Question for charmedagain about breeders

Hi:
I have a physician friend who is looking to but a pup from a reputable breeder. He asked me how to weed out a back yard breeder from a reputable breeder.
Can you please tell me what questions to ask her about herself and her dogs and how to know if this breeder is any good?
Also what are limited AKC papers?
Thanks so much.
Sue

 

There is a sticky at the topic of this forum that has a lot of info and links about breeders and what to look for and what to avoid.

 

A limited registery means the dog can't be bred. Or more correctly, if you breed the dog anyway you can't register the puppies. The dog would still be able to compete in AKC events like obedience, tracking, and agility trials.

 

When viewing a litter the first thing is check out the surroundings.

Make sure the place the mother and her litter are kept is clean.
Make sure you ask to see the mother who should already be with her litter unless she does not take to kindly to strangers near her babies.

The dam of a reputable breeder is usually very happy to allow people in with her and the litter, She will be well looked after, Fur, Eyes, Weight will be fine.
She should not be nervous or skiddish in anyway, A unhealthy looking dog is a sign not to accept a pup as there is is a risk of something being wrong with the litter.

Look over the pups carefully, They should be bright, bouncy, lively, Eyes, Fur should be bright, Ears and nose should have no discharge so should be clear.

Dull looking coat, Discharge from the nose or eyes is a sign of unhealthy pups.

Never go for a pup that sits in a corner away from the others all puppies should be happy to see you and trying to get your attention.A shy puppy is usually a sick puppy, Never go for one that is very pushy and demanding as these usually turn out to be very dominant..

You are well within your rights to ask to see medical records, hips, Eyes heart test certificates, Pedigree papers and you can ask any number of questions.

How are the temperaments of both Sire and Dam?
Are there any signs of aggressiveness in either line?
Why did you breed these two particular dogs?
What do you think these puppies will contribute to the future of the breed?
What do you look for in a prospective owner of your pups?
How long have you been involved in the breed and how many litters have you had?
Why do I have to co-own a bitch with you and breed a litter as stated in the sales contract?
How do you know at this age of 7-8 weeks that this bitch is breeding quality.
What guarantees do you give on hips, or other health problems that may arise?
Can you can rate your puppies?
Have you ever had a dog returned for health reasons, or other reasons??
Would you take a dog back for whatever reason no matter the age?
How long have you been breeding and what type of research did you do to select the sire?
Are you involved with breed rescue?
Is this the Dams first litter if so how old is she?
If this is not her first litter how many litters has she had and how far apart?

Never buy a puppy from someone that breeds on every heat cycle, That is under 2 years old or over 6years old.

If you think of a question and you think that it might be a good one to ask then ask away.
A reputable breeder will answer the questions and will not be hesitant in answering.
They will also have plenty of questions for you.

Hope this helps.....

 

I think this is pretty key. If they are willing to sell pups to you without asking you a lot of questions, they may be not-so-good.

 

Thanks ALL:
THis info is very informative for me too. I learned a lot by this thread! I copied all the info and gave it to the dr. Hopefully, he will soon have his new pup
Sue