So you end up in contact with a breeder (whether through s 'friend', an ad or via their website) ...how would you tell if they were a bad breeder or not? Are there any give away signs? What questions should the prospective buyer ask?
more than 1 breed being bred would make me ask more questions. several breeds being bred would make me run away. If they seam to have ads popping up in quick succession would also seam iffy to me. then i guess i would just judge from talking to them and what i could see. its not hard to figure out when a dog "is just a dog" to somebody and that would put me off completely
Do they get you to meet them in a car park? Do they keep the dogs in a garage or other external building not purposely built for dogs? Does it smell dirty? Is the mother friendly? Where is the father? Can you hear more dogs? Does the house looked lived in? Ask the breeder questions about the breed - puppy farmers actually pay some people to do the selling for them! To make themselves look more presentable or real. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO WALK AWAY. Say you need to think about it, if they try to pressure you or get angry you get your answer right there! Best bit of advice is to not put yourself in that position to start with - soon as you see puppies your heart will melt. And that is what they are counting on.
First of all, if viewing a website, red flags should pop up if the breeder has a number of different breeds or litters at the same time. No health test results viewable, no titles, no mention of anything they do with their dogs. Other things to make you wary would be the breeders advertising ways in which you can pay for your puppy, things such as "credit cards accepted" etc. If talking to a breeder, they should be happy to tell you everything about their dogs, answer all your questions and ask you questions too. Breeders that don't ask any questions, or seem pushy to sell you a puppy are to be avoided. A good breeder will often speak to you for years in advance of a litter being planned. They're happy to get to know you beforehand. If viewing a puppy always make sure mum is there, both parents ideally, but that's not always possible if an outside stud has been used. However even in these situations a breeder should be willing to show you pictures, or direct you to his breeder's website etc. If mum is NOT there to view with pups, run away! If pups are brought out to you from some room you can't see in or if there are a number of other litters at the same time, again, walk away. As someone mentioned above, avoid breeders who say they can meet you so and so place and hand the puppy over to you there.
Well I wouldn't be put off by a breeder breeding two breeds, lots do. I wouldn't be put off by more than one litter either as bitches that live together tend to come into season together. Nor would I expect the stud to be on the premises, most reputable breeders would not be using their own dog. That's usually more a sign of a byb. I would expect to exchange emails and chat at length on the phone about their dogs, their ethics and achievements as well as discuss my own dogs and home set up. I would usually be in touch with them long before the puppies were available, would probably visit them and meet their dogs before pups were born. I would expect them to size me up without interrogating me but engage in conversation and see me interact with their adult dogs of all ages, sometimes en mass. I still have fond memories of having 15 Dobermanns set loose around me and have never laughed so much in my life. I would always expect to meet the breeder and their dogs in their home. I would run a mile from anyone offering delivery. I would always want to meet the extended family and good breeders want to see you with several of their dogs not just the puppies. One of the first questions I ask is about health testing and good breeders like to 'brag' about their dogs and their ethics. Research your breed and know exactly what you're looking for and don't be persuaded otherwise. Know what health tests should be carried out and only visit the pups once you have established the breeders ethics. I may have been lucky but I have always managed to sort the good the bad and the ugly before committing to visit. I have never been to a dirty, smelly premises. I would expect to not only hear other dogs but meet them too. Generally dogs meander around you while you sit and chat, and expect the visit to last for hours. I have never been in the position of having to walk away, I don't put myself in that position.
If the breeder is very keen on selling me the puppy I would walk away. Getting a puppy should cost a peak into a persons privacy and the breeder should want to know all about family, surroundings and household activites. Two breeds bred would be fine by me but not more than that. A breeder that has too many dogs in a small space. I personally would need to see allt health testing, show or work results and even temperment testing if applicable. I would even welcome a homevisit from a breeder if they lived close enough and I would want the breeder to want to stay in touch with me and the pup. I still talk to Leo´s breeder on a biweekly basis. I give her all updates on his show results and just in general how he is doing. Destiny´s breeder has become a personal friend of mine. I do not speak to Bailie´s breeder but I did not get her directly from him but I do stay in touch with her former owner.
