City of Asylum

It is no surprise that there are a handful of dogs chosen by the majority of Americans. People have come to understand certain breeds and appreciate their characteristics. While there are over 150 breeds to choose from, there are a dozen favorites owned by the majority of Americans. While there are many rescue groups who specialize in adopting mutts, there are just as many who specialize in certain breeds.

Pure bred dogs make up 25% of dogs in shelters and most ended up there because their humans could no longer take care of them for one reason or another. While adoption is the right choice for some, others prefer going through a breeder. Most people who use breeders to obtain their dogs do so because they are in love with certain breeds and want to make sure they get the top of the line when it comes to their favorite. They want to know where he came from and meet his parents to try and ensure they get exactly what they want. With all of the stories on the news concerning puppy mills and other breeders of ill-repute, how do you select a reputable one?

First and foremost, never buy a pure-bred dog from a pet store! Pet store dogs are purchased from puppy mills where dogs are subjected to cruelty and bred with no regard to the health of the mothers or puppies. These pups are weaned from their mothers too quickly, live their entire puppyhood in cages and are often inbred, have higher rates of genetic disorders and suffer health problems more often than dogs raised by reputable breeders.

You should also avoid buying pups advertised in local newspapers by people commonly referred to as back yard breeders. These breeders keep their dogs outside in kennel runs and breed them randomly with the dogs of their neighbors and friends in order to turn a quick buck. They are typically not knowledgeable about breed standards and do not perform genetic testing or provide proper Veterinary care for the dogs they breed.

Now that you know what to avoid you can begin searching for the right breeder. You should start by asking your Veterinarian for referrals. Most reputable breeders have excellent relationships with their Vets and will appreciate that you received a referral from them. If your vet does not have any suggestions, try a local dog show. Attendees of dog shows are often breeders, handlers or trainers of the crème de la crème of dogs. They love their dogs and treat them as members of the family and will know of breeders who do the same. These are the breeders you want to seek out.

Once you have made a few calls you should arrange to visit the breeder to evaluate the quality of his operation. There are many things to look for on your first visit. A responsible breeder will: keep their dogs inside the home, not outside in kennels; encourage you to meet and spend time with the mother and or father and show you where the dogs spend the majority of their time.

They will be able to provide you with Veterinary records, the proper papers on the parents, references from satisfied customers and be able to explain breed standards and genetic health issues associated with their breed. Remember that good breeders do not always have a supply of puppies on hand and that is a good thing. This means that they do not breed the mothers too frequently and risk damaging her health in order to turn a profit. You might have to put your name on a waiting list, but it will be worth it for you in the long run.

Reputable breeders will expect certain things from you and do not sell their pups to the first person who comes along who can afford to pay the fee. It is not out of the ordinary for responsible breeders to ask you for personal references or to sign a contract.

These breeders will expect you to provide proper Vet care, spay/neuter your dog (unless you wish to show him) and introduce the pup to your entire family before they will accept your money. They might also require you to surrender the dog back to them in the event that you can no longer take care of him. This process can be time consuming and expensive; however, if you wish to buy a dog it is well worth it in the end to do things right on the front end.

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