7 Steps to Finding a Responsible Dog Breeder

Finding responsible dog breeders can be easy when you know how. And if you’re planning to buy a pedigree puppy safely it’s also an absolutely essential step. Buying from responsible dog breeders protects you from falling prey to puppy farmers or puppy scams. It also helps ensure you get a happy, healthy, well-balanced puppy.

In this article, PD Insurance outlines some of the key steps to finding a responsible and registered breeder in Australia. We also share a bit about the difference between a pedigree and purebred and how to avoid unethical breeding.

Take a look:

Puppy farmers vs responsible dog breeders

Responsible dog breeders take great care to ensure that both mum and dad dog are healthy. This ranges from feeding them well to doing dog DNA tests. Many dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health conditions so responsible breeders test to help ensure these genes aren’t bred and passed from parent to pup.

• Puppy farmers

Unlike responsible dog breeders, puppy farms don’t do this. There have been many cases of puppy farms caging mother dogs and feeding and treating them poorly. Additionally, they don’t follow any restrictions on how many litters one dog can produce, or how frequently this happens.

This means that the mother dog can literally be made to produce puppies to the detriment of her wellbeing. Sadly, this tends to result in puppies that are more likely to have health and behavioural problems, too.

• Puppy scams

Puppies can be expensive. This makes sense given the time it takes for dog pregnancy and for puppies to be whelped. It also makes sense given that this can only happen a limited number of times in any mum dog’s life and they need exceptional levels of care during this time.

Sadly, the demand for puppies has been taken advantage of by scammers such as puppy theft syndicates who sell stolen dogs – or claim to sell dogs online but simply take your money and run!

How to find an ethical dog breeder in Australia

If you’re surprised to hear puppy mills (another term for puppy farms) exist in Australia, it’s time to learn how to separate the good from bad when it comes to choosing a breeder. After all, any prospective puppy parent wants to get their puppy from an ethical dog breeder.

Not only will you support good, morally positive business practice, but you’re also less likely to end up with a puppy who suffers from a host of health issues. Like this poor pup.

So, some things to keep in mind when you’re looking at puppies for sale from a dog breeder are:

1. Be careful of online scams

Online shopping has undoubtedly made things easier. Groceries, clothes, medicine, and even electronics are all things you can easily buy online.

Unfortunately, it’s also made it easier for people to run puppy scams and/or sell puppies that have been bred unethically. In some cases, you may be asked to pay for a dog (as well as their transport) ahead of time and never get your puppy, or in other cases you may be sent a dog that’s been bred in unethical conditions.

While it’s fully possible to find an ethical breeder online as many of them advertise that way (including on classified sites or social media), the difference is that a puppy farmer or scammer is more likely to sell you a puppy without meeting your first. In some cases, they’ll lead you to a homely environment that looks above board but isn’t (more on this below).

Ethical dog breeders are selective about homes and won’t easily send a puppy to someone without having met the person first. Be careful which sites you search on. Safe and recommended websites include Dogs West, Dogz Online and Perfect Pets.

2. Understand pedigree vs purebred

When it comes to pedigree dogs, they’re all purebred. However, not all purebred dogs are pedigrees. In order for a dog to be both purebred and pedigree in Australia, it needs a few things:

• a) Both parents must be registered with Dogs Australia (Dogs West in WA) – on the main register
• b) The breeder must be a registered breeder with Dogs Australia (Dogs West in WA)

In Australia, there’s only one recognised register for pedigree dogs – Dogs Australia (ANKC). Ethical dog breeder can register themselves as members. They also register their dogs with ANKC, which in turn acts as a custodian of the dog papers.

Here’s more about pedigree vs purebred pups.

3. Find a registered dog breeder and get the dog papers

Your first step should always be to choose a dog breeder who’s registered with Dogs Australia, Dogs West or another recognised kennel club in Australia.

Only dogs with papers have proof that they’re really purebred. There are many dogs that fit the purebred look and could very well be your perfect pet. But ultimately, if you intend to buy a pedigree puppy, you’ll need to find ethical dog breeders via Dogs Australia or Dogs West.

You can also ask other trusted sources within your network. Enquire about responsible dog breeders with your vet, local puppy schools, and with local dog clubs.

If you’re buying a pedigreed puppy, you may have to pay to transfer their dog papers or the breeder will incorporate this cost in the puppy’s price. They’re proof of your dog’s parentage. Remember though, kennel clubs generally don’t recognise designer and mixed breed dogs.

If you’re after a designer breed like the Cavoodle, for instance, look for a breed association with a list of recommended breeders. And if you’re not particularly after a pedigree, consider bringing home an adopted dog and giving them a second chance in life.

4. Visit responsible dog breeders in person

The only way to know if a puppy is right for you (and that you’re buying from someone reputable) is to visit in person. Visit the puppy a few times, ideally at different times of day. This gives you the best chance of seeing through a scam and allows you to check the (hopefully) ethical pet breeding conditions the dogs and parents live in.

Unfortunately, puppy farms often cover their tracks by showcasing puppies away from where they’re bred. They’ll give you the address of a nice house where you can visit the puppy in a homely environment that seems perfectly fitting. For this reason, the next step is also important.

5. Meet the parents (or at least the mum dog)

Treat it like any other relationship – you’ve got to meet the family before you commit!

Unfortunately, puppy theft is on the rise in Australia. Meeting your puppy’s parents will reassure you that the pup isn’t stolen.

Importantly, you’ll get to learn about the parent dog’s temperament and health. Seeing the mother dog gives you a chance to see whether she’s healthy, happy, and well-adjusted. Puppy mills may keep breeding dogs chained/in cages, only releasing them to put on a show for potential buyers. Take note of whether the parent dogs show signs of discomfort, distrust or fear (read: is a dog afraid?).

And assuming everything is above board, meeting the parents also means you get an idea of what your dog might be like in future. You’ll have a better indication of their size, temperament, and looks if you get to meet their parents.

6. Ask ethical dog breeders all the questions you need to

Meeting with an ethical dog breeder means you’ll have the opportunity to ask them about the puppy, the pregnancy, the parents’ temperaments and so on. This helps you “get a feel” for the breeder, delve into what they’re talking about, and check they’re invested in their breeding program.

Responsible dog breeders will have plenty of questions for you, too. They want their puppies to go to the best homes and will check whether you’re a suitable pet parent. That’s a big part of ethical pet breeding. Finding a responsible breeder to buy your puppy from instills confidence in the process.

They’ve been integral to helping ensure your pedigree puppy has had a good start in life.

7. Ask for health reports

Ethical dog breeders will have vets do regular checks on their dogs, so you’re well within your rights to ask for the latest vet report.

And if your heart is set on a specific breed, thoroughly research it beforehand. That way you can find out if the required health testing and checks have been conducted. These can include any or all of the below and more:

• Dog DNA tests
• Eye and vision tests
• Hearing tests
• Hip scoring
• Elbow grading
• Thyroid function tests
• Heart testing

You can also ask the breeder about previous litters and their health problems, if any, as well as the health of the parents. Find out more about dog health conditions by breed.

Award winning pet insurance for all kinds of dogs

Whether you’re buying a pedigree puppy from a responsible dog breeder or adopting a dog, know our online dog insurance comes in three affordable options. This can help cover a wide range of unexpected vet tests and treatment for accidents, injuries and dental procedures – depending on your selected cover.

With our award-winning pet insurance you can get one or more months of free cover when you sign up online. Click below to get a quote.