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INTRODUCTION My analysis of the traffic at the DogInfomat, as well as much of the email I receive, indicates that the Groups/Breeds section is one of the most frequently targetted sections. Additionally, many of the communications I receive indicates that many of you are looking for information to assist with breed selection and to locate breeders. The purpose of this document is to assist you in that endeavor. Each link will open in a new window so that you may easily return to this document. As a matter of policy, the DogInfomat does not endorse or recommend using the internet as a predominate resource to find a breeder, puppies, dogs, stud services, or the like. Nor do I endorse or recommend specific breeders or kennels. The exception to this policy, are the many excellent educational and adoption services offered by Rescues, Humane Societies, and Animal Shelters. Responsible adoption services provide veterinary evaluation and care, as necessary; temperament/preadoption evaluations; prospective owner counseling and screening; educational support, and provide spay/neutering services for the dogs they place. You will notice, throughout the site, that I have focused, heavily, on noncommercial and nonprofit sites. However, some of the links included at the DogInfomat do reside at breeder or commercial websites. These links are only included when the quality of the additional content at the site warrants inclusion and their predominant purpose appears to be education and the sharing of information versus marketing breeding and/or stud services. While I do not provide direct breed or breeder recommendations, I hope you will find the following information helpful as you research breeds and search for a reputable breeder. Following a sound, objective, logical, and methodical process to select a breed and breeder is critical to a successful outcome. This is not always easy. Often, it is our attraction to a dog's physical appearance and our emotions that want to dictate our dog related decisions. But, this is not good for either the dogs, or, their 'people'. I cannot stress enough, the importance of doing thorough research BEFORE deciding on whether or not you really are prepared for the responsibility of a dog, let alone, the right breed and breeder for you. |
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THE BASICS
A dog may live 14 years or longer. This means you must not only consider your CURRENT lifestyle and desires in a dog . . . but, you must also contemplate what may lie ahead, in your FUTURE, and how it may impact your desire or ability to invest the time, the environment and energy necessary for responsible dog ownership. If you have not done so already, please read Before You Get a Dog and/or the other related articles available in the DogInfomat Library. Further, dogs tend to require a more significant investment of time, energy, and resources than many people imagine when first considering a dog for a pet. Unfortunately, the decision to get a dog, and from whom, is, often, acted upon impulsively. This lack of thought and research frequently results in disappointment and heartache. With the dog, often, ending up the resident of a local shelter, rescue or WORSE. Insure this does not happen to you or your dog. While your commitment to Training, Socialization, and meeting the basic Care and Activity requirements for your dog, are most critical to your success as a dog owner, I, strongly believe, that selecting a breed or mix based on Temperament, Trainability, Activity Level, and Physical Requirement compatibility, to your lifestyle and environment, are critical 'companion' considerations that must be incorporated into your decision making process. However, many of the emails I receive are from people asking me to try to determine what breed of dog they saw, or are from people wanting more information on a dog, because they liked how it looked. While this is often what attracts people to a specific breed or mix, this is not a valid reason to select a particular breed or mix. It is imparative, if you wish to find the right dog for you, and sustain a successful, lifelong relationship between you and your dog, that you do an indepth evaluation of the characteristics and traits that fall under the umbrella of 'critical considerations' for any breed you might be considering. I would also strongly suggest, especially for first time dog owners, that you 'borrow' a dog. Offer to petsit for a friend or family member for AT LEAST ONE WEEK. This will give you an indication of how your life may be altered with your new family member. Remember, however, that you are most likely 'borrowing' a dog, not a puppy. And, with a puppy comes additional training and care issues that will keep you quite a bit busier for quite some time. You are also most likely only going to have this dog for a short amount of time. Your dog will require you to provide for it's health care, grooming, vacation/trip arrangements, etc. Be patient and do your homework. Plan to spend a couple of months researching the different breeds or breed mixes, breeders, adoption options, veterinarians, training facilities, etc. Several books are available on the topic of selecting a dog. A few that you might want to check out are included in the next section. |
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SELECT BOOK TITLES TITLES THAT PROVIDE A CURSORY REVIEW OF MANY BREEDS:
Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson, Paperback (January 1997), James and Kenneth Pub, for all dog owners. I think this is a great book to read before and after you get a dog. |
