Where to get your new puppy:

When you decide to get a new dog, you will have a lot of questions, including where to get said dog. Here are a few options and tips on where to look and what to expect, as well as what to avoid.

Responsible Breeders:

Responsible breeders strive to produce healthy and well socialized animals. Here are a few notes about them:

-Keep all of their animals in a sanitary, safe, and appropriate environment. All animals receive abundant attention/interactions, have fresh air at all times, are fed a high quality diet, have fresh clean water, shelter from the elements, and ample space to exercise.

-Breed to *Improve*.

-Have a goal and purpose with each breeding. These can include working on bettering temperaments, correcting structure, and increasing working ability. Producing "great" pets, or "big and impressive" or "rare colors" are not goals, but are instead purely marketing schemes.

- Absolutely do not breed for mutts/designer "breeds". Do not promote "hybrid vigor" (The claim that the offspring resulting from crossing two different breeds only inherits the "good traits" from both parents.) Anyone who uses this term has zero understanding of how genetics actually work. Offspring can and will inherit the "bad traits" from their parents and backgrounds. As example and without going into extensive detail, picture an animal gaining a double dose of hip dysplasia or a propensity for anxious or aggressive behavior. Since crossbreeds (mutts) do not have a breed standard, there is no predictability as to what their temperaments or health will result in.

-Health test and certify ALL of their animals for physical genetic defects and behavior. They will not keep, breed, or sell animals that have known health or temperament issues. Health tests are performed by a licensed vet and/or medical organization such as OFA. These health tests include existing and/or inherited genetic predispositions for hip dysplasia, cataracts, lens luxation/subluxation, glaucoma, retinal detachment, retinal dysplasia, Optic nerve coloboma, Optic nerve hypoplasia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous, elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, thyroid imbalances, respiratory diseases, and congenital diseases of the heart.

-Are often professionals in other fields of animal husbandry, such as licensed veterinarians, groomers, handlers, show judges, or trainers.

-Ensure all of their animals receive appropriate and abundant veterinary care, including annual vaccinations, de-worming, physical exams, and full blood panels.

-Researches the history and traits of the breed.

- Hold Breeder of Merit Certifications

-Understands the importance of correct conformation. (Conformation is the skeletal and muscular structures of an animal. It covers all of the important areas of an animal's physical form, from the legs, the spine (or top-line) and the hind quarters to the neck and head. When these structures of the body are not proportionate (called faults), they can cause medical problems, discomfort, or a prevention of full movement and functionality . For example, poor/thin fur quality, which can result in the animal being unable to properly regulate its body temperature and set it up for frequent skin ailments. Or, long shoulders which may cause spinal issues because there is too much strain on the vertebrae. Or, poor chest angulation; when the chest is being more or less than a 45-degree angle, it will prevent the animal from being able to exercise or move its front end in complete correspondence with the back end. Or, a convex (roached) spine, which can place strain on the vertebrae and joints, ultimately causing disk displacement and/or arthritis. Or, narrow hips, which can mean pregnant animals may require expensive Cesarean sections or still births. The list can go on. Remember, form follows function. Incorrect or poor structural faults can be and are often genetic. Breeding animals with poor structure is doing nothing to benefit the breed or the individual animal. A good breeder knows how to recognize good conformation and knows how to pick out which breeding animals to pair together based on their unique faults and strengths in order to create offspring with superior form. They know their own animal's pros and cons. They are willing to acknowledge those faults and adjust their breeding programs accordingly.

-Will usually utilize the unbiased judging system of conformation shows to understand and compare their animals against others and the breed standard. This provides the breeder an opportunity to learn and see what areas of their animals need improvement.

-Will usually be a member of a reputable national breed club. Reputable clubs will only accept animals with a proven background (pedigree) and file studs, points, and titles in a national registration. If a club does not do this, they are not reputable, often holding an inaccurate and flawed database of poorly bred animals.

-Become familiar with the individuals within the pedigree of their animals in order to know what traits may show up in a breeding.

