Ethical or Non-Ethical........
It's your decision

It is a challenge for potential puppy buyers, in doing their due diligence, to sift through , identify and locate a reputable breeder.  I hope you find the following information helpful. 

 

The Breeder Vet

Red Flags
The following text is taken directly from The Breeder Vet Index. For the most updated information, go directly to http://www.showdogsupersite.com/featx.html This is my personal list of "red flags" to keep in mind while searching for a reputable breeder, especially on the Internet. If any of these "red flags" are raised, proceed with caution.
These articles have been posted here to assist breeders in their efforts to produce healthy litters. To the general public we would like to say, the dog breeding and exhibiting world is devoted to the production of the healthiest puppies, in mind and body, that is possible, given the state of the art. And, the state of the art is progressing rapidly, with genetic testing for inherited defects already available, in some cases, and soon to be available in others. As a veterinarian, I am occasionally upset by the depiction in the general press of breeders exploiting their dogs, and uncaringly producing puppies with genetic defects. Nothing could be further from the truth.

However, there are also people who produce puppies who are not "BREEDERS AND EXHIBITORS". Uncaring puppy mill operators who sell to pet stores, and careless back yard breeders do not qualify as true DOG BREEDERS. If you'd like to read more on this subject, visit the The KENNEL JOURNAL pages, where additional topics of interest to the Dog Fancy can be found. When people are bred as carefully as we breed our dogs, human kind will have made progress, indeed!

There IS a difference in breeders. 

Click the link below to read a description of what a truly reputable, ethical breeder often looks like.


What is a Breeder?
  1. The "breeder" does not belong to any AKC recognized Poodle clubs and/or all-breed clubs.  Club members follow a club's code of ethics. Backyard breeders and puppy mills are not bound by these rules.

  2. The "breeder" produces many litters per year and almost always has puppies available because it is a source of income that they depend on.

  3. The "breeder" breeds more than one variety along with parti-colors, phantoms, royals, teacups and possibly even "designer" mixed breeds.

  4. The "breeder" lists "champion lines" but a closer look shows only champions far back in the pedigree.

  5. The "breeder" takes credit cards or PayPal. Reputable breeders don't produce enough puppies to warrant credit cards or PayPal accounts.

  6. The "breeder" allows and may even encourage the buyer  to choose a puppy from a picture on the Internet on a first come/first served basis.

  7. The "breeder" does not include their dogs' AKC registration names so that you can access their health reports on http://www.offa.org
  8. The "breeder" does not require a spay/neuter agreement in their contract for companion animals and often will just charge extra for a dog that can be used for breeding.

  9. The "breeder" makes exaggerated claims about their dogs, and their breeding practices.

  10. The "breeder's" dogs are seldom, if ever, shown and finished in AKC shows. Reputable breeders want to put championships on their dogs to validate their quality according to the breed standard.