Recognize a Good Breeder

When choosing a breeder look for one who does the following:

 

• Ideally, keeps his or her pets as part of the family.
• Encourages you to meet and spend time with your puppy's parents, and allows you to see where they spend most of their time. Area is clean and well maintained.
• Insists on meeting potential adoptive families. Will not sell their dogs to just anyone.
• Doesn't sell animals too young—sells puppies only after they are 8 to 12 weeks old, and 8 to 10 weeks old for kittens.
• Can provide references from other families who have purchased puppies.
• Keeps breeding dogs healthy, well fed, and well socialized.
• Provides professional veterinary care for all their animals.
• Performs health tests on fathers and mothers prior to breeding to ensure their puppies do not have genetic defects.
• Has a good relationship with a local veterinarian and can show you records of visits for the puppy.
• Bases breeding frequency on mother's health, age, condition and recuperative abilities.
• Does not breed extremely young or old animals.
• Discusses positive and negative aspects of particular animals and breeds with potential owners.
• Encourages multiple visits to meet the puppy.
• Will take back any of their animals, at any time and for any reason.

This is part of an article written for the Oprah Winfrey show on how to find a good breeder.