *my* experiences, BYB's and pet stores/commercial breeders, do not utilize health testing and some of them do not know what it is. Some irresponsible breeders believe that a basic vet visit is suffice. It's not. A lot of congenital defects cannot be detected by the naked eye. Some of these tests, such as CERF and BAER, can only be done by specialists. Some irresponsible breeders think they're slick and will try to pass off a basic vet vist as "health testing". This is what health testing looks like....

                                                 This is a CERF test, results and a certificate...



                                                                               This is a BAER test...



                                                                This is an OFA patella certificate....



                                                                    And this is a basic vet visit...



If a breeder says they do health testing, ask to see the results! They should look like what I posted. If they don't have the results on hand, see if they are on the registries. For example, Shelby's breeder is listed on the OFA database. You can even see Shelby's results on there. If a breeder doesn't show you results and/or isn't listed on any of the registries, it's safe to say they don't do health testing and you should steer clear!

3. Health guarantees

A responsible breeder will offer a worthy health guarantee. That basically means that if your puppy ends up with a congenital defect, you'll have some sort of recourse. *I* have found that the more in-depth the health guarantee is indicative of how much faith a breeder has in their breeding program. Responsible breeders may have a guarantee that covers congenital defects for over a year and that if your puppy ends up with a congenital defect they'll either reimburse your purchase price or offer you another puppy from a future breeding. Very few will require that you give the dog back in order to make good on the guarantee although they would take the dog back if you didn't want it.

In *my* experiences, BYB's and pet stores/commercial breeders, do not offer health guarantees or they offer totally worthless guarantees. A "totally worthless" guarantee would be one that offers less than a year on congenital defects. Most congenital defects do not show up until the dog is one year old or older. A "totally worthless" guarantee is one that only covers "fatal" or "life threatening" defects. The reality is the majority of congenital defects are not fatal nor are they life threatening. A "totally worthless" guarantee is one that only covers defects that aren't really common in the breed. For example, the most common defects known to afflict Boston Terriers are Luxating patellas, Juvenile Cataracts and deafness. It would make no sense for a guarantee to only cover Hip Dysplasia, Mitral Valve Disease or something along those lines. A "totally worthless" guarantee is one that requires you to return the dog in order to make good on the guarantee. Who in their right mind is going to return a dog that they've grown to love? I've seen many guarantees like this so be sure you read through a health guarantee thoroughly. Ask questions before you sign anything!

4. Take back clauses

A responsible breeder is one who is not part of the shelter overpopulation nor does anything that may contribute to it. This means that if, for any reason, an owner cannot keep their dog a responsible breeder will require "first right of refusal". That means that the dog is to be given back to them or that they be involved in the placement of it into a new home.

In *my* experiences, BYB's and pet stores/commercial breeders, do not not take back nor assist in the placement of the dog.

Now I like to find out these things BEFORE I visit a breeder. Why? This is why....



You see those sweet faces? It's kinda hard to resist them when you see them in person regardless if the breeder is a responsible or irresponsible one. This is why you ask questions BEFORE you visit the breeder. It's to avoid temptation and from making an irresponsible purchase. So you ask these questions via email or phone. A responsible breeder will not have any problems answering any questions. A lot of them welcome the questions and may talk your ear off. If a breeder gets offended by asking questions or doesn't want to talk about anything, be cautious. In fact, if a breeder refuses to answer questions or gets offended, you might as well leave well enough alone because I can guarantee you're going to be wasting your time with an irresponsible breeder.

You find the breeder you like and you decide to visit them. A responsible breeder will want to visit with you prior to selling you a puppy. Some responsible breeders my not even have puppies available when you visit them but they want to get to know you. It's also very rare that you will visit a responsible breeder and take home a puppy on the same day. I feel it's important to see where your puppy is coming from. The only exception from this is if the breeder lives in another state and you can't get out there. In that case, I would do a whole lot of research and ask for referrals. If other responsible breeders recommend this particular breeder and vouch for him/her, then it's usually safe to say that the breeder maintains their dogs correctly as other responsible breeders will not risk their reputation by recommending someone irresponsible.

