If you're looking for a good dog, you probably should first locate a good dog breeder.

So how do you know if you've found a good breeder? Here are some questions to start with, and you'll think of more as you go along :

Are these puppies registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA), the United Kennel Club (UKC),  the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), the Kennel Club (KC) or the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) ?
If the answer is “no”, you’d better not take a puppy from this kennel.

There are so many ads in the newspaper - which of those are good breeders?

Very few good breeders advertise in the newspaper because they get more than enough referrals from other good breeders, Specialty and All-Breed Clubs. They produce puppies with good health, good temperament, and good conformation, and there is often a waiting list for their pups.

Are the puppies being raised in a home or in a kennel?
Though puppies can be well-socialized in a kennel setting, puppies raised in a home will have less trouble adapting to being a housepet. The sights and sounds of family life will be familiar to them from birth.
At Havana’s Most Wanted’s kennel, our puppies are born and raised in our home, under supervision, with lots of love and one on one attention and they are socialized from the moment they are born.

How long have you been breeding/or competing?
The breeder should be knowledgeable about the breed's history, standard, and general health. Ask about membership in national or local breed clubs. Many good breeders are not "joiners," but club membership does show a commitment to and serious interest in the breed.

What are the breed's genetic problems and have the parents been checked for these as far as possible?
If you've done your research, you already have a partial answer to this question, but you're looking for honesty and knowledge. A breeder who tells you there are no genetic defects in the breed is either dishonest or plain wrong. Every breed has genetic defects (so do mixed breeds, for that matter!) though some breeds are much less affected by them. Also be suspicious of a breeder who says, "Oh, we've never had any problems." It may be true, but ask whether genetic testing has been done, how long the breeder has owned this breed, and how common the problem is in the breed overall.
At Havana’s Most Wanted’s kennel, all our dogs have been, prior to breeding, :
- Patella luxation (PL) tested at least two times during their life,
- Heart tested,
- Eyes tested ( for PRA, CEA, MPP, PHTVL/PHPV, PED),
- Temperament tested,
- Confirmed for breeding.


At what age do you allow puppies to go to their new homes?
No breeder should allow a puppy to leave its mother before 8 weeks. Though puppies can be weaned at three and four weeks, they still learn from their mother for many weeks after that. Those leaving the mother too soon often develop social and behavioral problems later.


What medical care will the puppies have had before they're sold?
Puppies should all have at least one distemper/parvo shot and have been wormed before going to a new home. You should receive a written health record to give to your vet on your puppy's first visit.
At Havana’s Most Wanted’s kennel, the puppies are dewormed at between two weeks of age and then every two weeks thereafter, only with medication prescribed by the veterinary. They are fed a quality premium puppy food from three weeks, earlier if it is a large litter. They are checked for visible disabilities/defects by a veterinary before being delivered or handed over to new owners. All puppies will have a pet passport to attest that they are current on vaccinations when they leave home.


How often is the bitch bred?
This tells you a lot about how the breeder feels about her dogs. If the bitches seem to be puppy-making machines, bred every season, this is not a breeder who cares about the individual dogs or about the breed in general.


How many kinds of dogs do you breed and how many litters a year do you have?
As a general rule, dedicated breeders have only one or two breeds, three at most. There may be exceptions, but they are rare. A great deal of time, expense and energy goes into study of a breed.

How do you find someone who will be honest with you about their breed so you can make a truly informed choice?
 
The following are some of the typical characteristics of a reputable breeder:

1. Reputable breeders only produce a litter with the goal of improving their breed and with the full intent of keeping a puppy from the litter with which to continue their efforts. They choose breeding adults based on health, disposition, and confirmation guided by the breed standard. Breeding pairs are matched based on these characteristics to make the next generation better.They do not breed to make money, or simply because they happen to have two dogs of the same breed on the premises. The costs and sales have to balance each other but if done ethically, breeding is not “profitable” if labor & expenses are accounted for.

