713nervy said:
What makes a breeder reputable?
If you interview them: carefully selected breeding for health. Dogs kept in good conditions. Parent animals certified, health checked, checked for heritable health genetics. Patent animals credentialed, with breeding certificates, and other behavioral and performance credentials (ie do the dogs behave as the breed is bred for and do well what the breed was bred to do?). Do the pups come with a health and return guarantee? Are they placed with an interview to ensure a good match? Are the pups vet checked, up to date with health screens and such? Are pups well socialized and has age appropriate training begun? Have they had a puppy behavioral evaluation? Have past breeding been successfully placed?
These are all things we do with our collies, for example. It costs a LOT. We lose money on every litter, but we only are covering some of the expenses with the price. We keep the best of the litters for our own program. And they're all pets for us.
My wife would rather give a pup to an ideal home than to risk placing a pup in a questionable home at any price. Breeders with good reputations tend to police their own with certification circles, at least as best as they are able.
