[Shields]

I'm currently looking at getting a second dog. Besides asking about clearances (OFA, CERF, EIC, etc.), what questions do you like to ask the breeder? What are some red flags to avoid?

 

[hotel4dogs]

what sort of guarantee do they offer?
do they pick the puppy for you, or do you pickthe puppy out of the litter?
what early socialization/experiences do they offer to the puppies? Are they raised in the house around humans, or in a kennel run? Are they introduced to wings/feathers/water?

 

[hotel4dogs]

couple more...
Inquire about breed specific health problems (you didn't mention breed) that are not checked for with formal clearances. Allergies are rampant in both labs and goldens, ask if there are allergies in the lines. Early onset epilepsy in labs, and so on.
Can you meet one or both parents?

 

[Guest]

what are the terms of the guarantee do they give a full money back with proof of nueter/spay? Do they require the dog be sent back to them some even require the dog be put to sleep before they will return purchase price. Do they guarantee hips eyes elbows? I ask to see proof of any health claims being made EIC CNM etc... CNM you can look up on the white sheet but EIC is harder no way to know for sure without seeing proof. I like to know about general health, personality of sire & dam and get references from any previous offspring owners. Will pups have first shots be introduced to water birds dew claws removed? & of course see pics of sire dam and pups. I also go to www.offa.org and do a search on the sire dam siblings etc...

 

[afdahl]

Pedigree, health clearances, performance record of dam and sire, dewclaws removed.

Guarantees IMHO are at best a red herring.

Breeders differ widely on what they do in the way of socialization. I figure if I get the puppy at 6-8 weeks I can get it right from then on.

If you are new to the sport or to dog ownership and the breeder is available as a mentor, that is significant.

Amy Dahl

 

[Shields]

Thanks for the responses. I got extremely lucky with my first hunt test dog. I was just making sure there were not any major issues I was overlooking. Thanks again.

 

[MarkyMark]

Ask if you can stop anytime you want to check up on there operation, ask to do a back ground check. Better yet spend sometime online and research all you can about the breeder. Call the Hsus and the local dog warder and see if they have ever been called out to the breeder.

 

[afdahl]

Call the Hsus

Don't do this. All the HSUS needs to know is that someone's breeding--then if they can take advantage of local or state search and seizure laws to take someone's dogs and kill or alter them before the owner can sue to get them back, they will.

I just got a notice from AKC that they're doing it all over my state of North Carolina. I'm pretty sure all they need to find is one tipped-over water bucket, and they can impound all your dogs.

Amy Dahl

 

[Rainmaker]

Ask if you can stop anytime you want to check up on there operation, ask to do a back ground check. Better yet spend sometime online and research all you can about the breeder. Call the Hsus and the local dog warder and see if they have ever been called out to the breeder.

Nope, not at my house, visitation by appointment only, I don't want people traipsing in and out exposing my pups to who knows what, and besides which, I have a life. Asking the local animal control, that's a rotten thing to do, they could easily construe it as a complaint and have all the ammo they want to go in and make life miserable for a breeder. Call their vet for a reference if you want, I give mine permission to speak to potential buyers, or ask for references but goodness, background check, animal control, why not call out PETA on them too. Verification of health clearances, pedigree, titles in venues ran, how and where pups are raised, all of this can be discussed and a feel gotten but in the end, if you don't develop a relationship you feel good about with the breeder, walk away. Lots of people are good at snow jobs & slick websites, but anyone taking on a pup/dog should put in their homework learning what questions to ask and what they should or can verify, much of it online, like the OP is doing by asking here.

 

[2tall]

Ask if you can stop anytime you want to check up on there operation, ask to do a back ground check. Better yet spend sometime online and research all you can about the breeder. Call the Hsus and the local dog warder and see if they have ever been called out to the breeder.

Was this some kind of joke that failed????? Dude, I hope after posting this that you never want to buy a dog from one of the breeders here. Just shaking my head..........

 

[1st retriever]

Ask if you can stop anytime you want to check up on there operation, ask to do a back ground check. Better yet spend sometime online and research all you can about the breeder. Call the Hsus and the local dog warder and see if they have ever been called out to the breeder.

Dude, even with all the $hit I have taken on here I wouldn't have said that even as a joke.

 

[BirdNMouth]

Ask if you can stop anytime you want to check up on there operation, ask to do a back ground check. Better yet spend sometime online and research all you can about the breeder. Call the Hsus and the local dog warder and see if they have ever been called out to the breeder.