In *my* experiences, a lot of BYB's and commercial breeders do not really welcome visitors. Some of them may not even let you in their house and some don't even want you to know where they live. They'd rather meet you in a parking lot. A lot of them are using the excuse about a pregnant dog breeder who was killed by someone posing as a puppy buyer. While what happened is absolutely horrible, this is also extremely rare. It is true that homicide is the leading cause of death for pregnant women but the reality is they are not killed by crazed nutjobs posing as puppy buyers to steal a baby, they're killed by someone they know and it's usually the baby's father. So if the breeder isn't pregnant or is a man, this is a poor excuse to use. I believe that if someone doesn't want you to come to their house to see how they keep their dogs, there's a reason for doing so and it's not a good one. It's usually because they have something to hide and it's something that would be big enough to have an impact on their ability to sell puppies.

With that said, these are some things to look out for....

1. Cleanliness

You can't expect pristine conditions but the place should be clean and shouldn't stink to high heaven. Some breeders keep their dogs in kennels. Some people have a problem with this and some don't. I personally don't but it depends on the breed. I personally can't see keeping a small breed, such as Boston Terriers, in kennels yet I can understand if someone has a large breed, such as a Rottweiler, kept in kennels. Now I have seen some kennels that I wouldn't kept a stuffed animal in and I have seen some kennels that are so nice that I'd live in them. If a breeder has a kennel, you want to make sure they are kept clean, the dogs have access to the outdoors, and are checked on regularly. They should have fresh water, food and they should be well socialized. Well socialized meaning they are friendly and they welcome interaction and don't cower away. All dogs, whether they be kept indoors or kennels, should be free of parasites.

A word about kennels. Some breeders have kennels for various reasons. Some reasons include that their breed of choice is rather large and it can be hard to have several large dogs running around the house, because the law says if you have a certain amount of dogs and if you breed as a business they have to be kept in kennels. I think the worst reason is because the breeder has way too many dogs and it's impossible to keep them all in the house. Now "too many" is very subjective. For example, I can properly maintain 4 dogs(although I have 3 right now). Some people think that's too many while some people can properly maintain 10 dogs. Properly maintaining meaning that you don't have to cut corners(such as using a low quality food or not providing proper vet care) in order to maintain all of your dogs. I, personally, would be leery about someone who has over 20 dogs and I'm being generous with that number. If someone has that many dogs kenneled, I wonder how much time and socialization they receive and I would hope that properly maintaining these dogs would be a full time job for them or they should employ someone(s) to help maintain the dogs. If the dogs are kept in kennels, they should be nice in size. There should be more than enough room to move around. They should not look like this...



After you stop laughing at the devil mask, check out the background. Notice how small the cages are. They look like rabbit/guinea pig cages yet dogs are being housed and raised in those things. Very scary.
Another thing to keep in mind is that a kenneled dog may be harder to housebreak. Dogs, by nature, will not soil their sleeping quarters but if they are forced to because they have no other place to potty, they will learn that that's where they're supposed to go and it can be extremely hard to break them of that habit. This is why a lot of pet store/commercial breeder pups are never fully housebroken.

2. The sire and dam

You should be able to see the dam. Keep in mind, she gave birth and has been nursing a litter of puppies for the last 8 weeks or longer so she may not look her best. You may or may not be able to see the sire. A lot of responsible breeders use sires that belong to other breeders. In this case, they should be able to show you pictures and provide his pedigree and any health information, including health test results, for him. If they do own him, you should be able to see him as well. If you do see him, he shouldn't look ragged and tired like the dam. Unfortunately for her, he really doesn't help rear the pups.

3. The breeder

How does the breeder act towards you? Do they act friendly and are more than willing to answer any questions you have? Do they ask you questions? A responsible breeder will ask you questions. They want to know why you're interested in that particular breed. They want to know how you plan on taking care of the puppy. They want to know you're serious about getting a puppy. They may inquire about your living situation, if you're married or single and if you have children and/or planning to have children. They just want to make sure that your home will be a forever home and that the chances of things not working out will be very slim. More importantly, how do you feel about the breeder? Do you feel comfortable with them? This is a person who is a wealth of information and will be there for you should you have any questions after you bring the puppy home. This person will be a new friend in your life.

In *my* experiences, BYB's and pet stores/commercial breeders do not really ask questions beyond "Will that be cash, check, credit, debit, Link card or food stamps?". They feel once you buy the dog, it's yours and if you have any problems, too bad.

