Big Breeders are Big Business

There is no question a purebred registered pup can cost several thousand dollars. With most small breeders who take the time to ensure their dog has all health and genetic clearances and plan 1-3 litters in their dog’s lifetime, it is unlikely that they will make anything other than a modest profit. The costs you must incur before a dog is qualified to breed (assuming you’re a responsible breeder) are such that the first and even possibly the second litter will not result in the small breeder breaking even financially. For ethical and responsible breeding, it takes TWO YEARS of extensive testing before a dog can even be considered for breeding. Given the time and financial investment, a small breeder usually has pure motives and a clean conscience if they have persisted through those steps.

To “make money” as a breeder, you have to either cut corners, increase your price, or increase the number of dogs you have. How can you tell if a breeder is motivated by profit over health? Breeders do this in ways that may not immediately be obvious to the general public.

Green Light (Go!)

1. Ethical Practices: Excellent breeder follows ethical guidelines for breeding, such as prioritizing the health and well-being of the dogs over profit, ensuring that the dam is at least 24 months old, ensuring responsible breeding practices, and avoiding inbreeding or excessive breeding.
2. Health Screening: In addition to regular vet care, they conduct ALL regular and advanced health screenings and cleared to obtain an OFA CHIC number at age 2. Dogs that are ineligible for a CHIC number are removed from a breeding program.
3. Socialization: Excellent breeders prioritize socialization by exposing puppies to various environments, people, animals, and stimuli early on, fostering well-adjusted and confident dogs.
4. Transparency: They are transparent about their breeding practices, providing information about the lineage, health history, and living conditions of the puppies and their parents. They also offer support and guidance to new owners.
5. Continued Support: An excellent breeder offers continued support to puppy buyers, including advice on training, healthcare, and behavior, as well as being available for questions or concerns throughout the dog’s life.
6. Return the Puppy: An excellent breeder will accept the dog back in the event of a good fit because they prioritize the health, happiness, and wellness of everyone over the “sale” of a dog.

Yellow Light (Slow)

1. Many Dogs. Owning 4 or more breeding females requires a full-time commitment at an exceptional cost when done properly. Accumulating more dogs may be a sign that the owner needs produce more pups to make a profit. In some cases, a breeder has extra support (staff or family) and can manage 4 dogs, but in the event of multiple-pregancies at the same time, this can easily overwhelm a breeder resulting in below-par care.
2. Skipping the Extras: Breeders who don’t provide “expensive” extras like microchipping, DNA screening, vaccinations, new puppy packages, and AKC registration on every pup they raise are cutting corners. A breeder who is unwilling to invest money in their pup’s offspring sees them as a commodity and not as a cherished member of your family.
3. Limited Communication: Your breeder should be a source of information, so limited communication is cause for concern. Whether it is phone calls, text, emails, in-person, or video calls, you should expect good communication from a good breeder in the months or weeks leading up to the pick-up.

Red Light (Stop)

1. Guardian Program: The breeder offers free dogs or reduced prices for “guardian” programs where you “get to” raise the dog, but they legally keep the rights to breed or show your dog whenever they want.
2. Dogs Live and Welp the Pups Outside: Raising dogs outdoors is usually a reaction to dealing with excess noise, waste/urine, smell and containment of many dogs. Dogs kept in small dirty cages, without climate control, and without access to food and clean water should be reported to animal control.
3. No CHIC Number: Breeders who do not conduct health screenings and provide documentation are producing puppies without regard to their health and operating without the knowledge of genetic defects inherited or passed to offspring.
4. No Interaction with Parents: If the breeder does not allow potential buyers to see the puppy’s parents or meet them in person, it could be a sign of unethical breeding practices or an attempt to hide poor conditions.
5. Sales Focus: Breeders primarily focused on sales, offering discounts for multiple purchases or pushing for immediate sales without proper screening of potential owners, may prioritize profit over the well-being of the dogs.
6. Incomplete or Missing Paperwork: Lack of proper documentation, such as health records, registration papers, or contracts outlining responsibilities and guarantees, suggests a lack of professionalism or accountability.
7. Reluctance to Answer Questions: Breeders who avoid or become defensive when asked about breeding practices, health history, living conditions, or the puppy’s background may have something to hide.