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THE ADOPTION OPTION Although, it is possible find your 'perfect' puppy through rescue, adopting a mature dog can result in years of love and companionship (See "The Virtues of an Older Dog", Valerie Macys), while also avoiding many of puppyhood's 'hassles'. There can be several advantages in adopting a mature, purebred rescue dog or mixed breed. Some of these advantages include: more 'knowns' with regard to size, coat, personality, etc; basic training and/or housebreaking may already be done; they are past the active 'puppy' stage; etc. Frequently, these dogs are surrendered for reasons having little or nothing to do with their quality or characteristics as a family pet. Commonly cited reasons for surrender include divorce, illness, relocation, change in economic status, etc. When surrendered to a reputable rescue or shelter, these dogs are evaluated, repeatedly, to establish a profile of the dog's behavior, temperament and personality traits, prior to a placement. And, placement is made only after a rigorous process to determine, to the best of their ability, how well the dog will 'fit' within the prospective owner's home and lifestyle. Further, regardless of the dog's age, shelter or rescue staff can be helpful in assisting you, personally, in determining which dog best fits your situation. And, always, these dogs should have already been spayed or neutered - saving you from a potential unwanted litter! Please read the Top 10 Reasons to Consider a Rescue Dog by Mary Clark. While tailored to Labrador Retrievers, the rationale can be applied to other purebred rescue dogs and mixes. I have breed specific rescue site links, where available, in Alpha by Breed order accessible via the DI's Groups/Breeds Index and the Shelters & Advocacy section many shelters, humane societies and rescue directories are listed, by location or site type. And, if you are interested in formal, performance, competition (i.e., obedience, agility, etc.) several of the organizations administering these activities provide opportunities for adopted dogs to participate. TITLES RELATED TO ADOPTION INCLUDE:
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ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES You may find the Breed FAQs website, administered by Cindy Tittle Moore, quite helpful as well as several of the sites previewed in the Comprehensive Sites section of this website. As mentioned earlier in this piece, you can also access many, prescreened, breed specific websites, including rescue sites, by FCI group via the DI's Groups/Breeds section or alpha by breed. While it is impossible for me to review every dog related eMail Discussion List or Chat Channel, it has been my personal experience that these venues are often frequented by very knowledgeable and experienced dog enthusiasts who can be helpful and supportive. Cindy Tittle Moore has compiled a list of Dog Related eMail Lists |
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A FEW WORDS ABOUT RARE BREEDS I am not an advocate of most rare or unique breeds for all but the most experienced, committed, owners. Many rare breeds have requirements which the average dog owner is not prepared or able to provide for; and/or for which the owner will have a significantly limited base of professional support services available to them. This is, in part, why they are rare in the first place. Before you considering a rare breed, be certain that you are willing to provide for the extraordinary challenges that you will face, for the life of your dog. These may include one or more of the following: Difficulty in researching/locating reputable breeder and the right dog for you;Also, remember that rare breeds, frequently, fall victim to exploitation by profiteers who care little for the health or welfare of the dog or whether or not it is the right breed for you. This is evidenced by the often, sharply, rising rescue and shelter populations of breeds, such as these, as they become increasingly available. A reputable breeder NEVER uses their breed's rarity as a marketing tool. Nor, do they randomly crossbreed. Quite the contrary, a reputable breeder of rare breeds understands the additional responsibilities they face with regard to protecting their dogs from exploitation by profiteers. I would exercise extreme caution when selecting a breeder/line from which to get a rare dog. |
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FINDING A REPUTABLE BREEDER I would like to share some ideas and resources on how you can learn to identify a reputable, responsible breeder to help guide you as you select your breed and specific dog. Depending upon what breed you ultimately select and, what your requirements are, it may take some time to locate the right breeder and puppy for you. Reputable, ethical breeders do not breed frequently. They only breed when they have found a pair who have been proven to possess the health and temperaments required to insure, to the extent possible, healthy, well tempered, offspring. Further, responsible breeders will cancel any planned breeding when the results of tests or other analysis indicate that the pair they were considering may not produce the same. Additionally, reputable breeders will breed only when they have a sufficient number of homes, evaluated and deemed appropriate, awaiting their puppies. Locating a breeder can be a somewhat complicated, maze-like, process. There are many different opinions out there, even among knowledgeable enthusiasts and professionals, themselves, as to what a reputable breeder really is. It is important that you research and interview your breeder as you would your babysitter or family physician. There are several categories of breeders out there. From puppy millers to BYBs (Back Yard Breeders) to Show/Performance Kennel Operators to Reputable Hobby Breeders. Make certain you know who you are dealing with and understand the consequences of your selection. I have included some details below to get you started. The knowledge, thoroughness, and integrity of the breeder, and the quality of the dogs they breed, can make a all the difference in the world, with regard to your dog's health and temperament - and, therefore, significantly impacts your resulting