Dog professionals recommend that you start to pick a puppy with the most important part of the process: you choose that puppy’s breeder. I asked dog professionals to answer some questions about how they picked their puppy’s breeder. What qualifications were most important?
“When you picked the breeder of your puppy, what qualifications did the breeder have that were most important to you? What was the process to get a puppy? How long did you wait? Did the breeder pick your puppy for you or did you pick your puppy? When it was time for your puppy to come home to you, how did that work?” (I was especially interested in the details of long-distance transportation.)
This week, I’ll share some of the answers—next week, more information.
Shelly Keel (Idaho) I picked Journey’s breeder and my pup, Journey, as follows:
I knew the breeder personally and had worked with her and many of her past pups professionally. The breeder has always been open and available for questions, has a written health guarantee, does extensive testing on her breeding dogs, and has taken breeders out of service and retired them for health, emotional, or behavioral issues if those arose.
I loved the early socialization work she does from having all litters whelped in the living quarters of the home (kept immaculately clean) so they get exposure to everyday sounds, the loving handling and interaction by her and her husband, the variety of toys, objects, surfaces, and play structures pups are exposed to, the early outside potty training and dog door skills … and the fact that this breeder is a member of breed organizations, aligned to positive reinforcement, reward-based teaching, and she has a good relationship with several R+ trainers and great client feedback and return customers.
All pups are given a first vet exam and vaccinations at her location and if families have run into issues, whether pup-related or not, she takes her return policy seriously and will take back and or rehome pups as needed. Not a “for money only” breeder!
There is an extensive application process where all contract policies are clearly outlined and where potential owner goals, needs, and experience are evaluated so pups can be best placed. First to apply gets first puppy pick—but based on goals, experience, existing pets, and family dynamics, it’s possible only specific pups are made available to prospective owners.
I was able to interview both the mother and father guardian owners to ask about temperament, behavior, health, and traits, and when it came time to select a puppy, I was given personal access to meet the litter and observe in person. (Because of COVID, most families have all questions to guardians answered through the breeder and in place of personal visits, everybody has all-day video access to watch and observe pups to select their picks.)
Turns out, the mom was a puppy I had trained two years earlier.
I left with a full veterinary medical history for Journey, a summary of both parents’ medical history, and a detailed genealogy back several generations.
There is often quite a long wait period for this breeder, but I was involved in learning about the parents shortly before the breeding took place and then met the pups at one week of age, visited a few times, and then picked my pup up at eight weeks.
Because of my dog experience and skills, the breeder allowed me to select my puppy per the order of application process in place.
I live in Idaho and the pup was in Northern California. I had made arrangements to pick my puppy up on the scheduled date. I had my motorhome, and the pup and I stayed locally for a couple of weeks visiting friends and family, engaging in socialization activities., I arranged for a vet exam and next vaccinations. From there my pup and I embarked on a three-week camping and motorhome travel vacation before returning home to Idaho.
In the past, pups may have been shipped via plane to new homes but, for quite a while now, all pups go home with their people after pickup, or a professional puppy escort is arranged to take pups to their new homes.
This is my Journey at six weeks after breeder gave a bath, nail trim and bum trim—a weekly event with Lickimat and at the pup’s pace.
Photo by Shelly Keel
Monique Feyrecilde (Washington) [I’d pick] someone who has adult dogs I would like to live with!
Health testing, honesty about pluses and minuses in the individual dogs and the lines. Helpful answers about what they hope to accomplish with a specific cross. An interest in producing the type of temperament I am seeking. Willingness to act as a safety net for the dog should things not work out in the future. Open to visitation, a safe environment for the dogs that allows them to have their physical, intellectual, and emotional needs met. Asks lots of questions to evaluate buyers to facilitate a good match. Willing to turn away buyers who are not suited to the breed, line, or litter. Willing to answer lots of questions in an honest and helpful way without discomfort. Spends time with the puppies daily and evaluates them with an honest and expert eye.
Dale Ward (North Carolina) For me, it’s a combination of things. Good temperament is of paramount importance to me. I want to see parents who are social, happy dogs, but I also want to see what the temperaments are like in previous litters produced by these parents. This is a good predictor of what future puppies will be like. I also want to see thorough health screenings that are readily available for review. I also want to know that the puppies receive proper veterinary care. I look for a breeder who is open and honest. If they’re not forthcoming with information, I will look elsewhere. I also look for a breeder who uses Puppy Culture, or a similar program, to raise their litters. I want to see the set-up. Are the puppies being stimulated with novel sights, sounds, textures at appropriate times? Are they introduced to the outside world? Is crate training being started? Are they acclimating puppies to car rides? Are they meeting different people? All these factors give me the information I need to put everything in my favor when selecting a breeder.
Photo by Dale Ward
Amy Suggars (Ohio) Because I am a long time “fancier” of flat-coated retrievers, I am very familiar with those who I consider to be “reputable breeders” of FCRs. I tend to pick the puppy’s bloodline first based on the characteristics I’m looking for (temperament, health, biddability, proven performance record of the dam and sire, etc.). When I hear of a breeding that interests me, I seek out that reputable breeder and ask to be considered for a puppy. If I’m accepted, the breeder will pick out the specific puppy for me after she has done evaluations of the litter (temperament testing, physical evaluation, etc.). The breeder will choose the puppy she thinks will best suit my goals for the puppy.
Alisha Ardiana (California) When I decided on the Papillon, I wanted to identify a breeder who focused on temperament, health, and structure. I sent out emails to prospectives, also hoping that I could meet parents and/or possibly see where the dogs lived. One breeder would not let me visit, but said I was welcome to meet her and her dogs at a dog show. I had been looking for a female puppy, and a breeder in Washington had a ten-month-old adolescent female that was exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a dog that was enthusiastic, eager to train, and liked to play with toys. The breeder was also an agility trainer, and she definitely believed this dog would be perfect for dog sports. So it was encouraging that she had familiarity with what I was looking for. Ironically, we flew to Washington state on February 14, 2020. I still can’t believe it. The dog has been a training dream. She is a fun play companion for my wife. And I continue to be in close contact with my breeder.
Jean A. Roberts (California) My first Aussie was from a fellow college student (adult classes, later in life). I’ve stuck with the same(ish) working lines for the last 30 years. The thinking ability of these lines is what has me hooked.
Marcy Rauch (New York) I pick breeders who breed infrequently, and only when they want a puppy for themselves. They health-test and pick dogs they know inside and out for their crosses that are exemplary workers and have great temperaments. I will not get a dog from a “big box” sport breeder. Some breed so much that they are just glorified mills, in my opinion.
Claudia Black-Kalinsky (New Hampshire) I did a lot of online research. I picked a breeder and filled out an online application. She called and grilled me. She actually checked my references. I had questioned about ivermectin allergies in her lines and I wanted to be sure she was careful breeding merles. Within five minutes, the genetics of both parents were in my mailbox answering my questions. If for any reason I could not keep her dog, she will take it back, always. We stay in touch. She loves hearing about her boys. That is a breeder.
NEXT WEEK—More answers from dog professionals about how they picked their puppy’s breeders
