Where to Get a Puppy?
by admin ~ November 12th, 2008We get a ton of e-mails from our readers asking for assistance finding a puppy. It can be an overwhelming process, and with terms like “puppy mill” and “byb” floating around, it can also be confusing. So here’s the breakdown on your options for finding a great dane puppy, mastiff puppy (or any puppy for that matter), and what the terms mean:
Option #1: A Reputable Rescue Organization or Shelter
We say reputable, because all rescues and shelters are not necessarily that great. A reputable rescue’s number one priority will be the welfare of the dog or puppy. The facilities or foster homes will be clean and well maintained, and the adoptable dogs and puppies will be healthy, vaccinated, spayed/neutered, checked by a vet, and probably temperament tested. Adoption fees will be reasonable, and they will likely have reputable businesses as sponsors. Expect to go through a hard-core interview. Reputable rescues will spend some time with the dog before placing it up for adoption to ensure a good match. They should be able to tell you whether or not the dog is good with other animals and kids, and whether or the puppy is housebroken and obedience trained. Reputable rescues and shelters don’t breed or sell puppies. You should do a quick search of the rescue’s name online before adopting, check references, and check non-profit licensing status to make sure there aren’t any red flags. Reputable rescues and shelters are a great place to get a dog or puppy. You may not be able to find the exact pet you’re looking for right away, so be patient and check back with the organizations regularly.
Option #2: A Reputable Local Breeder
Again, reputable is the key word here. So how do you know if a breeder is reputable, and how do you find one? A reputable breeder’s number one priority will be the health and welfare of their dogs and puppies. Here’s a checklist you can use when interviewing breeders:
- A reputable breeder will be more concerned about making sure you can provide a good home for a puppy than the money. If a breeder is willing to sell a puppy to anyone who shows up with cash, they’re probably not that great. A reputable breeder will spend some time interviewing you before allowing you to purchase a puppy.
- A reputable breeder will have a written guarantee and contract. In most cases, you will be required to spay/neuter the puppy unless you are signing a show contract.
- A reputable breeder always tests dogs for common genetic problems before breeding. If you are looking for a large or giant breed, like a great dane or mastiff, these tests should include OFA hips (hip dysplasia), cardiac, thyroid, and CERF (eye disease). Other screenings may include Von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD), OFA elbows (elbow dysplasia), Cystinuria and PRA depending on the breed.
- A reputable breeder is a member of a breed club (ie: The Great Dane Club or Mastiff Club); or shows their dogs in AKC/UKC confirmation; or participates in obedience, rally, agility, therapy, field trials, search & rescue, or other dog sport; or volunteers for a rescue or shelter on a regular basis. If a breeder doesn’t participate in at least one of these, you should probably consider moving on.
- A reputable breeder does not breed dogs younger than 2 years, and does not breed every heat cycle. Usually reputable breeders breed no more than once a year, and will breed a female a maximum of two-four times during her life.
- A reputable breeder doesn’t let puppies go to their new homes until at least 7 weeks, preferably 8 or 9 weeks.
- A reputable breeder will feed a high quality, premium food. Nutrition is crucial while puppies are in the womb and during their first few months of life. If a breeder is feeding a cheap “grocery” brand, or doesn’t seem well-versed in giant breed nutrition requirements, you may want to move on.
- A reputable breeder will take the time to properly socialize the puppies, so they shouldn’t cower or show fear when you approach them. The area the puppies are kept in should be clean, and the puppies should be alert, playful, curious, clean and healthy. They should have plenty of room to move around and play. Likewise, the adult dogs should also be in healthy condition and well socialized, with plenty of space if they are kenneled.
- A reputable breeder can provide a long list of references, not just one or two.
- A reputable breeder will provide you with assistance should you have questions about your puppy. They will contact you with any phone or address changes, so they will always be available to you for the life of the dog.
- A reputable breeder will take the time to discuss important issues before you leave with a puppy. These include special nutrition requirements, potential health concerns and issues, vaccinations, obedience and house training, information on spay/neuter, information on showing, and information on socialization.
- A reputable breeder will provide you with a copy of the AKC/UKC paperwork and a pedigree.
- A reputable breeder does not breed unregistered dogs or mixed breeds, and in most cases offers either an American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, or Canadian Kennel Club Registration.
- A reputable breeder doesn’t have more dogs than they can reasonably care for, socialize, exercise, feed well, house comfortably, keep clean and happy, and provide proper veterinary care for.
- In most cases, at least one parent or grandparent of the puppies will be a champion or titled dog.
- In the event a buyer is unable to keep a puppy, a reputable breeder will take back the dog rather than allowing it to be turned over to a shelter.
A reputable breeder is another great option for finding a puppy, second only to adopting from a reputable rescue or shelter.
Option #3: A Backyard Breeder, or “BYB”
Backyard breeders can often resemble reputable breeders at first glance. BYBs range from dog owners that “want to have just one litter because it would be good for the kids to experience” to more commercialized operations with several dogs in the yard, breeding regularly. BYB’s often advertise their puppies in the newspaper, online, or on their own website. BYBs are commonly criticized for breeding dogs carelessly, without health screenings, or simply breeding for profit while disregarding the heath and best interests of their dogs and puppies. Backyard breeders contribute to the animal overpopulation crisis by not only over-breeding their dogs, but selling puppies without spay/neuter requirements.
