Why should prospective puppy buyers take care when choosing a breeder?
Getting a dog from a “bad” breeder (BYB or puppy farm) funds and encourages animal abuse. It often leads to expensive vet bills, possibly behavioural work, and can lead to a broken heart. What to look for: Are the pups registered with the proper Kennel Club? They should be. How many breeds are they breeding? The top breeders specialise in one breed. A few will have two. Any more than this is a puppy farmer. How many dogs does the breeder have? Not too many is best – they should all be family pets first and foremost. What health testing have they done? None – very bad! Sire and / or dam only? Not that great. Both parents, grandparents and various other relatives? Very good. And can they prove it? Any proof of temperament or working ability? Good things to look for are temperament testing, Canine Good Citizens awards, titles in appropriate field (eg obediance, agility, field trials etc) How long have they been involved with their breed? You can’t be a good breeder if you don’t know your
