How do you find a "good breeder" for a certain breed of dog?

Question

I've read how important it is to get a dog from a good breeder but I'm not sure how to distinguish a good one from a not so good one. My precious Shih Tzu just passed away recently and we'd like to get another dog eventually. Now I'm worried about diseases and genetic problems. Our dog was only 4 yrs. old and died of AIHA. It was heartbreaking.

Answer 1

I'm so sorry you lost your baby. You can accept (not happily) but still accept losing a senior citizen but when you lose a young or middle aged dog it is so heartbreaking.

You are 150% right about wanting to find a good breeder who screens for heredtary health conditions and knows their bloodlines as to anything that has occurred with those dogs that might exist but for which there is not yet a test.

First, start with the list of breeds on the AKC


website.http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm...


You can search by Group, Breed name or all of them at once.

Now, when you click on the picture of the dog and go to the page for that breed, on the left is a column. At the bottom of the column, is a link captioned "National Breed Club". Click on it - that takes you to the link to the National Breed Club which is the only club about the breed that is recognized and accredited by the AKC and it sets the standards for the breed .

The Clubs' websites will give you an ENORMOUS amount of information about the breed - the good, the bad, and the why or why not to get that breed. The clubs websites also have:

(1) a breeders list or breeders referral contact - all of whom have agreed to abide by the breeders code of ethics (which you can read and always includes hereditary health screenings and contracts and all sorts of things - the clubs are very strict with their member/breeders on breeding practices if they want to be on the club list of breeders)

(2) a link to the breed rescue for their breed


Do give serious thought to adopting from an adult from a breed rescue. The clubs' breed rescues go to a great deal of trouble to determine the dog's temperament, personality, likes and dislikes (particularly kids and cats and other dogs in the household), HEALTH, and level of training. They make a huge effort to match the right dog to the right home - and if they don't have one they think will be suitable for your home, they won't place it. Great way to avoid the puppy training, newspapers, chewing.......They have dogs that are purebred and often some part-bred (1/2 or so of their breed.) Dogs that come through rescue are so thrilled to have a forever loving home having once been abandoned to a shelter or rescue that they are typically extra devoted and loving. Dogs lose their homes for reason that are not their fault: death, divorce, a move and they couldn’t keep them, financial problems….

If you decide to get a puppy, please use one of the breeders who are members of the breed club. A well-bred pet puppy may not be a candidate for the show ring (that nose being 1/8th of an inch to long or something else very picky) but they will be very healthy, the parents carefully screened for hereditary health problems, and from a breeder who has devoted a great deal of time to understanding the breed and bloodlines. A responsible breeder will have a written contract with a health guarantee for hereditary problems; require that if for any reason you ever have to give up the dog that it comes back to them; and always be available for help, assistance and advice about your dog. Such a breeder will tell you if they don't think their breed is right for you based upon your needs. They want a perfect forever home for the puppies - not the money. (In 43 years in the dog show world, I have never known a breeder of that caliber who has made a profit on their dogs - it is labor of love.)


A puppy from such a breeder costs no more - and often less as poorly bred dogs tend to have very high vet bills over the years - than from a backyard breeder who doesn't do the health checks, knows nothing about the breed or bloodlines, doesn't give a guarantee, never wants to hear about the puppy again and has breed from mediocre or poor quality dogs.

You may find the breeder you really like who has the type of dog you want but no litter on the ground at the moment. Most good breeders have waiting lists -get on it. You may find the breeder and puppy you want but at a distance. Among the really responsible breeders(members of the club) shipping a puppy is quite normal -they want the best possible home for the dog and the written contract is very extensive and so is the documentation they have of the OFA/CERF/Univ of Mich health tests and other health tests and the AKC titles their dogs have earned..


Do ask the breeders on the club list if they have any dogs they bred that they need to rehome - good breeders all require if the owner can't keep one, it comes back to them. It may be a dog they placed and it came back because the owner didn't have time, didn't realize how big it would get, got divorced.... It may be a dog who was a show prospect but as they grew didn't meet their early promise. It may be an AKC Champion they decided not to use in their breeding program because while it did get the Championship, they don't need more bloodstock or find a tiny conformation flaw they don't want to reproduce.