So now you visited the breeder and you feel comfortable with this person and they have what you like. The time comes when pups are available and you're at the top of the list to get one. A lot of times, a responsible breeder will actually choose a pup for you. This is based on what you told the breeder about your lifestyle. For example, if you're a novice to dogs, the breeder may decide that a pup with an easy going temperment may be best for you. If you are interested in participating in dog related events, the breeder may decide that a pup with a lot of spunk and drive may be best for you. Don't be discouraged by not being able to choose a puppy. The breeder has been taking care of them for over 8 weeks and knows what their personalities are like. Placing the right dog with your circumstances ensures that the placement will be successful and the chances of things not working out will be small. If you're lucky, there may be more than one pup with the qualities that will be best for your situation. In that case, you may be able to choose which one you like.

These are some common questions people have when it comes to picking out a pup...

1. Male or female?

In *my* opinion, sex doesn't matter. I've owned male and female dogs, I currently have 2 males and 1 female, and they all act the same... like total flapjacks. Some people say that males act better with children and some people say females act better with children. Some people say males are more outgoing and some people say females are more outgoing. Some say males are more territorial and some say females are more territorial. Some say males are more protective and some say females are more protective. It can go on and on but I haven't found any of those statements to be absolute truths. We have children in my house and my dogs get along great with them and all of my dogs are outgoing. The main differences *I* have found with male and female dogs is that males tend to be bigger than females. Females go through a heat cycle twice a year and males can lift their leg to mark their territory in and outside of the house. These issues can be taken care of if you spay or neuter your dog. Spaying removes the ovaries and uterus which means no heat cycles and neutering removes the testicles which means this will reduce unwanted male behaviors such as marking, aggression towards other dogs and the urge to wander to find a bitch to mate with. There's a lot of debate of when to spay/neuter a dog. Some think it's fine to spay/neuter a dog around 8 weeks of age and some don't think it's a great idea to do an early spay/neuter. It's best to do research on the subject, discuss the issue with your breeder and with your vet and make the best choice for yourself and for the dog. Speaking of spaying/neutering, that brings me to my next subject...

2. Pet or show quality?

For those who don't know what the difference is, a pet quality dog is one that has flaws that would disqualify it from the show ring. This doesn't mean that the dog is "defective" in any way, it just means it can't be shown in conformation. A disqualification can range from being a color that is not permissible in the breed standard to having the wrong eye color to being too tall/small or having ears that don't stand up. That doesn't have any effect on it's health(barring a few things) and it doesn't mean they can't be loving pets. The majority of dogs in this world are pet quality dogs. With that said, pet quality dogs should not be bred. The main purpose for breeding should be to preserve the breeds. Responsible breeders almost always sell pet quality dogs on limited registration which means the dog can be registered but it cannot participate in certain events such as conformation and if it is bred, it's offspring cannot be registered with that kennel club. Responsible breeders almost always require that the dog be spayed/neutered by a certain age if it's not already spayed/neutered when you get it.

A show quality dog is one that has the potential to be shown in conformation with the hopes that it will attain a champion title. Responsible breeders don't part easy with these dogs, as these are the dogs that will hopefully be bred therefore carrying on the breed, and if they do part with them, they usually place them in homes that intend on showing them and perhaps breeding them in the future. They will be sold on full registration meaning that they can be shown in all events and their offspring can be registered with that kennel club as well. They are usually sold on a contract that stipulates that the dog must be shown in conformation and the dog may be sold on a co-ownership which means the breeder also owns the dog as well to make sure the dog is shown and he/she has a say in breedings or any other issues concerning the dogs. The breeder may sign off on co-ownership and give you full ownership once the dog has attained a champion title. Showing a dog in conformation not an easy nor a cheap thing to do so it's best to do research on that subject before you decide to get involved in it.

In *my* experiences, a BYB or a pet store/commercial breeder does not care which puppy you pick out. They really don't put much into the evaluation of their pups temperment. A BYB or a pet store/commercial breeder usually does not have show quality dogs and are usually breeding for "pets" anyways. They almost always sell all dogs on full registration, if they are registered at all, and don't require you to spay/neuter your pup. If you want to spay/neuter, that's fine with them. If you want to churn out litter after litter, that's fine with them as well.

                                          SPECIAL NOTES

Being that I speak to a lot of people, these subjects have come up a lot and I feel that I should address them.

