Pros and Cons of Buying A Dog From a Responsible Breeder

buying, responsible breeder - By Staff Writer on Friday, April 9, 2010 - 11:16

Responsible breeders take part in their breed club, they have their dogs health checked often, the puppies are healthy and happy and the parents are not over bred.  They care for their dogs like children and make sure their pups go to the very best home.  While they might turn a profit they will never do so at the jeopardy of a dog.

Pros
1.  You can pick what you want.  Responsible breeders breed for specific traits.  Their dogs will have the characteristics of the breed and you know exactly what you will be getting.  You can see the parents and depending on the breeder and size of the litter you can pick the sex and particular dog you want.

2. The dogs will be a healthy example of the breed.  Responsible breeders test their dogs for genetic illnesses.  While you can’t completely rule out the possibility that a dog may develop the symptoms of a congenitalCongenital means present at birth. Something that is congenital may or may not be inherited by parents and passed on to offspring. illness later in life, you can mitigate the risk through testing for illnesses common to specific breeds.  That said conformation and focused breeding can cause exacerbation of genetic flaws due to inbreeding, and a good breeder will know how to properly breed to avoid the negative issues with purebred dogs.

3. They will always take the dog back.  While a dog is a lifelong commitment, a good breeder understands that sometimes owners are rendered unable to care for their dogs.  In such a case a responsible breeder will always take the dog back before they see it surrendered.

4. They will sell you the right dog.  Because their focus is finding good homes and not just turning a quick buck, a good breeder will be able to pick the right dog out of a litter for your family.  They know their pups very well because they have spent ample time with them and will be able to determine what traits fit your lifestyle.

Cons
1.  Takes time.  Because a good breeder won’t over breed you may have to wait for a puppy.  Sometimes it can take years for a specific breeder to have a litter and you will need to be ready to wait.  While this is good for the dogs and makes prospective owners really consider commitment it can be frustrating when you are ready to get a dog but have to wait.

2.  They may not sell you a dog.  A good breeder wants to place the right dog in the right home and there may be reasons they feel you should not have their breed.  Often times situations like young children in the home, not enough space or that the family travels too much will cause a breeder to turn down a potential owner.  This is frustrating but remember they have the dogs best interest in mind and know the breed very well.  Often it is just not the right fit for a potential owner and saves a lot of heartache on both the part of the dog and owner in the long run.

3. They want a lot of information from you.  They will ask all sorts of questions and will want to meet you, which could potentially mean a far trip depending on the location of the breeder.  All of this can be time consuming and tedious but the end result is a great puppy.

4.  Stipulations.  There might be specific requirements about spaying and neutering if the dog is a champion. You might have to sign a form agreeing to breed or not breed, show or not show a dog depending on the situation.  These stipulations should be considered before you become attached to a puppy. 

 5. You could be saving a life.   This is one of the biggest arguments against purebred puppies.   With all of the unwanted dogs in the world you could get a dog from a rescue that would make a wonderful pet.  While we here at MetroSniff strongly encourage adopting rather then buying for those who can and are willing to take the time to find the right dog, we also know that responsible breeders work to fight animal neglect, abuse and surrendering and we strongly support breeders that fight for their breed.