How
Do I Make An INFORMED Decision??
A
good place to start is your local Breed Club. They
can send you a list of breeders that belong to that
club. Often, (BUT NOT ALWAYS!) breed clubs have
a code of ethics for their member breeders. REMEMBER
that membership in a club and/or publication on
a list does not guarantee you a quality, healthy
puppy. You need to speak to individual breeders,
meet their dogs and even speak to others who have
purchased puppies from them in the past.
Things
To Look For...Or To Ask About When Speaking With
a Breeder
Do
they do health clearances on all breeding stock?
At
the minimum, this includes x-raying hips and elbows
for dysplasia and submitting these x-rays to OFA
for certification; having yearly eye exams by a
Board-Certified Veterinary Opthamologist (ACVO)
which will determine if they are affected by an
eye disorder such as cataracts, retinal dysplasia,
etc. Heart clearances should also be done on both
parents. In addition, Optigen testing should be
done to determine if the dog is carrying the gene
that produces Progressive Retinal Atrophy. There
is no reason not to test for this disease when we
have this gene test available. They should be able
to show you these certifications for all of the
above tests..
Do
they actively show their dogs in any area of competition?
This
would include Conformation, Obedience, Hunt Tests,
Agility, Tracking
Is
the mother on premises?
Often
the father of the litter is owned by another breeder,
but you should be able to see pictures of the father
and meet the mother of the pups
Their
dogs will be clean and properly housed, as will
the puppies
They
should be willing and able to discuss the goals
of their breeding program
They
should be able to discuss the breed in general
They should be able to provide information for new
dog owners
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