What Makes an Ethical and Quality Breeder?​

[size=35]What Makes an Ethical and Quality Breeder?[/size][size=30]​[/size]

After you see the adorable faces of your new prospective puppies it can be very hard to turn away. I know first hand what it is like to get your hopes up about your new family member just to learn that the great breeder you thought you found isn’t all they're cracked up to be. This page is to help new prospective buyers know what to look for and what the red flags might be while looking for a good breeder. Keep in mind that some of these points may apply more strictly to breeders here in the U.S. than to breeders over seas.
​
 
1. View some of the breeder's past litters.
    Past litters are a good way to see the quality of puppies that a breeder produces as well as what your puppy may look like when it is
    born and when it is older. Many breeders will have links on their websites to easily view past litters as well as updated information on
    the pups. Viewing a list of past litters also allows you to see how many times the female you are looking at has been bred in the past
    and what quality she has produced.
 
2. Find out how much the puppies are handled each day.
    To be a healthy adult, puppies need human contact and interaction from birth. It is highly recommended to find a breeder who does
    early neurological stimulation with the pups which greatly increases the puppy’s overall health for the duration of its life (learn more
    about this on my puppy page).
 
3. See what accomplishments the parents have.
    While finding a new dog, even if it is just a pet, it is important to see that the breeder has done some kind of training with the parents.  
    This can include conformation, agility, therapy work, weight pulling, tracking, and more. An active dog is a healthy dog. These
    things also show the different qualities the parents possess that make them worthy of producing puppies. For example, if a breeder
    claims to have dogs with great temperaments a way of validating this would be for those dogs to have gone to conformation shows, to
    be CGC certified, or even to be therapy dog certified.
 
4. Be wary of breeders who have never shown their dogs in conformation or other events.
    It is important while looking for a pure bred dog that the parents are healthy and active. For shepherds of all kinds, health comes from
    their conformation. Conformation means the way a dog is put together and what their bone structure is like. Dogs that are put together 
    correctly make healthy pets! Dog showing is much more than just saying that you have a nice looking dog; it shows that your dog has a
    stable temperament, is accepting of many different people and dogs, and is healthy. Participating in other events show that their dogs
    have something worthy to pass on and that the breeder is actively INVESTED in their dog's lives!
​
5. Insist on seeing the parent's official health clearances
    Unethical breeders know what the buyer's want to hear. They are able to suggest that their dog's have appropriate clearances when 
    sometimes the do not. In White Shepherds, quality breeders should at minimum have hip and elbow certifications, and MDR1 and DM
    gene tests to ensure that these things are not passed on to puppies. Take the time to check the OFA website to make sure the hip and
    elbow clearances are as they suggest (offa.org  all you have to do is type in the dog's name or registration number). Ask the breeder to
    show you copies of the official test results.

6. Make sure to see the breeder's buyers contract before you put down your deposit
    This is to make sure that you know exactly what you are getting into and what you are getting from this breeder. Make sure to take
    your time and read through it carefully. Make sure that everything you want in your new dog is clearly understood and in writing.
 
7. Check to see if they have a health guarantee
    When looking at a health guarantee you want to make sure that your future pup is guaranteed to be healthy for at least 1 1/2 years. This
    is because at that age you are able to take preliminary joint evaluations to make sure your puppy is healthy. Any younger than this and 
    you are running the risk that your dog may not be as healthy as it seems or that the breeder is not as confident in their pups as they
    should be.
 
8. Visit the breeder!
    If you live close by or have the means to travel to see the breeder make sure they allow this. Breeders that seem unwilling to let you  
    meet their dogs probably have something to hide. This is a good way to see what the temperaments of your puppy’s parents are like  
    and see what it will be like when your pup is full grown. If you can't visit try to see lots of pictures of both parents. Some breeders  
    even have videos of their dogs that you can see!
 
9. Ask lots of questions!
    Don’t be afraid to contact a breeder to ask questions. A good breeder will take the time to talk with you to make sure you are making
    an informed and responsible decision. A big red flag is if they deflect your questions or refuse to give you thorough answers. They
    should be more than willing to talk to you about their amazing breed!
 
