12/12/2020
I have had many requests to make this post “shareable” so I am reposting here (feel free to share). It was originally written and posted in the Vizsla Puppies Facebook group but it can apply to any breed:
There are Reputable Breeders and there are PUPPY SELLERS. Plain and simple. Before purchasing a puppy it is important to know the difference.
PUPPY SELLERS: They don’t screen buyers, they don’t do any education or mentoring, they don’t support their puppy owners. They simply make puppies and sell puppies to anyone with the green. They may have a sleek website and look like breeders, but in reality they are not. Their dogs are rarely health tested and they may have “Breeding Pairs” that they breed over and over simply to make more puppies (and pad their wallets). They almost always have puppies, especially around Christmas. When puppy buyers run into problems these “puppy sellers” will not be there to help the owners or take the puppies back. Basically, once you’ve paid, it’s your problem. Once the mama dog has been used up, she may or may not be dumped at a shelter or sent to a rescue.
REPUTABLE BREEDERS: Carefully screen their buyers. This means people might be told “this is not an ideal breed for your family/situation”. It is always a judgement call a breeder must make given the information they gather. Families who are looking for “a great family dog” and they show up to meet the breeder with unruly, undisciplined children who receive no direction from their parents when they attempt to grab a dog’s tail would likely be told NO. Breeders don’t care that you have the money to buy the dog, they would rather keep their puppy than place it in an ill-fitting home. A breeder’s dogs will have health screens completed prior to breeding. There will likely be a lengthy wait-time (6 months to as much as 3 years) to get a puppy from a good breeder. They are not breeding as a business, in fact most of them work full time jobs, many do volunteer work for dog clubs and often they help with breed rescue too! Their dog breed (and their breeding program) is their life’s passion! They devote a great deal of time helping their current puppy owners and caring for their own dogs. They usually participate in dog sports (show, hunt, obedience, agility ...) So they may take longer than might be ideal to answer inquiries about puppies. They are worth the wait! The vast majority also keep their dogs even after they are no longer breeding them so you’ll see often see an old dog or two at their home in addition to young ones/puppies. The most important aspect that differentiates a breeder from a “puppy seller” is the lifetime of support they give their puppies’ new owners. if problems arise they will be there to help you through it and if ever necessary they will take their dogs back! That support is worth it’s weight in gold.
