About breeders

Not all breeders are the same - to produce quality dogs who are healthy and reflect the breed standard requires much more effort than simply putting two dogs of the same breed together.

Below are some things to consider, look for, and ask when choosing a breeder. This is by no means an all-inclusive list, nor is each item intended to be a "pass/fail" type of criterion - there are nuances and variations to each situation. Use these items as a starting place and then have a conversation with your potential breeder.

Ethical breeding practices

• Goal is to produce dogs that are healthy, stable, and meet the breed standard - while issues can occur despite a breeder's best efforts, reputable breeders actively avoid breeding for traits that do not meet the breed standard or breeding dogs known to produce heritable issues.

• Limited instances of repeat breedings - to strive for genetic diversity and to improve their lines, breeders will frequently breed their females to males owned by other individuals, often in different parts of the country or world. Each breeding is often a different pairing (not the same male and female). Occasionally reputable breeders will repeat a breeding (breed the same male and same female a second time) for very specific reasons, but a breeder with a limited number of dogs that are repeatedly bred together should raise a red flag.

Puppy Raising and Placing Puppies

• Modern evidence-based methods - unfortunately the dog show world is a bit behind the curve in modern animal behavior science, but ideally a breeder will be using modern science/evidence-based methods in their puppy raising. While finding a breeder that checks all the boxes is not always feasible, some indications that a breeder is attempting to raise resilient, well-adjusted dogs is the use of programs such as the Enriched Puppy Protocol or Puppy Culture. Even better is if the breeder themselves has a formal education in applied animal behavior and training.

• Asks you a lot of questions - the breeder who is focused on their puppy's welfare will have many questions for you to help determine whether you will be a suitable home for a puppy and for their specific breed. They may have a questionnaire or application process as well.

• Welcomes your questions - a breeder should be delighted to hear your questions and want to provide you with the best information possible.

• Meeting the puppies - while allowing visitors used to be a criteria for a reputable breeder, times have changed and breeders may take precautions to significantly limit the people permitted to visit their property due to health and safety concerns. Breeders may have specific requirements before permitting you to visit, such as an approved application, references, and/or visiting only after the puppies reach a certain age. Once a visit is permitted, breeders should be willing to show you areas where the puppies spend their time and let you see more than one puppy.

• Meeting the parents - a responsible breeder may not have both parent dogs onsite, but they should be able to provide you with photos and information on both the sire and dam. In most situations, they will typically be happy to let you meet the dam and/or other adult dogs in their home.

• Does not have puppies available immediately - if you contact a breeder and they have a puppy available, it's not necessarily a red flag (puppies may be available last minute for a variety of very valid reasons). However, a breeder who constantly has available puppies or is regularly advertising puppies as available immediately (or worse, advertising a sale on puppies!), is a sign for concern. Ethical breeders produce litters with a purpose and a plan - not simply to have a constant supply of puppies to sell.

• A vested interest in all puppies they produce - a responsible breeder will want to keep in contact with you for the life of the puppy. This should not be to micromanage their puppy's new home, but because they care about each dog they produce. They also will want to track health, temperament, and conformation of the dogs they produce so they continue to make responsible breeding decisions. By keeping in contact with your breeder, you play an important role in preserving and improving the breed!

• Always there for you - a reputable breeder will be a valuable resource for the life of your puppy and beyond. Choose someone you are comfortable communicating with, who you can contact at any time (whether 2 hours after bringing your new pup home, or 15 years after) with questions, concerns, or updates. A reputable breeder will also likely have a contract, which includes the terms should you not be able to keep your puppy/dog.

• Always there for their puppy - a reputable breeder will always take their puppy/dog back at any time for any reason.

Breeder designations:

• AKC Breeder of Merit - these breeders have certified that applicable health screens have been completed on breeding stock, are a member of at least one AKC club, have been involved in AKC events for at least 5 years, and have produced 4 or more dogs that have earned AKC titles.

• AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T. - these breeders pledge to complete applicable health screening on all their dogs, to complete continuing education, to comply with AKC's care and conditions policy, and to accept responsibility for the well-being of all puppies produced.

A new breeder will likely not have earned either of these designations yet, but they may be mentored by a Breeder of Merit or Breed Mentor. Also note these designations are not a guarantee the breeder is reputable or ethical - you will still want to ask additional questions and look for proof of health testing.

Involvement in dog clubs:

• Member of their breed's parent club - club members tend to share the same goals of preserving and improving their breed, and often must abide by a code of ethics set by their club.

• Participation in their national breed club and/or regional breed clubs - individuals dedicated to producing quality dogs often hold positions in their breed clubs as officers, board members, and/or committee members. They often volunteer for various club activities and attend and participate in their breed's national specialty and regional specialties.

Health Screening

• Completes recommended health testing - each breed's parent club outlines the recommended health testing for their breed based on common health issues in that breed. Many reputable breeders will conduct testing above and beyond the minimum recommendations.

  • It is important to note that health screening is NOT simply a vet exam at their local general practice vet - many irresponsible breeders will say their dogs have been health checked but that may not mean the recommended health testing has been completed on all breeding animals. Check the national breed club's website or the OFA website for the recommended health tests for that specific breed and then ask your potential breeder to provide proof of the recommended health screening and the results.

• Documentation - reputable breeders will be happy to provide you with documentation for health screenings and pedigrees. You can also verify OFA health screenings online yourself for free.

  • Note that simply stating they have completed health screening does not necessarily mean the dog received passing scores - if the dog received passing OFA results, those results will be available to the public on the OFA website.

Involvement in Dog Sports

• Active in conformation (dog shows) - showing in conformation means that the dogs have been evaluated by a variety of generally unbiased individuals who have studied the breed standard, meaning the dog has been deemed to be a good example of the breed standard by people other than only the breeder or the breeder's close friends. To excel in the dog show ring, a dog should meet the breed standard, including correct structure, health, and temperament.

• Active in other dog sports - specific sports may vary by breed, but involvement in other dog sports can also help demonstrate the dog is healthy, has appropriate structure, and can perform the tasks it was bred to do.

Visit the Norwegian Elkhound Association of America for more information on different types of breeders: About Breeders