Start your search with the national breed club, because almost every good breeder will be a member. (A searchable list is available on the American Kennel Club website which you can access by clicking here). Another possibility is to get a referral from someone who’s serious about the breed – a longtime obedience competitor, for instance. Once you’ve got a list of breeders, talk to them and visit them with the following point in mind: a good breeder cares deeply about his or her dogs, before they are born, after they are born and when they’re in their future homes. S/he attends to their physical and emotional health, and s/he does his or her best to ensure that the puppies s/he brings into the world have good homes for life.

A Good Breeder Cares About His or Her Dogs
A good breeder’s dogs are household pets or working companions, or both. They live in the house, not in kennels. The breeder waits to breed his bitches (females) until they’re fully adult – usually, at least two years old – and he doesn’t breed them often. Bringing a litter to term and nursing it are hard work.

A good breeder plans breedings carefully, applying his profound knowledge of genetics and always with the goal of improving the breed. And he lines up puppy buyers before the breeding – not after.

Tip: It’s a good sign if the breeder has a waiting list for pups.

A good breeder will participate in dog shows and sports suited to his breed – herding trials, agility, flyball, weight pulls, rally or traditional obedience, to name a few possibilities. A breeder who shows only in conformation may be too narrowly focused on looks.

… Even Before They Are Born
To maximize her puppies’ chances of being healthy and long-lived, a good breeder screens all her dogs for any health problems the breed may be prone to. She breeds only dogs who pass that screening and who are behaviorally sound, because not only physical ailments but also behavior problems have a genetic component. She honestly acknowledges any physical and behavioral problems that have occurred in her lines.

Tip: Use our site to learn about your breed’s health problems by clicking here.