How to Find a Breeder – Reputable Breeders, Part 3

In my previous posts, I discussed different types of breeders and the case for reputable breeders as the best source for puppies. I’m moving forward with the assumption that you have decided to go the reputable breeder route, but how do you find one? In this post, I review my top 4 ways to find a reputable breeder.

Research Breeds Before Breeders

Before I really dig into telling you how to find a reputable breeder, you have to research breeds first. And please, don’t decide on a certain breed just because you think it’s cute. Pretty please don’t pick a breed because you saw a very well trained one on TV. Go to the AKC website and start reading about breeds that interest you.

Once you’ve picked a few, go to the parent club websites for those breeds and read some more. You may find that the breed at the top of your list is a perfect match for you! OR – and you need to be honest with yourself here – you may find that the breed at the top of your list isn’t a good match for you at all. Some breeds aren’t a great match even for the experienced owner.

How to Find a Breeder

Now that you’ve done the research and made a short list of breeds, here are 4 ways to find a reputable breeder:

1. Go to a dog show.

This is by far the best way to find a breeder. Go to a dog show, buy a catalog, sit ringside, and watch. The AKC events search will help you find a show near you.

There are always breeders at dog shows. You can sit near, listen to them talk, and introduce yourself. If they don’t have upcoming litter plans, odds are that they know someone who does. The fact that you cared enough to come to a dog show will make a great impression. You might even get to meet one or both parents of a future litter. I met Eevee’s dam (mother) for the first time at a dog show.

Remember what I said about researching breeds? All-breed dog shows are wonderful for seeing breeds in person. You can observe how your top breeds interact with other dogs, humans, the judge, etc. Many large shows have AKC’s Meet the Breeds. It means exactly what it says: you can meet your favorite breeds and ask questions about them.

Some things to think about include:

• Do the dogs seem at ease amongst the chaos?
• Do they spook easily?
• Does the noise bother them?
• Do they look how you thought they would?
• Do they bark more than you realized?
• Drool more than you thought?
• Shed more?

There is nothing like a dog show for seeing just how much hair different breeds have. Take a walk through the grooming area but try not to bother someone in the midst of grooming. Remember also that show grooming is completely different than pet grooming. Poodles are an excellent example of this.

2. Join a local dog club.

I say this knowing that there aren’t dog clubs everywhere, but if you do have one, join the club! If there isn’t a specialty breed club in your area, then join the local all-breed kennel club, obedience club, agility club, or hunt test club. Make sure to join before you are ready to bring a puppy home. Most clubs are full of super nice people and include a mix of both Dog People and Pet People. Yep, Pet People join clubs too – they aren’t just for breeders and competitors.

After you’ve joined, go to meetings, get to know the other members, and volunteer at club events. This will let the breeders in the club know that you’re serious about getting a well-bred puppy. When you are ready for a puppy, you might just be at the top of the list. I know this is the long way of getting a puppy, but the relationship you develop will be worth it in the end.

You may also be wondering how you even find a local club to begin with: start with the AKC website. You can search for virtually any type of dog club that is licensed by AKC. Your breed’s page on the AKC website should have a link to the national parent club as well. From the parent club’s page you should be able to search for local affiliates. Alternatively, you can Google “[breed name] club near me” or “kennel club near me” and the local clubs will usually pop up in the results. However, most club webmasters are probably not SEO experts, so it may not be the first result.

3. Check club referral lists for reputable breeders.

If you don’t have a local specialty breed or all-breed kennel club, then breeder referrals from clubs nearest you are the next best option. However, keep in mind that clubs do different things for breeder referrals. Some clubs maintain a list on their website, while others have a referral contact person. Also, remember that just because a breeder is shown on a referral list does not mean they have puppies available. If the club has a referral person instead of list, be patient with them. They are volunteering to do this for the club and answering hundreds of emails per week is not always at the top of their priority list.

4. The internet.

The internet is the most common way to find a breeder, but you must be very, very careful when reviewing breeder websites. There are lots of scummy BYBs with carefully manicured websites that make it look like they are being ethical and responsible when they are not. This is where the savvy puppy buyer (who definitely read the first post in this series) will be able to tell who is actually reputable and who is not. You’ll notice that the registered names/numbers of the breeding animals are nowhere to be found, and therefore can’t be checked on OFA.

In contrast to scummy BYBs, most reputable breeders don’t keep their websites up to date. Updating a website is the last thing on their priority list since they are usually out doing things with their dogs or working at their day job.

If you find a website that is several months to several years out of date, but the health information is there for the dogs shown on the site, you may have stumbled across a reputable breeder’s site. However, many reputable breeders do keep their Facebook pages up to date. If they are show breeders, they will shamelessly brag when they win, and I mean SHAMELESSLY. They are proud of the dogs they have bred, so the registered names will be right there for you to look up on OFA.org. Facebook is an excellent way to connect with reputable breeders.

Shop for Reputable Breeders, Not Puppies

I hope you noticed that not once did I mention finding a puppy. This entire post has been about finding a breeder first. I cannot emphasize this enough:

If you want a healthy puppy: shop for a breeder, not a puppy.

You won’t regret it.