-Spend time to properly socialize and train their animals. They ensure their animals are well behaved, friendly, comfortable in a variety of situations and stimuli, being held and touched all over their body, and hold basic obedience understanding. They will not breed or sell animals that are skittish, aggressive, have anxiety, or are reactive.

-Participates in obedience classes.

-Holds titles on their *own* animals.

-Provides a warranty (usually at least three years) for the guaranteed health of any animals sold.

-Do not breed their animals back to back to back. They provide their animals adequate time to recoup and re-strengthen between each breeding. This can easily be *years* between breedings.

-Often hold young animals back to watch how they develop in order to determine if they are meeting goals. They don't make "picks" at birth or a week old BEFORE a young animal can even show you anything about itself other than it's sex and color.

- Do not base their prices on the colors or genders of their animals. Rather, prices are reflected to be on based on structure, health, and temperament.

-Prove their own animal's worth. They do not "ride the coat tails" of other breeders to talk up their own animals. They do not express phrases when selling animals such as "champion bloodlines!" or names of famous studs in the pedigree. Instead they create and hold their own genetic lines.

-Have an outstanding and positive reputation among other breeders and organizations.

-Will always make sure potential buyers are fully prepared and educated before bringing a pet home. They provide educational resources, vet references, trainer references, and lectures covering the unique behaviors and needs of their breed.

-Will easily deny a sale if they feel the new owner is not prepared, educated, dedicated, or able to provide an appropriate environment to properly and fully care for a new pet. They will not just sell an animal to anyone with the cash or to someone who knows nothing about the breed.

- Will never ever sell an animal to a pet store, mill, or trader.

-Require buyers to sign a contract, holding them accountable for appropriate care of an animal.

-Will often require buyers to spay/neuter their animals.

-Will require buyers to return the animal back to them, at any point in the animal's life, if they are no longer able or willing to continue caring for it.

-Will never dump, abandon, or surrender an animal to a shelter or pet store. They hold responsibility for *every* life they bring into this world. They provide an open door home for the entirety of that animal's life.

-Will keep in contact and provide buyers with advise on care and training for the life of the animal.

-Often spend more money on the care, training, and health certifications of their animals, than they do on sales. Many don't break even. They care more about their animals and bettering the breed than they do on becoming rich.

- Support and assist with breed rescues.

- Value honesty and integrity. They do not claim to “know it all”. They are also open to discuss the faults in their own animals. They never claim their animals are “perfect”.

Pros of getting a dog from a responsible breeder: You get a healthy, well socialized/trained puppy that matches your family and lifestyle. Your puppy has an extremely low to zero likelihood of developing health and behavior problems as it gets older. You will have lifetime support and education from the breeder. You can return the puppy back to the breeder if it is no longer a good fit.

Cons of getting a dog from a responsible breeder: Your puppy may cost a lot up front. You may have to wait to get your puppy/go through a time consuming screening process.

Backyard Breeders and Puppy Mills:

Anyone who is breeding animals and who does not adhere to ALL of the above criteria is termed a backyard breeder, to some degree or another. Whether it's someone who breeds full time just to make money off baby animals with no thought to preservation or structural improvement, or a pet owner wanting their female pet "To experience motherhood at least once". Backyard breeding practices are extremely irresponsible and unfair to the future welfare of the animals. Below are some red flags you will encounter with backyard breeders:

- Will sell their dogs to anyone with money. They will not ask buyers many if any questions about the care the dogs will be provided in their new home. They do not care if their dogs will be a good or bad fit for a new family.

- They do not educate new buyers on the unique needs their specific breed requires.

- Will not accept any dogs to be returned.

- Do not conduct OFA health testing on their dogs. They do not know, nor do they care, if the dogs they are breeding carry fatal genetic diseases. They may try to swindle unknowing buyers by saying their dogs have been "health checked or examined by a vet" when asked about health testing. Genetic health testing is completely different than a vet exam.