 

Anja je napisal/a:

[size=35]What Makes an Ethical and Quality Breeder?[/size][size=30]​[/size]

After you see the adorable faces of your new prospective puppies it can be very hard to turn away. I know first hand what it is like to get your hopes up about your new family member just to learn that the great breeder you thought you found isn’t all they're cracked up to be. This page is to help new prospective buyers know what to look for and what the red flags might be while looking for a good breeder. Keep in mind that some of these points may apply more strictly to breeders here in the U.S. than to breeders over seas.
​
 
1. View some of the breeder's past litters.
    Past litters are a good way to see the quality of puppies that a breeder produces as well as what your puppy may look like when it is
    born and when it is older. Many breeders will have links on their websites to easily view past litters as well as updated information on
    the pups. Viewing a list of past litters also allows you to see how many times the female you are looking at has been bred in the past
    and what quality she has produced.
 
2. Find out how much the puppies are handled each day.
    To be a healthy adult, puppies need human contact and interaction from birth. It is highly recommended to find a breeder who does
    early neurological stimulation with the pups which greatly increases the puppy’s overall health for the duration of its life (learn more
    about this on my puppy page).
 
3. See what accomplishments the parents have.
    While finding a new dog, even if it is just a pet, it is important to see that the breeder has done some kind of training with the parents.  
    This can include conformation, agility, therapy work, weight pulling, tracking, and more. An active dog is a healthy dog. These
    things also show the different qualities the parents possess that make them worthy of producing puppies. For example, if a breeder
    claims to have dogs with great temperaments a way of validating this would be for those dogs to have gone to conformation shows, to
    be CGC certified, or even to be therapy dog certified.
 
4. Be wary of breeders who have never shown their dogs in conformation or other events.
    It is important while looking for a pure bred dog that the parents are healthy and active. For shepherds of all kinds, health comes from
    their conformation. Conformation means the way a dog is put together and what their bone structure is like. Dogs that are put together 
    correctly make healthy pets! Dog showing is much more than just saying that you have a nice looking dog; it shows that your dog has a
    stable temperament, is accepting of many different people and dogs, and is healthy. Participating in other events show that their dogs
    have something worthy to pass on and that the breeder is actively INVESTED in their dog's lives!
​
5. Insist on seeing the parent's official health clearances
    Unethical breeders know what the buyer's want to hear. They are able to suggest that their dog's have appropriate clearances when 
    sometimes the do not. In White Shepherds, quality breeders should at minimum have hip and elbow certifications, and MDR1 and DM
    gene tests to ensure that these things are not passed on to puppies. Take the time to check the OFA website to make sure the hip and
    elbow clearances are as they suggest (offa.org  all you have to do is type in the dog's name or registration number). Ask the breeder to
    show you copies of the official test results.

6. Make sure to see the breeder's buyers contract before you put down your deposit
    This is to make sure that you know exactly what you are getting into and what you are getting from this breeder. Make sure to take
    your time and read through it carefully. Make sure that everything you want in your new dog is clearly understood and in writing.
 
7. Check to see if they have a health guarantee
    When looking at a health guarantee you want to make sure that your future pup is guaranteed to be healthy for at least 1 1/2 years. This
    is because at that age you are able to take preliminary joint evaluations to make sure your puppy is healthy. Any younger than this and 
    you are running the risk that your dog may not be as healthy as it seems or that the breeder is not as confident in their pups as they
    should be.
 
8. Visit the breeder!
    If you live close by or have the means to travel to see the breeder make sure they allow this. Breeders that seem unwilling to let you  
    meet their dogs probably have something to hide. This is a good way to see what the temperaments of your puppy’s parents are like  
    and see what it will be like when your pup is full grown. If you can't visit try to see lots of pictures of both parents. Some breeders  
    even have videos of their dogs that you can see!
 
9. Ask lots of questions!
    Don’t be afraid to contact a breeder to ask questions. A good breeder will take the time to talk with you to make sure you are making
    an informed and responsible decision. A big red flag is if they deflect your questions or refuse to give you thorough answers. They
    should be more than willing to talk to you about their amazing breed!

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