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How do I locate a good breeder?

Smokeycat

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
Both of my dogs have come from bybs. Although I learnt from my experience with Jiggers, dam bred on first heat and second heat, met off site to pick him up at 6 weeks, didn't meet the parents, no health testing, etc., I didn't learn enough. From what I have learnt Kryten's breeder is probably the opposite end of the byb spectrum. She had x-rays done on hips but they weren't graded, no genetic testing but available vet records, met the parents and picked him up on site at 11 weeks.

I want to do it the right way next time and although, baring a tragedy, it will be several years until I will be ready for another dog I want to find a breeder or two for each of the breeds I am considering. I tend to be impulsive and if I already know where I want to get a puppy from I will be unlikely to get a puppy off kijiji again. Also 2 of the 3 breeds can have serious health/behavior issues if bred incorrectly.

I have been trying to find breeders online but there seem to be so many websites that don't work that I am wondering if there is a better way. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

If it helps the three breeds I am looking at are:
Dalmatian
Great Dane - harlequin or possibly merle
Newfoundland - landseer
 
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ruthcatrin

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Well, if you can start with the breed clubs. If there aren't Canadian versions often the US versions will allow Canadian members. Usually theres a breeders code of ethics that they're expected to follow to be listed, though some clubs are better than others with enforcement.

Google the breeders names. You're looking not so much for a website, but what else has been said. Ditto the kennel name. Keep in mind that pleasing everyone everytime is impossible, so take bad reviews with a grain of salt, but if you've got clearly different people commenting that they got this pup and he's now got X genetic problem even though the parents were supposedly tested you might want to think twice.

OFA records are availible online, so if they say they've been tested you can confirm that.

Look at the breeder's goal for their pairings. Is it "dog X has a wonderfull temperment and dog Y has a perfect head" or is it "we did this pairing last year and the pups were so popular we're doing it again!"

LOOK at the dogs. Search out pictures of as many dogs coming out of that breeder as you can. Even if you don't know the standard well you can tell if the dogs LOOK good, at least to your personal taste.

Be wary of breeders doing multiple litters every year. Its not nessecarily a bad thing, but it can be (there are exceptions, for example TM's only go into season once a year, so this season might be the only chance to do that pairing).

When you get to the point of talking to one, she should be more than willing to provide the above explanations and more. References, ideally a dog close to you that you can visit and meet, or vet references to prove dog care, again, not always physically possible, but good. Can you visit and meet her dogs (assuming none of the dogs are in seaason and no new litters on the ground, some breeders won't allow strangers on site till the pups are a bit older)?
 
Duetsche_Doggen

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
In addition to what Ruth stated once you find the type of dog your looking, go with a breeder who shares your views. There's good and bad in every breed, try not to let the politics get in the way. Also find a breeder who you can TRUST I cannot stress this enough. Even when it comes down to final weeks in bringing the puppy home be sure that you are still comfortable with the chosen breeder. So many things can happen within that time frame. Take your time and research it may take weeks, months, or even years to find "your" breeder.
 
DennasMom

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
When I started looking for local English Mastiffs (Seattle area), I could not find ANY local breeders online. When I found a litter on eBay classifieds I was a little skeptical, and took a friend to visit the litter (they were 6 weeks old)... the people, doggie-parents and location were all great, but I was still leery of BYB's. But... we made the jump anyway and picked up our new puppy a week later, and so far (4 months later) have nothing but good things to say.

Since then... EVERYONE I talk to knows someone with a mastiff, and we even found a 18 month-old EM in the neighborhood (we've had a few play-dates with Ruby, she's a sweetie). Ruby came from a breeder in the area (Bremerton, about an hour away via ferry). But I still can't find any info online about this breeder... the next closest I've heard of is in Spokane - 3.5 hours away.

So, from my experience - visit dog parks, talk to your vet and others, and find owners of the breed you're investigating. Get first-hand information... then contact and visit their breeders. I had NO luck with Google. I hope to not be in the market for a new puppy for a long time, but next time, I hope to have more lead time for research.
 
Cody

Cody

Well-Known Member
I suggest checking out the show in Lethbridge coming up soon here.
Go talk to some of the folks showing their dogs. Seriously crazy dog people liking nothing more then talking about their dogs ;)
You can get a lot of info and learn about breeds, standards and what breeders are striving for this way.
I only have one question... A Dalmatian? Hehehehe
 
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