That's just creepy....


-Danielle

 

[Billie]

Wow- have to remember that breeders work out of their HOMES . We do have lives, despite the dogs (which ismost of our lives anyway), and I can tell you or anyone, DROP INS ARE NOT WELCOMED here. I have nothing to hide, in my kennel, training/or breeding, but it is my home and my privacy should be appreciated. Call first, make an appointment and I'll show you anything you want. (not you-Markymark,but people in general).
I think, too,if a person wanted to know about if theres been any complaints (humane) about a breeder, pretty sure it would be on line somewhere. People tend to share bad information better than good... I'd say keep HumSoc out of it-they are nothing but bad news for any of us.

 

[Rick_C]

In addition to the above, I would ask a lot of questions about the dam. Training attitude, how is she around the house, what's her strongest trait in the field, what's her weakest? Is she still running tests or trials and how is she doing etc...If possible get phone numbers of people that have seen her train and run. Obviously some of the questions will be answered with rose colored glasses but I will gather as much information as possible about the dam on my next pup. I haven't had any issues but I know training partners that have and more than once they could be traced back to the dam. It's just much harder to get information on dams than sires so you have to do your home work.

Just my .02

 

[metalone67]

Ask if you can stop anytime you want to check up on there operation, ask to do a back ground check. Better yet spend sometime online and research all you can about the breeder. Call the Hsus and the local dog warder and see if they have ever been called out to the breeder.

Are you kidding me? I think I'm having a stroke.

 

[Socks]

MarkyMark. Even if this was an accident please delete your response because someone doing a google search will have this thread pop up. I wouldn't want someone glancing through and thinking that we even remotely suggest doing this for checking out a breeder. Just my $0.02.

 

[limiman12]

Why did you choose the sire for this dam? How do their strong suits and weaknesses balance..... I personally don't see "both parents on site" as a positive, it may be in some cases, but if someone went to the trouble to breed to a sire two states away, convenience was probably not the primary factor in breeding to that male

What is the intent for the breeding? Are they primarily looking to make pets that hunt some, or hunting dogs that may run HT's and are pets. If looks are important to you, then find alitter that had looks in mind with the breeding. If picking up ducks is important, don't pick a litter because both parents are pretty. If you pheasent hunt, buy one from a breeder that is breeding for dogs that will be competent in the upland.

Is the dog that the pups are out of, a dog you would like to own........ not a question for the breeder, but a question for yourself after meeting the dam and learning about the sire.(or meeting the sire)

 

[Leslie B]

Ask if you can stop anytime you want to check up on there operation, ask to do a back ground check. Better yet spend sometime online and research all you can about the breeder. Call the Hsus and the local dog warder and see if they have ever been called out to the breeder.

I do not agree that this is a good way to check out a breeder. Most of the breeders that I know don't keep regular kennel hours. We need to have regular jobs to support the dogs.

Calling the HSUS is a bad idea under almost any circumstances. The local dog warden is called for lost dogs/problem pets etc.

Better options would be to:

Check out the parents of the litter. Do they have all their health clearances - check OFA.

Do the dogs have titles - You can get copies of the titles from the breeder. Most breeds have a website for tracking of pedigrees like www.k9data.com for Goldens and Labs.

Check with other breeders. Ask them if they were going to buy a pup, who would they go to in this area.

Ask about their guarantee - do they require you to return the dog to receive any remedy for the problem? How long does the guarantee last? Remember that hips cannot be tested until the dog is 24 months old to the day. Any guarantee less than 25 months is worthless for hips.

Does the breeder have any questions for you? If not they might not care about what happens to the dog after the check cashes.

Does the breeder offer lifetime support? Require you to give them the right of first refusal if the dog ever leaves your ownership? Have any expectations of how you care for the dog?

Trust your gut when you talk to the breeder and that means that not every communication can be via email.

 

[dritchie1]

I'd find out their guarentee and find out whether the parents are EIC clear/carriers. I had a very reputable breeder in MO recently not back up a pup that was EIC affected that I had to get rid of at 6 months. Also check hips and eye certs.
Also, call up your local HRC or AKC hunt clubs in your area and ask them about the breeder.
I recently bought a dog from California with a great pedigree and the breeder gave me several references and that sold me. Have him give you some references from past breedings and you can get an idea what the dogs produce.

Good luck!