Langley Kennel Club

Conformation     Rally     Obedience     Agility

Once you have narrowed your choices to a few breeds, it is time to search for a breeder. Anyone who mates two purebred, AKC registered dogs of the same breed to produce a litter is technically a breeder. However, AKC registration only guarantees that the dogs are purebred; it is not an assurance of quality. It is important to remember that not all breeders have your best interests, or the interest of their breed, at heart. Breeders generally fit into a number of categories, which can be described as follows:

 

Wholesale Breeder.

 

Often referred to as commercial breeders or “puppy mills,” these are individuals or groups of breeders with large numbers of dogs who breed strictly for profit. Consequently, there is generally a lack of care in the selection of breeding stock, as there is little research into any health or temperament issues that may be lurking in the pedigree. Females are usually bred each season throughout their reproductive life, and nutritional needs of the dam and her puppies are often slighted. The puppies from wholesale breeders are often sold at auction, and make up a good portion of those found in pet stores. The prices charged for these puppies are usually higher than those from a reputable breeder.

 

Backyard Breeder.

 

A backyard breeder is one who breeds casually, to breed a puppy “just like Missy,” or to provide the experience of childbirth for young family members. Backyard breeders care for their dogs, but perform little research into the background of their own dog or its mate, and rarely spend money on health related testing. Consequently, they rarely place their puppies with any health guarantees, and because of their relative inexperience with the breed, are not a reliable source of information for their puppy buyers. Their pups are usually better cared for, healthier and better socialized than those from a puppy mill. Many backyard breeders believe that they will have a large market for their puppies, but often find themselves with more pups than they can easily place. Backyard breeders normally advertise their litters in the classified sections of newspapers.

 

Responsible Breeder.

 

Breeders that can be defined as reputable or responsible have the betterment of the breed at heart, and are interested and devoted to their pups throughout their entire lives. These individuals plan each breeding carefully, taking into consideration the conformation, health and temperament of both sire and dam, hoping to improve the quality of their dogs in all of these areas in each subsequent litter. Reputable breeders produce litters when they are looking for something for themselves to keep, and usually have a waiting list of potential puppy buyers. Reputable breeders show their dogs in sanctioned AKC events to compare their breeding stock, but also make available pet quality puppies on limited registrations to those interested only in a healthy and well socialized family member. Most responsible breeders place their puppies with a health guarantee, and if a dog does not work out, will either take the dog back or help the owners find a new home for their pet. Responsible breeders perform health checks on their dogs before a breeding takes place, and their pups have a health check-up and at least one set of shots before leaving their home. Puppies from a responsible breeder are bright eyed, healthy and well-socialized. A breeder is considered responsible if he or she takes responsibility for the lives they bring into this world, while endeavoring to maintain their goal of the betterment of the breed.

Guide To Finding A Breeder