Before getting a pup from a breeder, always consider the “adopt, don’t shop.” For instance, San Francisco SPCA always has puppies and adult dogs of many popular breeds: huskies, Australian shepherds, heelers, German shepherds, labradors, Frenchies, and even toy terriers. Some rescues are dedicated to particular breeds; maybe you’ll get your luck there!
If that is not an option, ensure you do lots of research and make an informed decision. Understand that puppy breeding is an unregulated industry; mistreating animals and selling puppies for profit is not uncommon. (Sadly, private rescues do that, too, so research is also crucial.)
Tip #1:
Research your breeder before getting a puppy. Don’t enable puppy mills by buying dogs off Craigslist, Facebook, or random ads.
Tip #2
Understand what is considered an ethical breeder and how to choose a puppy from a good breeder.
Here are some red flags and green flags when looking for an ethical breeder:
Good breeders are invested in knowing where their puppies are going. They will likely interview you as well. That might be a red flag if they don’t have any screening process. This is a big red flag if they deny you a visit to their home and see the litter before committing.
Dogs with health or mental/behavior issues should not be bred, as these issues are quickly passed on. Good breeders have well-trained, well-rounded family pets with no issues. For instance, a puppy terrified of everyone and everything from day 0 might have had a fearful mother or been raised in very stressful conditions. This often means that you will end up with a medical bill for anti-anxiety medication and the need to hire a dog trainer or behavior consultant to help the puppy overcome fear or anxiety. Sometimes, you will end up with a dog that can’t deal with being outside and freaks out when hearing loud noises or being near other dogs or people.
Responsible dog breeders conduct full medical screening and health checks of their dogs before breeding. A good breeder will provide health records for the puppy and results from the genetic medical testing of the parents. (Make sure you always ask for that!) Otherwise, you might have a puppy visiting a vet office more often than a puppy school.
Bad breeders do it for money, while good ones do it to preserve the breed. A good breeder does not try to maximize puppy sales by breeding the same dog several times a year or creating a breeding farm with multiple dams living in kennels with their litters. Bad breeders will cut corners and not do the medical tests or provide adequate food, shelter, or healthy, clean conditions for their dogs.
Good breeders treat their dogs as family members and raise puppies inside the home, socializing them with people and a proper pet dog environment from day one. On the other hand, if your breeder separates the litter from the mother or keeps puppies in a kennel in a backyard, it will produce poorly adjusted pets and dogs with future behavior problems.
Modern ethical breeders ensure puppies are well-socialized by exposing them to stimuli (other animals, people, children, and noises so they can get accustomed to new things and feel comfortable around them). In contrast, puppies raised in isolation and kept in a kennel all the time may develop anxiety issues.
A good breeder will not try to get rid of a puppy no matter what and will not send it away before it’s a proper age (let’s say before nine weeks). They also will not ship a puppy via air cargo (which may result in significant PTSD for a puppy). They will accept the puppy back if you, for some reason, decide you don’t want to have a dog anymore.
Reputable breeders don’t sell their dogs through Craigslist or random online ads. Good ones usually have a waiting list, so they don’t need desperately selling their puppies. Good breeders will also never sell through big box pet stores.
Finally, reputable breeders have a strong online presence, positive reviews, and references from previous litters. That would also be a big red flag if you didn’t find any online. Ideally, find a few other people who bought puppies from these breeders and ask about their experience and if their dogs have any medical or behavior problems. If they do, you should stay away from that breeder.
If getting a puppy sounds overwhelming, you can always book an online consult with a dog trainer. If you are in the SF Bay area, you can book me for an in-person session.