Choosing a Breeder

(this article is used with the permission of author Alison Smith, a DSFCA club member)

FINDING A GOOD, ETHICAL BREEDER ...

.... can be confusing and frustrating in today's instant satisfaction culture. Online multi-breed web sites abound, promising the world, willing to ship tomorrow and accepting a myriad of credit cards.

Obtuse, hollow guarantees of health, love and loyalty pepper their pages. If it reads like a come on ad for used cars or miracle weight loss, it's likely a puppy broker or mill in disguise. The internet is a valuable source of information in your puppy search, but is not a substitute for good old fashioned, real time, human connection.

AVOID BROKERS AND MILLS. GO LOCAL (if possible) and DIRECT.

• You want a puppy DIRECTLY from a breeder you have been able to develop a relationship with, who will work to get to know you so a successful match is most likely.
• You want, ideally, a puppy from a breeder reasonably LOCAL to you (or one whose kennel you are willing to travel to) - even if it means waiting for the right pup. You may want to check the breeders' directories on the breed club sites listed below for a visitable and ethical breeder. Farmdog breeders are few and far between so you may have to visit via Skype or FaceTime, exchange phone calls, emails, photos and videos until you feel you have a sense of whom you are working with. Visit the web sites that resonate with you and make phone calls - talking to someone always gives you the best sense about potential fit. Next, schedule visits to those breeders that you enjoyed connecting with and see how you feel the puppy's first home may or may not prepare him/her for life in yours.
• You want a puppy whose relatives you have met, whose early environment you've seen with your own eyes and which feels like good preparation for life in yours.
• You want a breeder who is well informed about health testing available to their breeds and articulate about the decisions they've made around which they chose to use.
• You want a puppy from a breeder who is knowledgeable and invested in continuing education about genetics, best practices, puppy rearing and client support.
• You want a puppy from a breeder willing to stay connected and to offer "tech support" whenever you have questions, problems or just a proud moment to share.
• You want a lifetime safety net for your puppy. You want breeders so committed to their animals that in the unlikely event you can't keep that pup, they'll guarantee to take it back. And since you've developed a relationship with them, that idea wouldn't horrify you! No ethical breeder's puppies should ever end up in a shelter.

This all matters. Take your time. Ask questions. Listen to your gut.