Dog Breeders: A Good Way To Buy A Dog?

Purebred dogs are all the rage. For many people who are looking to purchase a purebred dog, they do a dog breeder search in order to buy it. Before you rush out and plop down several hundred dollars for your pure breed pup, there are a few things that are important to know. It is very important to educate yourself BEFORE you buy your puppy from a breeder.

You can find breeders by searching the newspaper or using the Internet, and a number of different places. But what do you really know about the breeder? Some breeders are nothing more than "puppy mills" or farms. Since you don't have to be licensed to be a breeder, the backyard breeder - the dog owner who decides to raise puppies for sale as an income generally has little knowledge – or do they bother to understand – the genetics of the breed or proper nutritional requirements to keep the dog healthy. And it's not uncommon for puppies that come from unlicensed breeders to be sickly and harboring diseases. And puppy mill puppies frequently turn up in pet stores.

Ironically, pet stores are the WORST place to buy a dog. These dogs come from puppy farms where they are often abused, neglected and inbred. Dogs from pet stores are many times nearly impossible to train, prone to illness and disease, prone to behavioral problems like compulsive chewing or barking, as well as being almost impossible to crate train.

Believe it or not, practically any breed that you could want to purchase is available in your local area. Purebred dogs are increasingly found at your local animal shelter. And there are breed specific rescue
organizations. Of course most of these dogs are no longer young puppies because people turn them in once the fad has worn off - generally that happens around 6 months to one year from the time they got the pup.

If you are insistant on getting a puppy, the safest route is to find a dog breeder who is licensed. Some of the best options for finding a professional dog breeder would be to attend local dog shows, visit pet
supply stores, pet expos or ask a veterinarian for recommendations. However you still need to do your own homework.

Ask lots of questions about the dog you're getting, expect the breeder to ask you questions about yourself and your lifestyle as well. If they don't, be cautious. Good breeders don't want their dogs to end up in homes where the potential owner doesn't have time for the dog or doesn't understand the work involved in raising one. A store clerk or amateur breeder who simply hands you a dog in exchange for your money is not doing you any favors.

Many people buy their puppies over the Internet via some sort of dog breeder directory, but it is highly recommended that you buy from a breeder that you can visit. You can never be 100% sure of what you're getting over the Net. You need to be able to see the facility where the dogs are being bred. Is it clean, is the breeder a caring person, do the mothers look healthy, do the puppies have room to play? These are just a few things you'll need to see with your own eyes. And the answers to these questions will determine whether or not you buy your puppy from that breeder. Don't neglect this vital step. It could mean the difference between getting a healthy pup and a pup that may have eventually have problems.