NEVER EVER buy from a pet shop. Those puppies came from puppy mills where the parents are locked in cages, bred until they literally die from it, never vaccinated, never wormed, fed just enough so they don't quite die of starvation, live in filth, never bathed or groomed or cared for, are typically of very poor genetic stock both physically and often mentally. The puppies are shoved off to pet stores with no vaccinations, no worming, no socialization or handling... You are buying nothing but heartbreak at a price higher than what a responsible breeder charged for a pet puppy.

IF A SERIOUS BREEDER OR RESCUE TELLS YOU THAT THE BREED IS NOT SUITED FOR YOUR SITUATION - BELIEVE THEM - NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU LIKE THE WAY THE DOG LOOKS

Answer 2

Your best bet is to contact a Rescue organization. It's possible they will have just the dog you are looking for. But even if not, or if you are looking for a pup, Rescue will steer you towards breeders they know who are responsible.

Ask for references from the breeder from former puppy purchasers.

Look into your breed more deeply. Discover all the genetic problems they might have. Discuss these potential problems with any breeder you contact. Ask them what steps they have taken to be sure their dogs don't produce them. I found this very informative site with a quick search on "Shih Tzu genetic": http://clubs.akc.org/astc/stbreed/astcbree/

If you contact a breeder who doesn't ask YOU a dozen questions about the future care of your pup, realize that they don't care about the future of the pup. In this case, they probably didn't care enough about their own dogs to do required testing for health problems. Avoid them.

AKC is simply a registration organization. While AKC used to be a proud title for a dog to have, more and more unscrupulous breeders have damaged their reputation, and as of today, AKC is taking no steps to rectify this problem. Simply because a dog is AKC registered is no guarantee they are healthy, of good temperament...even that they are purebred! The papers are only as good as the breeder who sends them in. AKC does not verify anything unless a complaint is made.

Answer 3

Dont relie on the AKC breeders list. Anyone can pay to be put on that list as long as no guidelines have been broken..doesnt mean they are great breeders. Talk to a couple of the breeders and get some info. as you talk to ppl you will get more and more info and a general feeling of that individual. You dont necessarily need to find a breeder w/champions...there alot of breeders that care just as much for their dogs but dont show them. The main thing is breeding for good ideals of the breed and mind and of course as you well know, health issues. Your looking for a pet and many breeders can offer you this w/the gaurantees as a well known champion breeder w/o the showing. Go to puppyfind.com and look around and talk. Sorry for you loss.

Answer 4

you can get references...
good breeders will have shown the mom and the dad will have been shown as well - AND both will have vet checks for genetic disorders - this proves that the dogs are tops in their breeds WORTHY of breeding - not just dogs somebody bred because "they can"
good breeders ask you lots of questions before considering you as buyer and most have waiting lists
good breeders only breed 1 kind of dog and do not breed any dog more than once a year
good breeders will have you come to their property and you can meet the other dogs
good breeders NEVER sell to pet stores - or through puppy brokers

Answer 5

Oh I'm so sorry, that's so young to lose your love. :'( If you go to www.akc.org you can click on the different breeds and they will show breeders for that breed (under another link). Even if there isn't a breeder listed in your area you can still contact one of them and they should be able to direct you to somebody in your area. You can also search for the breed club of your particular breed by typing it into Google. For example to find Labradors breed club type in "Labrador Retriever Club" and you will end up on LRC's website. You can also research info on these sites about the breed such as health problems, behavioral issues, and anything else about the breed that you need to know. Best of luck with your search, if you have any questions you can always e-mail me and I'll be happy to try and help.

Edit: I forgot to mention that if there are any shows in your area GO to them and see the different breeds and talk to the breeders at ringside. They will be very willing to help you after they show.

Answer 6

The American Kennel Club should be able to provide you with a list of breeders. Your homework will be to insist on health records for the parents of the puppy you get, and insist on names and contact information for other folks who have bought puppies from this breeder. This way you can find out if the breeder is selling healthy pups without genetic defects.

Answer 7

You can contact local Animal Rescue's. They have contacts to area breaders and other rescues that can find the information for you. To contact a animal rescue, call the nearest Pound and ask them to see if they have any around the area.

Answer 8

Go to SHOWS & *MEET* the exhibitors!!!
Contact your local/county kennel club! AKC site has a list.

But...keep in mind...animals DIE!!! ALL of us do!

Answer 9

before you buy a dog you should see the parents and check if there papered