How to Choose a Responsible and Ethical Breeder

Table of Contents

Introduction

You’re ready to adopt a new pup into your family! You’ve done all the research, are ready for the responsibility and have decided on the perfect breed. But what if that breed is considered “rare” or “fashionable”? Are you willing to risk supporting unethical breeding practices just because a particular breed of dog is in demand?

In this post I’ll talk about some ways you can determine whether you’re buying from an ethical breeder and how to avoid supporting puppy mills by purchasing from them instead.

Here’s a list of questions to ask to help you avoid supporting a puppy mill.

What breed is the dog?
Where is the dog from?
Where do the parents live?
How long have the parents been with the breeder?
What are the parents’ personalities like (i.e., how well socialized and trained)?
What is the breeder’s philosophy on breeding and training puppies, and how does it differ from other breeders in your area or region of interest (if applicable).

You should never buy a dog from a pet store.

You should never buy a dog from a pet store. You can’t be sure of where the dog came from, and in most cases, it’s likely to have come from a puppy mill. If the store is not regulated by any reputable organization (like the Better Business Bureau), you don’t know if they are selling puppies that have been mistreated or smuggled into the country illegally. If you want an ethical breeder, there are plenty of great ones out there who would love to work with you!

Be prepared to sign a legal contract.

Before you make a deposit, ask to see the contract. The breeder should have a contract ready for you to sign. This will include the price of the dog and any other costs associated with buying it (such as shipping). It should also include what happens if you have to return it, like whether or not there will be a fee associated with returning it.

The contract should also include a clause that allows you to return your puppy at any time, even if they’re already potty-trained or have been taught basic commands. You don’t want to purchase an animal only to find out later that it has some medical issue or behavioral problem that makes owning them impossible for you in your situation!

A good breeder will be transparent about their breeding methodologies, both past and current.

A good breeder will be transparent about their breeding methodologies, both past and current. They should be proud of their dogs and willing to show you where they live, what they’re eating and how they’re treated. This can also extend to the parents of your puppy. If a dog is being bred with a family member who has health issues (like cancer or hip dysplasia), these issues may be passed on to future puppies as well (unless steps are taken to prevent it).

A good breeder will have information about their dogs’ health and history available for you to review before making an adoption decision.

You should be able to see where the parents live and how they’re treated.

This will give you a good idea of how the puppies are raised, and what kind of environment they will be coming from. The healthiest dogs are usually raised in clean, spacious homes that allow them to have daily exercise. They should also be eating high-quality food. This can help reduce their chances of developing health problems as they age or even while they’re young puppies!

Find out what happens if your breeder is unable to take care of the dog anymore.

Find out what happens if your breeder is unable to take care of the dog anymore.
Find out how they would be cared for if they are sick or injured.
Find out how they would be cared for if they are no longer able to breed, or there is a reason why you can’t buy another puppy from them (perhaps they have died).

Contact other breeders in your area if possible, and ask what they know about the breeder you’re talking to.

If you are able to talk to other breeders in your area, ask them about any experience they may have had with your potential breeder. Asking for references is always a good idea. If there are no other breeders in your area, or if everyone seems willing to work with this particular breeder, then contact your local vet and see what they know. If that doesn’t help either, try asking at your nearest animal shelter; they will often know of any known troublemakers and be able to warn you away from them.

Make sure you are comfortable with the breeder.

It is important to know that you can walk away from a dog if it doesn’t feel right or if you aren’t sure about something. You should never feel obligated to take a pet on impulse, especially one that costs as much as these do. If something seems suspicious, be prepared to ask questions and have a list ready of things that concern you. Don’t be afraid to say no! If they don’t meet your expectations, don’t put yourself in debt over an animal who may not be right for you or your lifestyle.

If possible, try meeting the parents of the puppy (if puppies have been born). That way, perhaps later down the road when things go wrong (and they will), they can trace back their lineage and see what went wrong with their breeding practices as well as how long ago this was happening before deciding whether or not it’s worth having any future interaction with these people again

Don’t feed into demand for “fashionable” dogs, especially if they’re rare or expensive. The bad conditions that so many dogs are bred in can be directly traced back to this type of behavior.

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Buying ethical breeds saves puppies!

Buying from a responsible and ethical breeder means you are helping to reduce the demand for unethical breeding. By purchasing from a reputable breeder, you create less of a market for backyard breeders who don’t care about where their dogs end up or what happens to them. By buying an ethical dog, you are also reducing the number of dogs euthanized in shelters each year. This helps reduce overpopulation and prevents already suffering animals from being put down due to overcrowded facilities. Additionally, purchasing authentic health certificates guarantees that any genetic diseases have been screened prior to breeding which ensures puppies are born with healthy genes and won’t develop issues later on in life when they’re older and can no longer be rehomed easily because they’ve been bred incorrectly by irresponsible owners (or worse yet–they die).

Conclusion

It’s up to you to make good choices about where you get your dog. As a responsible pet owner, it’s important that you do your research and make sure the breeder is ethical and responsible. There are plenty of ways to find good breeders and avoid puppy mills, but if in doubt, don’t buy from them!