How to Choose A Breeder That Minimizes Their Footprint On The Shelter Dog Population

I know your dilemma. You want to find a purebred pup from an experienced breeder to (hopefully) avoid health or temperament issues. Maybe because you love a certain breed, maybe you're in need of certain traits that breed possesses, maybe you’ve had a bad experience with rescues in the past, or maybe you just want to know the parents, where your pup comes from, its genetic background and how it was socialized early on. 

But what about the shelter dogs? Your heart aches at the thought of all those pups in the shelter. If you could save just one it may make a difference. 

What if there was a way you could go through a breeder for a purebred pup while benefiting the rescue community? It sounds impossible, but in choosing a breeder who does the following 2 things you’re actually either directly minimizing the number of pups that will eventually end up in shelters or supporting someone who’s already making a positive impact on the shelter community.  

1. Choose a breeder that minimizes their footprint on the shelter population. A breeder who has a policy to take their pup back if the owner can no longer care for it minimizes their footprint on the shelter population. The breeder should have a rehoming contract that states legal action will be taken if the pup is rehomed, sold or surrendered to anyone other than the breeder. In doing this the breeder is doing their due diligence to be sure the pups they bring into the world aren’t going to end up in shelters. 

   A breeder who doesn’t have a policy of taking their pup back is a huge reason why there are so many dogs in shelters. Think about this, if every breeder took their pup back whether it be a ‘whoops litter’ or a planned one then the shelters would be empty. There are way too many breeders out there who take no responsibility once the pup leaves their care but continue to breed which increases the shelter population. This is why it’s so important to choose a breeder that continues to take responsibility for their pups.

1. Choose a breeder that gives back. There are so many ways a breeder can give back to the rescue community and we’re of the mindset that a breeder has a duty to do their part since they are essentially adding dogs to the current population. Here’s how: They can make regular donations or volunteer at a rescue organization. They can also foster rescue dogs or use their social media platforms to help find homes for pups in need. 

We feel breeders who don’t take responsibility for their pups at any age or who turn a blind eye to the shelter dog community should not be able to breed. Unfortunately, enforcement of these changes would take both the AKC and state level government bodies to gain any traction. This is why it’s so important for people that purchase a pup from a breeder choose a breeder that minimizes their footprint on the shelter population and gives back to the shelter community.

Here are some questions to ask potential breeders to aid in your search for the right purebred pup. 

1. Does the breeder accept a dog back if the owner needs to surrender? “Why is this important, I’ll never give my pup back.” Although you know you won’t surrender your pup for any reason, another person may. If the breeder you’re working with doesn’t take back their pups and you pay them for a pup, you’ve just funded the breeding operation of someone who will continue to breed pups but not take responsibility for their long term well-being.

2. Does the breeder have a rehoming contract (an agreement that a pup can’t be rehomed or surrendered to a shelter)? “This doesn’t mean a lot to me because I won’t rehome my pup.” For the same reason it’s important to choose a breeder that will take a pup back, it’s important that the breeder has sent a clear message to each of their puppy homes that they intend to follow through on legal action if one of their pups ends up in a shelter.

3. Does the breeder donate regularly to rescue organizations? “The breeder said they donated once, does this count?” That’s entirely up to you while ranking your potential breeders. We do not count this unless it was a sizable sum or it’s done regularly. Although every little bit helps, a breeder who’s serious about doing their part will make it a priority to give.

4. Does the breeder volunteer time at rescue organizations? “The breeder said they volunteered a couple times but they’re very busy, does this count?” Just like question 3, it's up to you while ranking your potential breeders. We do not count volunteering unless it’s regularly done. Although every little bit helps, a breeder who's serious about doing their part will make it a priority volunteer for the greater good of the rescue community.

5. Does the breeder foster rescue dogs? “The breeder said they fostered once, does this count? This is also up to you while ranking your potential breeders. It all boils down to your comfort level. We don’t count this unless it’s done more than once. Although every little bit helps, a breeder who’s serious about helping will make it a regular activity.

6. Does the breeder help find homes for rescue dogs? The breeder said they helped find a home once, does this count? Again, this is up to you while ranking your potential breeders. We don’t count this unless it’s done more than once. Although every little bit helps, a breeder who’s serious about helping will make it a regular activity. You can check the breeder’s website and social media to see if they help find homes for rescue dogs.