There’s no doubt about it: purebred dogs are a way to ensure a healthy, loving companion for life, which means access to a good breeder is essential.
Whether you’re looking for a Labrador Twhite or any other type of dog, a breeder is the best way to find puppies with strong bloodlines and a specific pedigree.
If it’s a purebred dog you’re looking for, that’s great, because you’ll have a lifetime of fun and companionship.
The problem is that you may not know where to start looking for a good breeder, but the good news is that there are many ways to find out if you’ve found one.
What is a good breeder?
Simply put, a good breeder should not breed just to make a profit.
His goal should be to produce healthy, strong, stable dogs for a specific breed that he is passionate about. In this way, he can produce dogs that are excellent examples and representatives of the breed.
In a sense, a good breeder is trying to preserve the characteristics of a specific breed by perpetuating the lineage.
Since you can’t always know the intent of a breeder, there are some ways to evaluate whether the person you are considering buying is a good breeder. Here are eight things to keep in mind when looking for a good breeder:
You must register your dogs with the American Kennel Club.
The American Kennel Club maintains a registry that tracks the pedigrees of purebred dogs. They work with responsible breeders to improve the breed they work with.
Therefore, one of the most essential things a serious breeder will do is to register every dog with the American Kennel Club. Every puppy born to a breeder must be registered.
Every puppy born to a breeder must be registered. When it is, the AKC has successfully recognized the puppy as a distinct breed, verifying the breeder’s claims and reputation.
They are dedicated to raising healthy, happy dogs.
As mentioned earlier, the first thing breeders must focus on is ensuring that all dogs are healthy and happy.
This means that every puppy will be wormed, receive its first set of vaccinations, be on a diet and microchipped. The welfare of the puppy is always the most important thing.
Making sure that all dogs are healthy and happy also means that the mothers and fathers are healthy and happy. If someone overbreeds, the welfare of the puppies and dams is not a priority. This means that health and happiness cannot be guaranteed.
They pay attention to the breeding
A good breeder will always offer a full replacement guarantee in case there is a genetic defect in their English Labrador or dog of choice. Breeders can do this because they have performed extensive genetic testing on their dams and sires.
These tests include OFA hip and elbow certifications, eye certifications and full genetic panels. The genetic panels cover diseases such as CNM, CY, DM, EIC, HNPK, HUU, PKD, PRA-prcd and SD2.
This type of guarantee shows that breeders are not only responsible, but also confident in the health and lineage of their dogs.
Interviewing prospective owner
When a puppy goes to a new family, there’s no telling what its life will be like, but by interviewing prospective owners and families, breeders can get an idea.
Good breeders want to make sure their puppies go to good homes. They should talk to families to ensure safety and that the family knows what to expect.
Depending on availability, the breeder can also help match a family with a specific puppy, which is an added benefit that lesser breeders don’t always offer.
They will allow you to see the puppies and the parents.
Potential owners who want to see what the mothers and fathers look like should be able to meet them. This gives them an idea of their personalities and what their puppy might look and act like in the future.
And even if you can’t visit your puppy before he or she is adopted, it’s helpful to get to know the mom or dad who raised him or her through the breeder’s website or digital presence.
If the breeder doesn’t want you to meet the parents, it may mean they are hiding something, which can be a red flag.
Are they hiding something? The living and breeding conditions? Are the parents not what they claim to be? All of these things affect the health and worth of your puppy, and the last thing you want is to be deceived.
You shouldn’t have to ask yourself these kinds of questions when considering a breeder. They should be proud to show off their dogs and puppies, as they have to work hard to raise healthy animals that everyone can enjoy.
Their puppies are raised at home
A good breeder will not subject their dogs or puppies to a life in a cage. The animals should be able to live in a home-like environment with the owners and have plenty of room to run and play.
For example, our White Labrador and English Labrador puppies get plenty of exercise running and playing on a 120-acre property in the Ozark Mountains. The difference is remarkable.
Some breeders also keep other animals – such as cats, small pets or chickens – and children on their premises, which is very beneficial to raising family-friendly dogs.
But if a dog is raised in a crate or kennel, it will not be able to adapt to family life, which is very detrimental to the dog and the future owner. Make sure your breeder treats your puppy like a member of the family.
Sharing criticism
Breeders should have a review page on their website and a list of contacts to call with any questions or requests.
Reviews should be positive and happy, reflecting your experience with the breeders, the home visit (if possible) and the ease of the process. They should also focus on the health and well-being of the puppy once adopted.
If there are any red flags, such as a defect that the breeder refused to return, remember that this problem can happen to you as well.
Those who are only looking to make money will probably not accept the return of a puppy because they have already received payment. This could mean that there is something fishy going on.
You want to adopt a puppy from a breeder with a good reputation, who has good intentions and is not just in it for the money. A good breeder will help you with any problems you may have, even after the adoption.
They encourage spaying and neutering and only sell a limited registry.
English Labrador breeders and any other type of breeder will encourage you to spay or neuter the puppy you adopt, which places restrictions on its breeding. Also, they only sell limited registrations (or pets). This type of registration does not allow for the registration of potential puppies that the dog may have.
The reason is that the breeder can help prevent irresponsible breeding, overpopulation or unwanted puppies in the future.
It is the breeder’s responsibility to ensure the safety and health of every puppy they sell, and a spay/neuter contract is a great way to ensure this, even after the puppy is adopted.
These contracts are also a way to prevent people from buying a puppy with the sole intention of becoming their own dog breeder. Becoming a breeder is not something that can be bought, as it requires training and commitment. Responsible breeders help prevent this by requiring that animals be spayed or neutered.
How to find a good breeder?
Whether there are breeders nearby or just a few miles away, it can be difficult to find a starting point. And if you add the above list, the task becomes even more difficult.
So you can start by asking your veterinarian, or any veterinarian, for advice. He or she may work with local breeders and can put you on the right track. It is also possible that breeders have come to the vet and left cards or information to advertise their puppies.
You can also check the AKC website anytime, as most reputable breeders register there.
Conclusion
Pedigree dogs are a way to guarantee the characteristics and personality traits of a certain breed, which is ideal if you are looking for a specific type of dog.
The best way to find this type of dog is through a breeder. But, as mentioned above, finding a reputable breeder can be tricky. You have to make sure that the person you are thinking of hiring can meet all of the above requirements.
The good news is that finding a reputable breeder of English Labrador puppies is very easy. Snowy Pines is one of the best English Labrador breeders that come to mind for people looking for white Labradors.
