Why to Buy from a Breeder

1.  Good breeders breed to improve the breed not to make money.  Between care, show expenses (which is a good way to determine if a dog is breed quality), vet bills and other expenses, good breeders usually don't make a profit.

2.  Good breeders put thought into their breedings.  They find dogs that complement each other in order to produce puppies that are as close to the breed standard as possible.

3.  Good breeders do necessary health clearances on their breeding dogs (OFA, routine care, etc.).

4.  Good breeders know their lines.

5.  Good breeders know their breed's qualities and shortcomings.

6.  Good breeders guarantee their puppies are healthy.

7.  Good breeders understand that each puppy they produce is a lifetime commitment.

8. Good breeders are active with their dogs whether it be showing in conformation, agility, obedience, or other performance events.

9. Good breeders do not let puppies go to their new homes before they are eight weeks old.

10. Good breeders will invite you to their home/kennel to meet their dogs.

11.  Good breeders register their dogs with registries such as the American Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel Club, United Kennel Club.  Beware! There are a lot of registries that people can use that do not uphold the same registering standards as the registries above and will register just about anything.

12.  Good breeders will provide necessary immunizations and wormings to their puppies before they go to their new home. 

13.  Good breeders will take back a dog of their breeding if the owner can no longer keep it.

14.  Good breeders do not breed dogs when they are too young.

15.   Good breeders are a member and support a breed club.

16.  Good breeders are present when their female gives birth in order to assist if need be.

17. Good breeders handle the pups everyday from birth.

18.  Good breeders screen potential puppy buyers to help ensure their puppies go to good homes.

19.  Good breeders take great care of their dogs.

20.  Good breeders do what they do because they love it.

Why Not to Buy from a Pet Store

1.  Most Pet Stores sell puppies from puppy mills.  Puppy mills are commercial dog breeding businesses that usually breed many different types of dogs for profit.  Dogs in these breeding programs usually have NO health certifications, live in less-than-stellar conditions and are there for only one reason, to keep on producing puppies.  Litters of puppies are sold to pet brokers who then sell them to individual pet stores. 

2.  Pet stores thrive on impulse purchases.  In many cases there is little to no education given to potential buyers about the breed before or after purchase. 

3.  Beware of the registries used to register the puppies.  As stated above, there are a lot of registries that do not uphold the same registering standards and will register just about anything.  The dogs registered with these registries should not be sold at the high prices in which the pet stores price them. 

4.  Pet store clerks usually are not knowledgeable on every breed available at their store.

5.  A Pet store clerk will not be able to tell you about the lineage of a puppy.

6.  You will not be able to meet the sire and dam of the puppies or at least see pictures of them. 

7.  Most of the time, sales are final.   In most cases, there are no guarantees for congenital issues that can happen later on in life such as hip dysplasia.

8.  There usually is no support after the sale.  It is not a lifelong commitment to each and every dog.

9.  Many pet stores sell mixed-breeds for incredible amounts of money.  Save a life and adopt a mixed-breed from a rescue or pound.

10.  Pet stores are in the business to make money not to enhance the breeds that they sell.

There is a very big misconception that breeders charge more than puppy stores.  This is false when you consider the differences between the two, both in regards to breeding ethics and commitment.

Experience  at a Pet Store

We always stop by the pet store in the mall closest to us to see what the situation is and to take pity on the poor animals.  One day when we were there, we noticed they had white German Shepherds available.  I asked the store clerk a few questions that I would like to share with you.

Shopper: How much are the white German Shepherd puppies?

Clerk:  Either $500 or $600

Shopper: Are they AKC registered?

Clerk: They are registered, but I'm not sure with what registry.

Shopper: Would I get the papers at the time of purchase?

Clerk: No, they are mailed to you in 90 days.

First of all, many good breeders sell their dogs within this price range, what would the advantage be to purchase a dog from a pet store?  If the papers are not available at the time of purchase, the buyer doesn't even know the parents' names thus they can't try and research them.  Furthermore, the buyer is not aware of the registry the dog is registered with.  As we know, not all registries are created equal.  Would you want to buy your next family member from this type of situation?

The information on this page is purely for education. I feel it is important for people to have the facts whether they decide to purchase a puppy from me, another breeder or any other source.