What is a good breeder?

In my opinion a good breeder would be someone who treats they're dogs as pets all the time and not breeding machines.  who also does all the health tests required for they're breed of dog.  Makes sure they're dog is of good enough quality before even going down that path and is in prime condition.  Does research on any male they use to cover they're bitches, not just using anyone that pops up.  Also making sure all the pups go to good homes and being responsible for them for the rest of the pups lives if they ever need to go back to them.  And above all telling the truth to new owners.

Warm regards Susan

In addiditon to what has already been said, somebody who is always happy to help with advice, always interested, but at the same time does not interfere either.

Marianne

From my point of view (as a first-time-puppy-buyer) I would also say, someone who is well thought of in the breed, I don't mean well liked as a person, but because of the way the treat their dog's, and how they are presented at shows etc. Speak to a lot of different breeders, either at shows, or via phone/email, and you will soon see how the land lies :D Also the breed clubs will have a good idea of who are the better breeders, and who have a lot to live up to :D

I think sometimes people forget that you are buying a puppy, not the breeder! Although I have a good rapour with our breeder, and feel I could pester her for hours with even more questions, I think you don't need to be best friends, so don't be put off by someone who doesn't seem overly friendly, just keep in mind how they are with their dogs, as this is the most important clue as to how they see their dogs i.e. their best friends who the family couldn't be without, or a dog that produces puppies every 6 months, and may get the odd stroke when the owner feels like it. JMO :D Of course it is better if you feel at ease with your breeder, for simplicities sake should you ever need advice - which let face it, most first-timers need by the bucket full!! :D

Someone who cares for puppys until they find a loving home , someone who knows about registration and is aware of genetic diseases in the breed. Someone who follows kennel club rules, someone who can work on socialization with the pup until it has a new home. Someone who isn't 100% in it for the money but for the love of dogs!

<<Also the breed clubs will have a good idea of who are the better breeders, and who have a lot to live up to>>

Natalie, the breed club wouldn't really give that much advice one way or the other........ What is good for one person, may not be what other people want and vice versa. What one person percieves to be a good breeder, might not be what another sees as good.
It is very difficult when people phone me to see who has puppies available, and ask if the breeder is good or not. Regardless of what I think of breeders or quality of their stock, I couldn't and wouldn't say. I just always tell them who has what puppies available, and it is then up to them to go away and do their 'homework' and decide if it is the right puppy/circumstances for them.

Gabrielle

Oh sorry Julie, I got that one wrong then.

I would have thought though that if I came to you and asked about a man called Mr. Smith who bred Aussies, and you 100% knew him to be a BYB/Puppy Farmer/Dealer, would you tell me?

Natalie,
          Luckily we haven't got any of those in the breed at the minute !!!!!!!

To be honest, when people come to me for information, it is my job to recommend people who are members of the club, as they agree to breed to a code of ethics.

People who come to me and have puppies to sell, must be members of the club and I try to encourage people who want a puppy to join the club so that there is support out there if it is needed.

I could say to you, ''don't buy a puppy from Mr Smith, as he is a puppy farmer''........... you may know him very well, and then I would have said something libelous.........

All I do, is make sure I tell prospective puppy owners to buy from hip scored, eye tested parents and try to see the dam with her puppies in her home situation. The rest then, is up to you to do your homework........

Hope all is well with Thomas,

Gabrielle

Oh I didn't know there wasn't any 'bad' breeders in the breed, that is really good then! :D :D

I suppose it would be quite difficult for you to put people off certain breeders (if there was a need to) without landing yourself in it. I hadn't really thought of it like that.

Yes thank you, Thomas is fine now, apart from the fasination he has with flooding my bathroom, he is doing well! :rolleyes: :D

Take care

Nat xxx

Good to hear he is ok Nat........ :D

There are all sorts of people in the breed, breeding for all sorts of reasons......

Whether I agree or not, I remain inpartial and offer help and support when I can.

I just pass contact details on. When club members have litters about, they usually phone me and tell me sire and dam's hip scores and eye tests and what they have available. I then just contact people on the puppy list and pass the details given on to them.

I have been so so lucky with my aussies, they are fabulous to live with and have brilliant temperaments. My breeder was very knowledgable about pedigrees etc, and produced a fantastic litter. Hope your puppy turns out well for you too......... aussie puppies are soooooooo cute..... :D I love my blue merle's puppy pics, she was and is still such a sweetie..........

Gabrielle x

>aussie puppies are soooooooo cute.....

Now ain't that the truth?!!! :D :D :D Of course I am a little bit biased!!! :P

Ah but if someone rang saying they had seen X persons litter and were worried, and you knew they were a puppy farmer (not a club member) then you would tell them they had no standing in the breed, no???

Surely anyone who is a club member abiding by the clubs rules and breedign ethics would be a basically good breeder at leat from the Pet owners point ov view.  Whether you admire their dogs or the lines, or even like them personally is not really an issue.

Exactly Brainless........

As I said in my post above, I can only recommend people who are club members......

If someone rang and said about a litter and I didn't know anything about the person, I would be honest and tell them I didn't know them.........

Gabrielle

When i was looking for a border collie puppy i was looking for a breeder who did something with the dogs aswel as breeding and showing something to keep them occupied. Also she was really helpful anything i needed help with she explained really well she had all the nessasary health checks done, she treats her dogs like her kids. If i ever have any problems i know i can always rely on her breeder to help. All the pups should be KC reg on the breed register. Endorsements are also a sign that they care about their breed. Those are some of the main things i was looking for there are probably loads more aswel.

>All the pups should be KC reg on the breed register.

As someone who has BC's Bordercollielvr, you should know that doesn't necessarily has to be the case. Working Sheep Dogs are not on the KC breed register and yet they can be as good as those who are. :)

I would want them to be KC or ISDS registered, the average farm dog without registration on either will not ahve had the relevant health tests.  colllies have several eye diseases they should be tested for, and of course shoudl also be hip scored.

Several working collie lines are bred by decent breeders in the top level of agility or obedience. Many of them are quite well known and they certainly aren't farm dogs. In fact most of the collies I know have come from WSD lines but they have the exact same love and care put into their breeding. They are, in effect, border collies but without the paper work. 

Yes well said!

A WSD is a bc without papers.  Just because the parents aren't Kc or ISDS registered it doesn't mean that the relevant tests are not done.  There are many people in agility who breed WSD's and they take just as much care as someone who breeds a bc.  The fact is that kc registration isn't worth the paper its written on if you don't want to breed show.  Therefore it is the tests that are important and that doesn't preclude wsd's.

When I looked for a rottie breeder, I found the one that asked me the most questions and who was happy to answer all of mine was the best one as she showed an interest. Also, one that doesn't ask for a deposit before you have even seen the puppies, I was amazed that one breeder asked me to send a cheque. I would agree about them not having litters every season as some do. You also want to be able to see both the parents if possible, if not definately, the mother.

My breeder is only a few miles down the road from me and will give me any advice anytime I need it. She also didn't mind me going over there when the pups were younger as I couldn't bring her home until she was 11 weeks.

Good luck with whatever breed you decide on and remember that you are not the only one being assessed, you are also assessing the breeder and don't be afraid to ask lots of questions.
Sarah