12/04/2025
Looking to get a puppy in 2026? Read this first đŤśđź
Most people looking for a puppy have no idea what theyâre supposed to be asking a breeder. Itâs not like it comes up in normal conversation and unless youâve fallen down the responsible breeder rabbit hole on the internet (Hellllloooo đ) then nobody really teaches this stuff. But since youâre here, letâs go over it and maybe you can share with your friends.. hereâs a simple breakdown from your dog obsessed internet bestie.
1. âHealth testedâ is not the same as âmy vet said theyâre healthy.â
Real health testing means OFA or equivalent. It means hips, elbows, eyes, and breed specific DNA panels. You need to verify the results on the OFA.org database with the dogâs registered name or number because I have recently seen people making AI OFA certificates⌠(just message me, I can help!) OFA also has a list for every breed of what âbreed specificâ testing you need for a CHIC #. Thatâs everything your breeder needs to be doing, itâs not a quick visit to the vet.
2. Ask about a contract. A good breeder will always have one.
It protects BOTH of you.
It explains health guarantees, spay/neuter terms, the return policy, and what happens if life changes. If a breeder refuses to take a puppy back at any age, thatâs not a breeder you should support.. We should all be striving to keep our dogs out of the shelter systems.
3. Ask them why they bred this litter.
If the answer is along the lines of âwe love the momâ âwe wanted to teach our kids about the miracle of birthâ âevery dog deserves to be a mama onceâ âbecause blue merle frenchies are fireââŚ.. just walk away.
A ethical breeder can tell you what they are trying to improve, what they loved about the pairing, and what they hope to see in structure, temperament, and longevity.
4. Look for a waitlist, not âavailable today.â
The puppy market is weird right now, and people do back out at the last minute.. having a puppy available after evals isnât a red flag. However, constantly having puppies available with no wait, and breeding more while struggling the place the last litter? Thatâs something to think about.
5. You donât have to âmeet the parentsâ to verify quality.
If you can meet mom ahead of time, thatâs always great! Maybe she is showing nearby and you can see her in her element. Once mama has puppies, her hormones arenât herself and she might be protective or just not into meeting strangers.. not a true representation of her temperament. Also, dad might be across the country. When we pick our studs, we pick the best one for our females⌠and location has absolutely nothing to do with it.
But you should absolutely look at their titles, health testing, pedigree, and photos. Ask questions about their temperament, what they bring to the program and most importantly if youâre a pet owner, what are they like to live with? That all matters far more than seeing him in person.
6. Ask what they do for early development.
There are so many early curriculums that breeders can be doing with their puppies. Itâs a personal choice and every breeder is going to do what they find works best for their program, but they should be doing SOMETHING. Puppy Culture, ENS, ESI, âBadass Breederâ Early Desensitization, Crate Training, Car Exposure etc⌠If the breeder doesnât do anything beyond âwe hold them,â thatâs not enough.
7. Ask how they match puppies to homes.
You shouldnât pick a puppy based on color or a photo. Ethical breeders evaluate structure and temperament to make sure the right puppy goes to the right family. If youâre set on a specific color, be prepared to wait for the puppy to come along that has the perfect temperament for your family (that is also the perfect color) because temperament should always be your number one priority.
8. Look at the breederâs adults.
You can tell a lot by looking at the dogs they kept. Are they well structured, stable, healthy, do they have good temperaments? Are they titled, proven, and do they have correct breed type? Overall, do they represent what the breed should be? The dogs living in the breederâs home will tell you everything you need to know.
9. Price shouldnât be your deciding factor.
A well bred dog from an ethical breeder is usually going to cost more than a backyard breeder. Save your pennies and wait. I know itâs hard to not impulse the cheaper puppy but in the long run, itâs an investment. Paying more for a well bred health tested dog is cheaper than dealing with lifelong genetic issues, difficult temperaments, or unethical practices.
10. An ethical breeder is a lifetime resource.
You donât just get a puppy, you get support. I joke with my puppy people that theyâre my contractual besties.. but for real you get someone to help you with training questions, grooming, feeding, health, and the things you canât (or maybe just shouldnât) Google and with me, a best friend. A breeder should care where their puppies end up, not just where the money goes.
If youâre looking for a puppy in 2026 and you want to do it right, save this list. Share it with your friends whose might be searching too. Iâm happy to help look over a breeders website and point out questions you should ask!