experience as a dog owner. Inherited diseases can be found in any breed or mix. While it is impossible to eliminate all risk, a responsible breeder will have had their bitch tested for every genetically transmitted disease, for which there is a test available. Further, they will breed only to dogs, likewise tested. They should have comprehensive knowledge of the pair's ancestors and have detailed knowledge of their longevity, temperament, health concerns or problems, including the results of genetic and other health testing that may have been done on the dogs in the pedigree. There may be some small gaps in this information - it happens, but in general, the breeder should be able to tell provide you with detailed information for at least three generations of the pedigree (including OFA/CERF and any other tests that may be recommended for the breed). The breeder should also know the status of any offspring from prior litters of the dogs being bred. Again, there may be gaps in this information, but they should possess sufficient knowledge of any previous offspring to be able to provide you with substantial information about the longevity, temperament, health, etc. If this is a 'first time' breeding of these dogs (one or both), it is even more important that the breeder have in depth knowledge of the dogs, themselves, as well as the dogs in the pedigree and their siblings. If a breeder tells you that there were "no problems" in any dogs in a five generation pedigree, I would ask for details (i.e., "Well then, could you tell me how long this or that dog lived?", etc.). You should always research the pedigree independently. This will not be easy, due to the limited data collected as well as some fear of disclosure that, unfortunately, exists in some breeder circles. Additionally, because it is often difficult to distinguish fact from fiction and truth from rumor, in this environment, it will probably take you a good deal of time and digging to locate and verify the information. You can begin by requesting contact information for the owners of the dogs in the pedigree (whether the dogs are living or deceased). Be sure to request several, both competitive/functional owners (i.e., conformation, obedience, working dogs, etc.) as well as several pet owners. I have never known of a five generation pedigree where there were NO conditions that could impact the progeny's health, temperament, or longevity. Additionally, I would asking for professional references from any breeder you may be considering. This may include, but not be limited to, the breeder's veterinarian and any clubs or organizations they are affiliated with. The PRIMARY goals of a reputable breeder are excellent health and temperament. They will be extremely knowledgeable and experienced and will want to assist you with the selection, care, and training of your dog. They recognize that 99% of their dogs are being placed in pet homes as companion animals and focus their breeding objectives, accordingly. If a breeder tells you their breeding goals are to 'improve the breed' be certain to ask what they mean by that phrase. If the answer has little to do with health or temperament, move on. Obviously, the more litters a breeder has, or if they are breeding more than one breed, the less resources and attention they can expend on the individual dogs, 'clients', and the puppies. And, the more conscientious they must be in gathering information, evaluating health and temperament, screening prospective homes, monitoring their offspring, mentoring their clients, etc. The BEST breeders will maintain a relationship with 'their' puppy's families, and will be available to provide you with a knowledgeable and supportive resource for the life of your dog. Reputable breeders will provide a written contract/guarantee with a spay/neuter requirement and limited registration for any pet puppies. They do not sell breeding animals to pet homes. Do not perceive this as an afront or insult. Instead understand that this should be the NORM for a variety of reasons, not the least of which being both, the pet overpopulation problem, as well as the many potential, serious, problems that you and your dog may endure, if, as a novice, you decide to breed your pet. Unfortunately, many less-than-reputable breeders will sell dogs for breeding purposes, not caring much about you, the dog, or it's offspring. Irresponsible breeders don't care about the health or temperament issues you may face. They don't provide pre- and post-purchase education and support. They only see the dogs as commodities, caring little for their health, temperament, happiness or welfare. And, wanting to 'offload' them as quickly as possible to avoid the hassle and expense of providing them with the required a good start on life. There are many, many, great dogs already waiting for new homes. Most unfortunately, many are prematurely euthanized, daily, because of overbreeding. Please do not contribute to the problem. In most cases, if you have located a quality breeder, you will be facing a waiting period due to the demand for that breeder's dogs as well as the selective nature of their breeding practices. Their dogs will be raised in their homes to allow for the monitoring, care, and socialization necessary to thoroughly 'know' their dog(s) as well as to provide them with a lot of tender loving care. They will not breed until they have a sufficient number of prescreened homes waiting for their dogs and they rarely have more than one breed. They will want to get to know you. This is not to say that, occasionally, reputable, quality breeders won't have an additional breed and/or an available puppy or puppies. However, if you've done your homework, by that time in the process, YOU will be able to identify the difference. And, do not feel frustrated or impatient about this delay . . . it can be an indication that the breeder is breeding for QUALITY, not quantity. You can use this time to:
For the majority of dog owners, ('pet owners' represent over 99% of the purebred owning population), conformation or other titles in the pedigree provide very little insight into the quality of the breeding pair. Buyers should not be unduly impressed by these. They have little bearing on whether or not a puppy will be healthy and sound of mind and body. Reputable breeders take a holistic approach to their breedings, and do not breed for the 'perfect show dog', better head, tipped ears, straighter front, better nose, etc. As I previously stated, they breed FIRST for temperament and health and, then, incorporate other considerations, with appropriate proportionality, into their evaluation of the 'whole dog'. Therefore, I would offer to you that while reputable breeders may often be involved in conformation or performance events, the fact that a breeder IS involved in conformation or performance events is NOT a reliable indication of the quality of their dogs or breeding practices. Reputable, ethical, breeders consider their dogs, pets, first, not 'stock' and treat and provide for them, accordingly. This is not only more humane, it is, IMO, the only, practical, way for a breeder to really 'know' their dogs and to provide the type of environment in which their dogs will thrive. Because, although I am not a breeder, I and many breeders, feel that it is important for breeders to monitor their offspring AND provide support to new puppy parents. Therefore, it is, in my opinion, best to find a breeder within reasonable distance from your home. Especially, if you are a first time dog owner or new to the breed you have selected. Some breeders who ship do keep in touch with the owners of their puppies and provide support and mentoring. However, it is, obviously, more difficult logistically. Critical information may not be communicated, desired support may not be available to you, and, contractual agreements are more difficult to monitor and enforce. It is also my experience that reputable breeders rescue or, otherwise, are involved in volunteer activities to assist their breed, or, dogs, in general. Additionally, they always require owners to return their dogs to them in the event a placement does not work out. Reputable breeders are responsible for their puppies for their entire lives. Reputable breeders screen their potential puppy owners carefully. They require that you: Sign a spay/neuter contract (some will even provide a rebate as an incentive); Have a secured yard; Have fully researched and considered the qualities and care requirements of the breed; Attend puppy kindergarten and basic obedience, etc. At a minimum, they will want to feel assured that your lifestyle, resources, and level of commitment, currently, and in the foreseeable future, will provide loving, caring and secure environments for their puppies. Do not be offended by this, it is a sign that the person that you are dealing with is more interested in the welfare of their puppies than 'making the sale'. Guarantees are more difficult to address, in detail. Although there is a lot of talk about the importance of getting one, there is little or no consistency in the guarantees breeders offer and, further, a quite common option - replacement - will often seem an unacceptable one for the family who after two years of loving their dog, comes to find he or she has an incurable genetic disease or condition. Reputable breeders, frequently, recognize this and will offer to allow you to keep your dog as well as receive a replacement puppy for free or at a significantly reduced price. So, the best advice I can give you is to be extremely carefully selecting your breeder. There are some additional standard guarantee contents that should be included such as spay/neuter, return policy, mandatory health exam, by your vet, within a reasonable time period (usually, 72 hours or less), secured yard, puppy kindergarten and basic obedience requirement, etc. However, with regards to the details of the contract, I do not feel that this is consistent enough for me to apply a standard across multiple breeds or situations. What I would and would not accept could vary depending upon the breeder in question, the details of the terms, etc. You should also receive a good deal of informative materials regarding any special medical considerations, testing, vaccinations, heartworm treatment, flea control, nuitrition and nuitritional supplements, grooming and other maintenance/care procedures (i.e., ear cleaning, heat sensitivity, puppy proofing, pet identification, etc.) A responsible breeder will want to do everything possible to arm you with sufficient knowledge and support so as to best insure a successful and loving, lifetime relationship, between you and your dog. Additional Resources:
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IN CLOSING . . . I know this is an incredible amount of information to 'take in'. But, this is a very important decision. One, that if successfully executed, will provide you and your family with 12 - 14+ years of love and companionship. But, if done impulsively, haphazardly, or for the wrong reasons, can bring frustration and stress, and, can, ultimately result in your surrendering your dog to a shelter or rescue. Always consider that while I, and other webmasters like myself, do our best to select quality resources, it is important that you filter any information you find online through your own verification, conformation, and authentication processes. |
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The DogInfomat™ est. 1994 © 1994-2005/Sandi Dremel The original content, concept, and design of the DogInfomat are the property of Sandi Dremel. All content submitted for inclusion remains the sole property of it's owners. As such, none of the contents made available at the site are to be copied, redistributed, retransmitted, or repurposed without the prior consent of it's owners. |
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