1. Puppy prices

The price of a puppy can vary depending on many things. It can depend on the breed, with rare breeds or breeds that have breeding issues/small litters such as Bulldogs or Boston Terriers, being more expensive. It can depend on where you live as puppies on the East and West coasts tend to be a bit more expensive and puppies from the Midwest tend to be a bit cheaper. It can depend on whom you get a puppy from. A lot of people are under the false assumption that show breeders charge way too much money for a puppy and it's one of the reasons that they go the backyard breeder route or they finance a puppy from a pet store. However, a little bit of research would've proved them wrong and it would've actually saved them some money. The reality is it's cheap to buy from a backyard breeder, a bit more expensive at a responsible breeder and expensive at a pet store. For example, in Chicago, a pet quality Boston Terrier from a backyard breeder can range in price from $250 to $800. A pet quality Boston Terrier from a responsible breeder can range in price from $700 to $1200. A pet quality Boston Terrier from a pet store usually starts at $1000 and can be as high as $1500. Often times, the purchase price of a pet store puppy can exceed the show quality price of a puppy from a responsible breeder.

As you can see, you're going to pay more money at a pet store. Why do you think so many offer financing? You may think you're getting the best money can buy but you're not. The majority of pet stores get their puppies from commercial breeders. These breeders sell puppies as cheap as $15 and the reason they can do so is because of sheer volume. They breed dogs as one would breed chickens. They're considered livestock to such breeders. They are NOT bred with conformation nor health in mind. So why do pet stores charge as much as $3000 for a puppy that may have cost them $30? Because they can and because gullible people will pay those prices. Don't be one of those people.

And do NOT fall for the fallacy that pet stores get their puppies from "local breeders". Some pet stores will consider the state next to them to be "local". Some may get their puppies from backyard breeders. NO responsible breeder will EVER sell a puppy to a pet store. For one, it's against the Code of Ethics of ALL breed clubs for members to give or sell a puppy to a broker or to a pet store. Responsible breeders put a lot of time and money into their breeding program. Why on earth would they give the results of that hard work to a pet store who will sell a puppy to anyone? Not only that, a responsible breeder would have no need to use a pet store to sell puppies as their reputation is enough to bring puppy buyers their way.

And as you can see, you can buy a cheaper dog from a backyard breeder. HOWEVER, there's a reason why it's cheaper. Backyard breeders do not put much thought into breeding their dogs. They are usually ignorant of their breeds breed standard. Very few, if any, utilize any health testing. A lot of them give as little veterinary care as possible which is why many of them are willing to part with puppies by the time they are 6 weeks of age because at that point, they don't want to pay more money for food and veterinary care. The worst part is this bargain pup may cost you more later. Unfortunately, because of indiscriminate breeding, the chances of health problems are much higher when it comes to backyard breeder and pet store puppies. You may feel you're saving money when you buy a $200 puppy but it's not so much of a bargain when you have to pay over $3000 for hip or patella surgery.

2. Teacup dogs

The latest fad is acquiring dogs so small that they disappear when fully grown. Ok, I'm being facetious about that but it seems that a 5lb Chihuahua is just WAY too big for some people and they feel the need to have a smaller dog. The reality is there is NO SUCH THING as a teacup breed. Teacup is not a recognized size in ANY breed. If anything, you'll find a toy, miniature or standard size. Teacup is a marketing ploy by irresponsible people in order to con people into thinking they're going to get a teeny tiny dog. Often times, you're not. The teacup dog ends up weighing double than what the breed standard calls for. Not only that, when you breed below the acceptable weight per the breed standard and end up with really tiny dogs, there are health issues involved and some of them are very serious. The most common are Hydrocephalus, Hypoglycemia, liver problems and having fragile bones which can easily lead to broken spines and legs. This trend is getting so bad that the Poodle Club of America, Chihuahua Club of America, Yorkshire Terrier Club of America and the American Shih Tzu Club have issued statements about this issue and their Code of Ethics prohibits members from using such terms to describe their dogs.

Well I think that about covers it. I hope this has helped in your search for a puppy. Keep in mind a dog can live 10+ years so please make your choice based on research. Good luck in your search!

***Be sure to check out the Puppy Buyers Breed Guides section for breed specific puppy buyers guides and breeder referrals!

SEKC'S ZOO