- Have a large variety of breeds available

- Have more dogs than what they can handle

- Will advertise their dogs using terms such as "rare colors", "exotic", or "world champion bloodlines", "designer breeds"

- Do not participate in working and/or conformation shows

- Do not belong to reputable breed clubs

- Do not understand conformation and cannot answer questions about their own dog's physical structure faults and strengths

- "Specializes in international shipping"

- Do not have buyer contracts

- Do not offer health guarantees

- Do not have pictures of their dogs in stacked positions on their website

- Do not have their dog's titles displayed on their website

- Don't even have or know what titles are

- Breed their dogs year around and back to back, always having puppies "in stock"

- Do not have any pictures of their dogs in social situations (inside their home with family, at shows, in public establishments, parks, hiking, etc)

- Do not socialize and work on basic obedience training their puppies *before* selling them to new homes

- Advertise their dogs on Craigslist

- Will dump their dogs at a shelter if they can't sell them

When someone purchases a pet from a backyard breeder, they are often left with an animal that is over priced, riddled with genetic and structural defects, diseases, and displays un-socialized or neurotic behavior. This will ultimately cost the new owner a great deal in heart ache, vet bills, and countless training sessions. Giving money to these establishments only encourages them to continue pumping out sickly animals.

Pros of getting a dog from a backyard breeder: You may get a puppy without having to go through a time consuming screening process

Cons of getting a dog from a backyard breeder: Your puppy may cost a lot both up front and in the long run with vet bills and training bills. Your puppy will likely have genetic defects and behavior problems. If the puppy is no longer a good fit, you will have to re-home it yourself or surrender it at a shelter.

Pet Stores:

The majority of animals found in pet stores are obtained from backyard breeders, traders, or mills. (However, some big box stores have recently only offered to sell animals in partnership with local rescues - which is great!) Unfortunately, when someone purchases a pet from a pet store (unless it came from a rescue that the store is partnering with), they are often left with an animal that is over priced, riddled with genetic and structural defects, diseases, and displays un-socialized or neurotic behavior. This will ultimately cost the new owner a great deal in heart ache, vet bills, and countless training sessions. Giving money to these establishments only encourages them to continue pumping out sickly animals. Additionally, many pet store employees do not have the proper education or background in animal husbandry. It's important to remember, that pet store employees are their to sell products. They are not licensed professionals. And though many may have their hearts in the right place, they commonly (and unknowingly) provide new pet owners with incorrect and even dangerous information about how to care for their animals. This can set new pet owners up for costly vet bills or failure to be a good fit with their new family. When families are not properly prepared for a their new dog, there is a high chance that dog will be dumped at a shelter later on.

Pros of getting a dog from a pet store: If the pet store is getting their puppies from a local shelter/rescue, you are giving a puppy in need a home and the puppy may come spayed/neutered and UTD on vaccines. You don't have to go through a time consuming screening process.

Cons of getting a dog from a pet store: If the pet store is getting their puppies from mills/backyard breeders, you will be supporting these inhumane businesses. There is a high likelihood that your new puppy will cost you in vet and training bills in the long run. The employees may provide you with inaccurate information on how to properly care for your new puppy. You cannot return the puppy to the store if it is no longer a good fit.

Shelters and Rescues:

Shelters and breed specific rescues can be wonderful places to help a new pet in need. Many animals from shelter and rescues already come spayed/neutered and UTD on vaccines. However, many shelter animals do not always come without great risk. They are not always a good choice for people seeking a specific animal to fit their lifestyle or needs. The majority of animals that end up in shelters or breed specific rescues come from either backyard breeders or irresponsible/ill-prepared pet owners who bought their dogs from pet stores or backyard breeders. A great deal of these animals come with the baggage of abuse and neglect. And though some of them may be purebred, they are not *well* bred, meaning they have poor structure, genetic defects, and behavioral issues. So keep in mind, that shelter and rescue dogs may cost a new family in the long run with vet bills and trainer bills. For every one well behaved and healthy dog obtained from a rescue/shelter, there will be 300 others that are not. There are also some not so ethical rescues/shelter, who don't provide the best care and support to their dogs in their facilities. And just like pet stores, some of their employees may have the dogs' best interests at heart, but they don't have the best or proper education to provide their buyers. Shelters don't always do a good job at matching pets with appropriate households either. Many households that are actually prefect and appropriate for a new dog, are often rejected by shelters/rescues to adopt for random arbitrary definitions. It is also common for shelter staff to not properly or thoroughly screen intake animals for aggression and anxiety. This later leads to disastrous and dangerous situations for the households that adopts these animals. Many shelters/rescues also practice outdated or incomplete medical procedures (spaying/neutering too early, failing to diagnose common ailments, not utilizing the full scope of veterinary procedures in order to save on funds, etc.). And again, that will only set buyers up for failure and may end with the dog being returned to the shelter/rescue.

Pros of getting a dog from a shelter/rescue: You may not have to go through a time consuming screening process. Your new puppy will cost less up front. Your new puppy may come spayed/neutered and UTD on vaccines.

Cons of getting a dog from a shelter/rescue: Your new puppy is likely to require costly vet and training bills later on. The employees may provide you with inaccurate information on how to properly care for your new puppy.

Additional Notes:

To sum up all of the above, breeding and pet ownership all come down to responsibility and education. The comfort, care, health, and quality of life of an animal should be of the utmost importance.

When a new pet owner says, "But I don't need to buy a show animal", it's like saying "I don't need to buy a house that is structurally sound or up to code". Think about that.

The phrase that is commonly used in the United States, "Adopt don't shop" is purely propaganda stemmed from animal rights fanatics basing their opinions on anthropomorphic views. They pull people into their agendas by targeting their emotions, rather than their brains and logic. When adopting, money is still being exchanged, making it no different than buying. When this slogan is used, it is basically saying that the only dog worth having is a mixed breed. It is stating that purebreds do not deserve to be loved. Responsible breeders are not the reason shelters are full. Negligent owners are the reason shelters are full. Humans who have a pet but cannot afford to get it fixed/choose to irresponsibility breed it, which leads to unwanted animals are the problem. Humans who get a pet and find it to not fit into their lives anymore and choose to get rid of it are the problem. Humans who don't bother to educate themselves before buying, or buy from places that don't provide them with education are the problem. Attempting to put an end to responsible breeders is not going to decrease the number of animals in shelters. It would only allow more room for the backyard breeders to expand and create future generations of unhealthy and unwanted animals. It would put an end to continued education and promotion of responsible ownership. It would put an end to purpose bred animals.

Remember, most domestic animal breeds are not products of natural selection, but rather the result of selective breeding performed by people choosing certain characteristics. This means that since nature did not create these animals, they are not self regulating or adapting. Characteristics such as curly hair, dropped ears, short legs, energy levels, single coats, intelligent levels, sociability, etc are all direct causes by humans. And since humans created these animals, they are solely responsible for maintaining and regulating these unnatural 'defects' to keep the animals comfortable and healthy. Certain breeds may require more maintenance than others, and not everyone has the time or energy for the upkeep of specific traits. For example; Does this animal require daily or monthly brushing? Does this animal require a feed bill that's going to cost $20 or $300 a month? Does this animal require extensive obedience training or is it naturally sociable? Does this animal get along with other animals or does it have a high prey drive? Does this animal require daily exercise/a job or can it be fine being a couch potato without becoming a neurotic and destructive mess from lack of stimulus? Does this animal tolerate children or is it reactive to loud noises or excessive grabbing? What kind of genetic defects are associated with the breed? What does the lifespan look like? How much room does this animal require? All of these questions are the reason it is crucial for new owners to be properly and fully educated on the unique needs of certain breeds before they make a decision to bring it home to their family.

Smart adopting and fostering are an important service. Smart breeding and rescues are an important service. Backyard breeding, pet mills, and pet stores are the disservice that need to be shut down.