2. Reputable breeders will know the ancestry of the puppies, not just parents, but grandparents and beyond. A dedicated breeder will breed only with the intention of improving the breed, planning each litter with this goal in mind, using parents of appropriate qualities in relation to the official standard and description of the breed, physical soundness, and temperament.

3. Reputable breeders take responsible care of all of his or her dogs (breeding stock & puppies), and  provides sufficient companionship, affection, interaction and attention, immunization, proper vet care, parasite prevention/treatment, grooming, and socialization. They also provide safe, sanitary, and appropriate facilities, maximizing the healthy conditions, offering exercise, entertainment, and comfort of the dogs and puppies. They feed high quality “premium” brand pet food and maintain appropriate weight and condition of the dogs and puppies.

4. Reputable breeders provide one on one care to a whelping bitch, ensuring the safe delivery of the puppies. They monitor her before, during, and after whelping for abnormalities or complications. They minimize her stress and protect the health of the puppies for the first few weeks after whelping by not allowing public visitation. They appropriately socialize puppies to loving touch and developmentally appropriate interaction at appropriate ages.

5. Reputable breeder has dogs who appear happy and healthy, are excited to meet new people, and don’t shy away from visitors.

6. Reputable breeders nearly always belong to a local or national breed club and they actively compete with their dogs in conformation trials (which judge closely dogs match their “breed standard”).Competition with other well-bred dogs helps to gauge whether a given dog is worthy of being bred; whether it offers its breed virtues that are worth reproducing.  If the breeder does not belong to any dog organizations or compete with their dogs, beware!

7. Reputable breeders are willing and eager to spend time with you, explaining, teaching and advising you about their breed.  They will make the disadvantages of owning their breed crystal clear, and it may be the first topic of conversation!  No breed is perfect for everyone, and the responsible breeder wants to be absolutely sure that you really want, and are prepared to care for, this kind of dog for the life of the dog, not just during the "cute puppy stage".  If the breeder does not go into breed peculiarities, beware!

8. Reputable breeders will screen you carefully, to assure your suitability for owning their breed.  They will not sell you a puppy simply because you want one and have the money to pay for one. They want to know that you can house and raise their puppy appropriately and that their puppy will have one permanent home for his entire lifetime. A reputable breeder will refuse a sale, regardless of any personal financial strain or the amount of work involved, rather than place any dog in an unworkable situation.  If the breeder does not question you closely about your home, your family, and your expectations of the dog, beware!

9. Reputable breeders sell only healthy stock, fully vetted. Their dogs are tested for any genetic deficiencies which can be detected by the age at which the dog is sold.  Puppies should never be offered for sale any younger than 8 weeks of age. Adult dogs offered for sale should be completely up to date on shots and recently wormed.  Records of all veterinary treatments and testing should be offered to you in writing.  If vaccinations are not complete and up to date, breed-appropriate testing for genetic defects hasn't been done, puppies are offered for sale at an extremely young age (before 8 weeks), or the breeder's dogs appear unwell, beware!

10. Reputable breeders stay in touch with you on a regular basis to see how you're getting on with your new dog.  They do not just sell you the dog and then disappear, leaving you to cope with problems on your own.  This is probably the greatest advantage to buying your dog from an experienced breeder. You not only get a healthy, well-adjusted companion, you also get a lifetime of information, advice and assistance from an expert who cares deeply about your success with the animal he has sold to you.  If the breeder takes the stance that "all sales are final", beware!

 

Remember, it is up to you, the purchaser, to make your choice wisely and to do your homework. Talk at length with as many breeders as possible, quiz each one on the above items and about their breed, and look at lots of dogs.  A reputable breeder will be impressed and reassured that you are concerned about what you are doing, rather than impulse-buying.  Find a breeder with whom you are comfortable, and whose dogs you like, and pick out your dream pet.  Result: everybody wins!
 







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