TIPS FOR SELECTING A REPUTABLE BREEDER

• Never be in a hurry. There is a responsible breeder out there with a puppy for you. Wait until you find him or her.
  
  
• Contact the national breed association for the breed in which you are interested. If you need a phone number, check the American Kennel Club Website for the parent breed clubs. Get the names of breeders near you from the national breed association.
  
  
• Call the breeder. Don't write. Most are very busy and your letter may be overlooked. A good breeder will ask you LOTS of questions: Do you have a fenced yard? Do you have children? Have you had dogs before? What happened to your last dogs? Why do you want a dog of this particular breed?
  
  
• Ask questions. A responsible breeder will be prepared to tell you the bad as well as the good points about her breed. Ask about health problems. A responsible breeder will be informed about the genetic problems in her breed. She will also guarantee that your puppy is free of these defects. Ask if your breeder belongs to any dog clubs. Most responsible breeders belong to their national breed association or one or more regional clubs. Ask if your breeder shows in conformation, obedience, agility, field trials, etc. Responsible breeders seldom sit home cranking out puppies. Nearly all of them are involved in one or more activities with their dogs.
  
  
• Inspect the premises where the puppies have been raised. That includes a look at the parents, if both are available, or at least the dam. The area where the puppies are raised should be clean, well-lighted, and in close proximity to people and interesting sights and sounds. The breeder's dogs should display the temperament appropriate for their breed (noisy for terrier's, guarded for Schipperkes, etc.) but they should not be shy, fearful, or menacing. The dogs should all be clean and well-groomed.
  
  
• Beware of a breeder who has many different breeds. A good breeder normally concentrates on one or two breeds at the most.
  
  
• Be prepared to wait. A good breeder is unlikely to have puppies available all the time. Be cautious about making a deposit on unborn litters. Ask for a referral to another responsible breeder who may have puppies on the ground.
  
  
• Be prepared to pay a fair price for the puppy. A responsible breeder is lucky to break even. Most are bleeding money by the time they have paid the costs of breeding, raising, immunizing, and training their puppies. Buying from a pet shop or backyard breeder usually results in paying more and higher vet bills.
  
  
• When you buy a puppy, you should receive an AKC registration certificate, a written health record, and written instructions for the puppy's care and feeding. Many responsible breeders will also require you to sign a written sales contract with a spay/neuter agreement.