A Good Breeder Will Pair You With The Right Pup For Your Lifestyle

Choosing a pup is an important decision and a breeder should take that seriously. I believe being a moral breeder isn’t necessarily the one who’s out winning shows, (although that kind of dedication to training is always impressive). Instead, I think a moral breeder is one who will not only stand behind their pup but also do right by you as the owner. 

A breeder can do this first by learning what your needs and wants are in the perfect family dog. Second, they should provide as much insight as they can on the pup’s temperament as well as full disclosure on their health so that you can make a sound choice when picking your pup. And Finally, they should be there if you need support during those rough puppy training years and in the event something goes wrong.

Parent dogs should always be carefully chosen based on 3 criteria - Health, Temperament, Conformation. 

CHOOSING PARENT DOGS WITH GOOD HEALTH

All parent dogs should be genetically tested. This minimizes the risk of a health issue with pups although it can’t altogether stop them. This is why a health guarantee is necessary even with the best parents. Read Understanding The Components of a Standard Health Guarantee.

CHOOSING PARENT DOGS WITH GOOD TEMPERAMENTS

Generally, many people are looking for a low-medium drive temperament as a family dog, but some people are looking for higher drive dogs to complete a job or participate in competitions.  A breeder should choose their breeding parents based on what the pups are intended to do. 

If a breeder wants to sell family dogs but chooses parents with high drive so they can win shows, they’re setting their families up for failure. Although you may be looking for a breed other than German Shepherds, this article may help you better understand the temperaments and drive of dogs. Read about What You Need To Know About German Shepherd Temperaments and Drive Before Choosing A pup.

CHOOSING PARENT DOGS WITH GOOD CONFORMATION

Often a breeder will overlook important aspects of a parent dog’s conformation and breed him or her even though they don’t meet breed standards. Sometimes this goes unnoticed and causes only minor issues, but more often than not the result is a litter of pups that have physical problems.

Unfortunately, there are many breeders out there who will stretch the truth to land a sale with no regard that they’re setting the pup and new owner up for failure. They’ll paint a picture that their pups and parents have the perfect health and temperament and they’ll even play on your emotions to get that pup into your home with your money in their pocket. 

There are even good breeders out there who’ve convinced themselves that because their high-drive dogs have won shows, their pups will make good candidates for a family setting. I’ve seen such breeders argue that a family who’s struggling to train a high drive pup just isn't trying hard enough, when really the breeder should’ve done a better job assessing the needs of the family and been honest that their dogs just aren’t a good fit for that family’s lifestyle. 

IT’S TIME TO EMPOWER YOU DURING THE PUPPY BUYING PROCESS

For years I’ve read about the struggles caused to homes by breeders who’s top priority is landing a sale. I’ve heard about breeders refusing to stand behind their pup once the sale is complete leaving the new owner in a lurch. And because of that, I’ve created the FREE Guide To Interviewing Breeders. 

I hope this Guide helps educate and empower you during the puppy buying process so you’re able to avoid common mistakes most breeders don’t want you to know about. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions along the way at mdalman4@gmail.com.