Breeder Red Flags

Responsible pet ownership starts early, from the minute you source your new family member. Whether you choose a breeder or a rescue, it’s your responsibility to do your research and make a responsible choice.

Yesterday we provided you with a list of five “red flags” to watch for with rescues, and today we are posting a similar list for breeders.

Without ample research, you are putting yourself and your future puppy at risk for behavioural, medical and other challenges that you may not have bargained for. You may also be supporting someone who is exploiting or harming animals.

We've compiled a list of five "red flags" to watch for:

1. Lacks commitment or knowledge of the breed. Ethical breeders should be knowledgeable about the breed and committed to maintaining its integrity. They do so by carefully selecting a mating pair with excellent conformation, health, temperament, working ability, and alignment with the breed standard. They do not breed any dogs that have not met physical, mental, and sexual maturity. They should be involved in show, work, or sports. They will never advertise color, sizes or other “rarities” over health, temperament and achievements.

If the dogs are advertised as purebred, you should be able to see registration papers. In Canada it is a Federal Offence to sell a puppy as purebred if that animal is not registered or eligible to be registered by an appropriate association.

2. Lack of health testing. Health testing is imperative to help reduce the incidence of genetic diseases in our companion animals. A breeder should be putting animals into the world who are healthy and primed for a good quality of life. This testing is more than a simple vet check and should address joints, heart, genetic diseases, and any issues known to plague the breed. Should your potential breeder state that the breeding pair is health tested, please ask for proof or take your search to ofa.org. The Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals has information and a database of breeding animals and their test results.

3. Socialization and early care. There are some crucial developmental periods for a puppy while in the care of its breeder. If the breeder is not working to provide positive socialization experiences, you may be dealing with behaviour issues for the rest of your dog’s life. The mother’s emotional and nutritional care during pregnancy is also very important to a puppy’s future. A breeder should have a positive, well-researched plan for those important weeks and be able to share this with you.

4. Contracts and screening. Any ethical breeder has waiting lists and will not rush into placement for one of their dogs. A thorough screening of you, your home, the environment, your intentions, and the life you are planning to give the puppy will take place. The reason for this should go without saying – the breeder should want to know where this puppy will end up, and that it will have a great quality of life.

You should be encouraged to do your own screening as well! You should be eable to meet the mother and puppies, and see where they are being raised. (Note that it’s normal for the father not to live at the same home, and you may not be able to meet him). Environment plays a huge role in the success of a puppy.

Similarly, there should be a detailed contract. There should always be a “return to breeder” clause. The breeder brought the dog into the world, and should not allow this dog to end up in the shelter system should something in your life change. If your dog is a pet dog, there should be a spay and neuter clause. If it is a breeding candidate, you should both be very clear on if, when, and how that would take place.

5. Operating on volume or fads. If a breeder always seems to have puppies for sale, or puppies that became available all of a sudden, that might seem like great news, right? Wrong!! (Sorry). Ethical breeders plan litters well in advance and often times have waiting lists for their puppies. In some cases a “pet quality” puppy or retired show dog might be available, but there will never be full litters unspoken for.

A reputable breeder will breed healthy dogs to the breed standard, and if they are selling “designer mixes” or breeding exaggerated characteristics – size, shape, coat colours, this tells you that they are not putting health or well-being first. Many of these trends are based on mutations that compromise overall health.