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Breeders

There are a number of different breeders you might come across when searching for your new pet. If you don't meet the breeder i.e. you buy from a third party like a petshop, you should think carefully about where your puppy came from.

Registered Breeders

The best breeder to find is one that is registered. While this does not guarantee an ethical breeder it does mean they are members of a body with a code of practice. Such breeders also have set standards for breeding and animal health they agree to abide by. They also tend to have high levels of experience and work to improve the breeds they work with.

When you get a puppy from a ethical registered breeder they will have done appropriate health testing and give you an official pedigree when (or within a few weeks of) buying your pet. They should also give you vaccination records and will often give you a puppy pack which includes information on diet etc.

Unfortunately, many buyers do not want to get a puppy from a registered breeder because there may be a long wait. Ethical breeders do not usually breed frequently, as such their may be a wait before puppies are available.

Some breeders will vet prospective new owners to make sure they are appropriate for their breed. They may have a desexing policy where the dog is sold either desexed or you agree to desex within six months. This is done so their dogs don't end up inappropriatly bred either in puppy farms, or with backyard breeders.

Backyard Breeders

These people generally have very little knowledge of good breeding practices, or in many cases the breed/s they are actually mating. They may consider breeding a way to make a quick buck, their bitch may have had an "accident", they may think their pet is sooo cute s/he should be bred (despite not being breeding quality) or they may erroneously believe their bitch should have a litter before desexing.

Their dogs are generally of substandard quality. If they produce purebred dogs, because they have no understanding of how to select good mating combinations, their dogs may not adhere to breed standards. Their purebred dogs may not in fact be purebred. You have no evidence beyond their word and perhaps a handwritten, or computer generated pedigree, these are not official pedigrees.

Some backyard breeders are nothing but small scale puppy farmers.

Puppy Farmers

Puppy Farmers are also known as Puppy Millers. They will always exist as long as people are willing to buy from them, or the pet stores that sell their puppies. They do not give their animals appropriate care, although some may give the bare minimum legally required. The dogs in puppy farms are over bred to produce mass quantities for sale to pet buyers. Females are bred until they are worn out.

Puppy farmers do not care what type of dog they sell. They have no particular interest in specific breeds except that those they use have large litters and are popular. Dogs have miserable lives and may be kept in small cages, or boxes that are not cleaned and the dogs recieve little or no human interaction for the entire time they are there. After they are no longer any use they may be sold on or killed.

Puppies born in puppy farms do not learn the skills and behaviours they normally would if born in a better place. They will probably have nutritional deficiencies, retarding healthy growth - because their dam is unable to supply good milk - and they will be psychologically damaged. The first sixteen weeks of a puppy's development are crucial. Negative experiences and poor environment during this early stage can create adult dogs that will never recover.

A Note About Petshops

Petshops often source their puppies from Puppy Farmers. Many other puppies come from Backyard Breeders who themselves may be nothing but small scale Puppy Farms. While you might like to think most puppies in petshops come from accidental litters this is not true for the bulk. Buying a puppy from a petshop is nothing but supporting these people. It allows them to stay in business and continue their disgusting practices.

To get to a pet shop puppies will almost certainly be taken from their mother before they are weaned and have to travel long distances by road or air. The puppies will then be placed in a strange environment in a small restrictive cage for extended periods. There will be a variety of frightening loud noises, unfamiliar smells and very bright lights.

Their food may be suddenly changed and many will be forced onto a solid diet before they are ready. Additionally, many of the staff simply do not know enough about the puppies they are selling to give buyers accurate information.

As harsh as it sounds it is better not to buy animals from petshops. It is also best to buy your other pet needs from pet warehouses and online stores which sell food, accessories,and other pet products but do not sell animals.

Vets and The Famous

It makes absolutely no difference who is running a puppy farm, or who endorses these "kennels". A vet or celebrity could run or endorse a puppy farm if they have no moral scruples. All it means, for vets certainly is that they should know better.

Online Ordering

Puppy farms and Backyard breeders may sell puppies over the internet or through newspaper advertisements.

If you can order a puppy or dog online or over the phone you are very likely dealing with either a puppy farmer or backyard breeder. That's not to say ethical registered breeders and rescues don't advertise through these means, they do.

Registered breeders and rescues will of course welcome phone or email enquires but they will not just allow you to order a puppy over the phone as if it's a toaster.

Finding a Registered Breeder

To find a registered breeder you may wish to contact a breed club in your area and work from there, or your national or state canine authority may have a breeders' directory. Alternatively, going to conformation shows also provides you with a great opportunity, not only to meet breeders, but also to be surrounded by excellent examples of your chosen breed.