The easiest tip off to recognizing a BYB is to ask about health screenings. Since most byb’s are only interested in generating cash or having a “hobby” litter, they usually won’t spend the time and money to screen their dogs for health problems before breeding. In some cases, this can result in severely ill puppies that may require expensive surgeries, or may die at a young age. Since the symptoms of genetic issues often don’t arise until several months or years later, the breeder ususally doesn’t take responsibity, has not provided a contract or guarantee, or is nowhere to be found.
Backyard breeders will usually sell a puppy to anyone with cash, don’t usually have a contract or guarantee, and don’t usually spend much if any time educating buyers as to the responsibilities of dog ownership and proper puppy care and training. This often leads to new puppy owners becoming frustrated with unwanted behavior or overwhelmed by the amount of work required to raise a puppy, and in turn drop off the puppy or dog at a shelter where it may be euthanized.
Backyard breeders usually don’t pay much attention to conformation (what a certain breed of dog is supposed to look and act like) so the puppies may not resemble the breed you’re expecting in type or personality. They often get their dogs from other byb’s or pet stores (since a reputable breeder probably wouldn’t sell them a puppy and a rescued dog would have been spayed/neutered), so the health and lineage of the puppy’s parents may not be known or may be of questionable health. The dogs may be mixed breeds or may not be registered.
Some backyard breeders are much worse than others. There may be some out there that genuinely care about their dogs and the puppies, treat them as family members and provide quality care and attention. Others, however, can be really bad. BYB’s that breed only for cash may keep their dogs in cramped, dirty kennels and may not provide adequate care, exercise, shelter and nutrition. If you encounter a backyard breeder like this, you should file a report with your local humane society, animal control, or police department. Buyer Beware: In some cases, puppy mills or puppy brokers may pose as “hobby breeders,” selling litters from their homes rather than directly at a mass breeding facility.
Backyard breeders are not usually a great place to get a puppy, but depending on the situation, there may be worse places.
Option #4: Online Ads or “Breeder” Websites
Buyer beware. The industry has caught on to the fact that people know to avoid puppy mills, so they don’t advertise with “We’re a Puppy Mill” at the top of their website or ad. Puppy mills and backyard breeders can place ads or put up sites offering “home raised puppies” with heartwarming stories and images. The fact of the matter is, anyone can put up a website with whatever information they want on it, so unless you do some diligent research, you may unknowingly purchase a puppy mill dog. See the above checklist on recognizing a reputable breeder, and be sure to check references. You may want to visit the breeder in person to pick up your puppy so you can inspect before you buy. Most reputable breeders will not ship puppies as cargo anyways. Many reputable breeders have websites, too, so just make sure you do your research before purchasing a puppy online.
Option #5: Pet Stores
Reprinted by permission of The Humane Society of the United States:
Most puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills — factory-like facilities, churning out purebred puppies in large numbers. Puppy mills look to make a profit; commonly disregard the dog’s physical and emotional health; and do not adhere to sound breeding practices. The result is often sick or dying puppies who suffer from genetic, mental and physical health problems that are not always immediately apparent to the consumer. Thousands of “breeder” dogs live a miserable existence in horrific conditions without hope of ever being part of a family.Most pet stores are adamant that they do not support puppy mills and that the dogs they sell are strictly from “reputable breeders.” However, many people who purchase their puppy from a pet store can end up with a sick or dying animal. With some research, they will learn their puppy was indeed from a puppy mill. For those who were lucky enough to purchase a healthy dog, it is important to keep in mind that purchasing that dog makes room for more puppy mill dogs raised in horrendous conditions. Every puppy mill dog purchased ensures that the industry continues to thrive.
So this puts pet stores below the bottom of our list. In other words, we would never purchase a puppy from a pet store. In addition to the puppy mill issue, pet stores are businesses looking to make a profit, and as such, may sell puppies to people who are unable to care for them properly or unaware of the responsibilities of puppy ownership. These puppies may end up in shelters, contributing to the animal overpopulation crisis.
How to Avoid Making a Puppy Purchasing Mistake
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the cuteness and end up going home with the first puppy you see. Here are a couple of pointers that may help during your puppy search:
- Don’t be fooled by terms like “home raised,” “champion lines,” or “rare.” Good salesmanship does not equal quality breeding.
- Do your research. Ask for a 24 hour hold so you can check references, look up kennel names, verify AKC registration numbers, check the CHIC website for health test results, and sleep on it. A reputable breeder will not only be willing to hold a puppy for a day (they may ask for a small deposit), but will appreciate your diligence.
- Go to a dog show. Dog shows are one of the best places to find reputable breeders, and it also provides an opportunity to learn about the breed and see several adults in person. Visit the AKC website for upcoming shows and events in your area.
- Trust your instincts. If you are unsure about a breeder or don’t trust them, don’t buy a puppy.
- Be realistic about whether or not a puppy fits into your schedule and lifestyle. Puppies are a lot of work, and it takes a considerable amount of time and money to raise a healthy, well adjusted, obedient dog. Puppies are not for everyone, so you may want to consider adopting an adult dog from a shelter.
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