By Gail s. Alenick 11/99

Breeds only to improve the Breed, is dedicated to producing quality dogs. Has a sincere desire to create something beautiful, functional and lasting. Plans to keep a puppy closer to ideal specimen to Show and continue line.

Recognizes that screening by breeder is the greatest protection a dog has. Will screen buyers and sell pups only to an approved home. Makes sure buyer know the negatives of a breed as well and the good. Asks many questions to determine the suitability of a buyer such as; do you: live in an apartment? Do you have a fenced yard? Do you have children? Do you have other pets? Do you have money for premium food, medical bills, grooming, training and emergencies? Do you intend to keep the dog inside or outside your house? Do you have a vacation soon planned without the dog? How much time will you spend with the dog each day? Does your whole family want the responsibility of a new dog? Does your lifestyle agree with the size and temperament of this breed? Refuses to sell to middlemen including pet shops, dealers, auctions or laboratories or for holiday or birthday gifts when the home is disrupted. Signs a Breeders Code of Ethics and can provide you with a copy. Sells pets with a spay/neuter agreement or AKC Limited Registration. Provides to buyer: AKC Registration papers, 3-generation (or more) pedigree, vaccination schedule, medical records, supplies some current dog food and instructions on general care, grooming, feeding and training of a puppy. Willingly provides a contact with others who have their puppies. Sale is subject to a good match between buyer and puppy.

Breeder recognizes that they are a link between the past and future of their breed. Breeds only healthy mature adults that have been checked for and found clear of inheritable diseases. Can produce certificates to verify testing by clinical exam, X-Rays or blood work, if necessary. Breeds only when has the money, energy, time, and is not under pressure to sell the puppies. Can explain how this breeding was planned to emphasize specific qualities through linebreeding, outcrossing, or more rarely, inbreeding.

Knows that puppies did not ask to be born, and therefore are the breeder’s responsibility. Offers lifetime commitment to replace and dog with a disabling or terminal genetic fault. Helps owner deal with any problems for the lifetime of the dog. Will take back a dog that the owner can no longer keep rather than see it disposed of to a shelter, or poor placement. Welcomes being in touch with owners and hearing progress reports.

Loves their breed and is knowledgeable about its background, uses, history, problems, and ideal type. Raises only one or two breeds and stays with them regardless of general popularity and prices.

Belongs to a local and/or National breed club indicating a love for the sport of dogs, a desire to educate oneself about the breed by sharing information with peers and a willingness to protect the breed. Exhibits their own dogs at Dog Shows as an objective test of how their stock measures up to the ideal Breed Standard. Recognizes that a pedigree only means that the parents of the dog are known, but is not a measure of their quality or health. May be involved in breed rescue; that is, finding new owners for individuals of their breed which may have become homeless.

Displays a litter and mother in a clean environment near where people are present so the puppies can be properly socialized. Although the mother of puppies may be thin, she looks in good condition. Breeder has serious investment in dog equipment, such as whelping box, puppy pens, crates, and grooming tables…and uses them. Helps the buyer evaluate temperament and structure to select the right puppy for them and their lifestyle. Explains the criteria for "show potential" versus "companion" puppies.

Prices may be at the high end of the local range, but still won’t reflect all that is invested in the puppies. Has so much invested in dogs that they struggle to break even, NOT to make a profit. Rewards are intangible, not financial. Sells puppies only after they have had shots and worming, and no earlier than 8 weeks. Rarely advertises puppies because breeder has referrals from others and may have a waiting list.

 

Their motive for breeding is "to make money", "good for the kids", "fun", "want another pet just like the dog we have" (regardless of faults), "want one litter before we spay her", "lots of people want this breed right now".

Doesn’t screen buyers and sells to anyone who will pay the price even if the buyer is unsuitable. Sells to pet shops, dealers, auctions, and laboratories to get rid of unsold puppies. Allows purchase of a puppy as a gift for someone else (without telling them), or during hectic times in a household like the holidays, birthdays, moving, new job, etc. Doesn’t use AKC Limited Registration option for companion dogs, does not as for spay/neuter contract to guard against breeding of substandard pets. Unlikely to provide contact with others who have their puppies. Pushes buyer to make decision quickly. "All Sales are Final".

No concern for the future of the breed as a whole or the individual puppies. No concern for genetics ("my dogs don’t have any problems"), bloodlines, breed standard or improvement of the breed. Breeds family pet to any convenient pet of the same breed just to have puppies. Parents have not been checked for inheritable disease, such as hip dysplasia, blood clotting, or eye disorders. Sells "Just Pets". Offers no health guarantees beyond proof of shots…if that.

Seller has little knowledge of breed history or AKC breed standard, may claim that this doesn’t matter for "just pets". Berates "show dogs" rather than realizing the function of Dog Shows is to determine the best animals to breed. Interest in puppy ends with its sale. Is unqualified and unwilling to give help if problems do develop. If you can’t keep the puppy at a later date, tells you to sell it or take it to the pound, does not want it back under any circumstances.

May jump from breed to breed according to current fashion or puppy prices, may have several breeds that they are breeding.

Seller doesn’t increase their own knowledge through participation in National or local Breed Clubs. Doesn’t show their own dogs in Dog Shows to prove their quality and fitness for breeding. May have a pedigree with Champions way back in ancestry, or papers from registries other than the American Kennel Club, may have fraudulent papers or may not have proof that puppy is purebred at all.

May be unwilling to show buyer the parents or where the puppies were raised. Mother of the puppies may look in poor condition, may act shy, or aggressive. Puppies raised in makeshift accommodations indicating lack of long-term investment. Rather than being raised in the house where they can be around people, puppies may be raised in a garage, barn. Seller may have shirked nutrition or medical care because of cost or ignorance. Can’t or won’t compare or critique puppies in a litter or the puppy’s ancestors.

Price may be at low end of local scale to sell puppies quickly and because expensive testing on the parents, or the puppies, was not done. Sells and moves puppies at an early age (6 weeks or younger) so doesn’t have more feeding and medical expenses. Usually advertises puppies in newspapers, pet shops, and supermarkets. Doesn’t tell you that it is better to pay a fair price up front and obtain a healthy socialized puppy than to buy something cheap and totally untested that will require great financial expenditure and much heartbreak throughout its shortened lifetime.