Dog breeders follow a specific set of guidelines to ensure the healthiest puppies.
Few creatures in this world are cuter than puppies. Their playful spirit, eagerness to please and soulful eyes draw you in and make them hard to resist. But buying or adopting a puppy is a big decision -- one that should not be done hastily. If you forgo getting your puppy from a shelter and decide to buy a dog, contacting a breeder is your best option. Dog breeders concern themselves with the health and well-being of their puppies. Good breeders will keep contact to monitor a puppy to ensure that their line of dogs enjoys long and healthy lives.
Environment
Provide a clean, safe environment for all dogs used in the breeding program. A breeder must maintain sanitary conditions for all dogs involved in breeding, including stud dogs, bitches and adult dogs and puppies for sale.
Improve the Breed
Breed only to improve the breed. According to the Breeders.net Code of Ethics, breeders should not cross-breed dogs. Breeding should take place only between carefully selected mates based on three things: pedigree, or ancestral line; conformation, or how well the dogs conform to a particular breed's standard; and temperament.
Health Records
Maintain detailed health records of all dogs involved in breeding. Ensure that all dogs mated are cleared of any health problems in an attempt to eliminate such health problems in the puppies. The breeder should also be aware of health problems common to the breed and educate all prospective puppy owners about them.
Breeding Practices
Care for all breeding dogs to the highest standards possible. Do not breed dogs until they are mature enough; allow time between litters for recovery; and retire breeding dogs appropriately.
Selling Practices
Interview all prospective puppy owners to ensure that they understand the responsibility of owning a dog and that they can provide an ideal environment for the puppy. Breeders should never sell to retailers, brokers or dealers.
Documentation
Give the buyer a registration certificate, three-generation pedigree, health record, and basic diet and care instructions. The breeder should also provide a time frame in which the puppy should be seen by a licensed veterinarian.
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