Where to buy a dog

People often ask how to go about buying a dog. And although the desired breed of dog and the reasons you want it will steer you in different directions, there are a few basic rules you should know.

"A dog is for life." That means, once you decide to take on the responsibility of dog ownership, you are expected to maintain ethical care of that animal for the rest of its natural life. Dogs are an expense, and they sometimes require specialized training from professionals. All your future relocations and holidays will now include the new family member YOU just decided to add. If that is acceptable, then you're off to a good start.

Now, where to look? We can't tell you specifically where to look, but we can tell you where not to look. You should never buy a dog from a backyard breeder, pet store, or puppy mill.  Only those hobby breeders who are fanatical about improving their beloved breed, along with shelters and breed rescues are worth considering. 

1. Backyard breeders are, by definition, irresponsibly breeding dogs. They don't objectively evaluate potential breeding stock by showing them, which is the best way to ensure their dogs are of the highest breeding quality. Many times, a backyard breeding is a "one time" mating of a male and female the owner happens to have, unlike the scrupulously researched and matched pairings of ethical breeders. Also, statistics show that as many as 65% of all puppies come from these "one time" breedings. Some Backyard breeders think because it's "just one time", they're not having an impact on the pet overpopulation problem. But all those "one time" breedings are adding up to millions of available puppies.  Also, beware of terms like "breeding pair".  It is extremely rare for one reputable breeder to own both the sire and dam in a mating.  If you believe the breeder is responsible, ask what extraordinary circumstances led to owning both animals.  If they're truly responsible, they'll understand your concern and have an acceptable answer.

More than any other, backyard breeders are most likely to advertise their puppies for sale.  This could be in the classified section of newspapers, on television "swap" shows, on bulletin boards, or on the Internet.  ...Anywhere you can advertise "property" for sale, actually.  They don't investigate potential buyers; a clear indication they're unconcerned about the welfare of those animals.  (What could be a clearer indication of apathy than selling a dog over the Internet, to someone you haven't even met, much less checked references or done a home visit?)  Backyard breeders don't require buyers to sign contracts which mandate spay/neuter for 'pet quality' puppies (which all are, by virtue of being 'backyard bred') when they're old enough, or to return the dog to them, should they encounter ownership challenges in the future.

Reputable breeders don't need to advertise because their scrupulously-bred little ones have a waiting list of eager buyers, sometimes two or more years long!  Reputable breeders want to be sure buyers will provide a responsible and loving home for their puppies, for the rest of their natural lives.  They require buyers to sign contracts, with legal responsibilities regarding the care and use of those animals.  They demand that buyers return the dogs to them, at any point in the future, should they need to re-home them.  Reputable breeders turn down more potential buyers than they sell to.

Breed rescues and shelters also interview potential adopters, and will refuse to sell to careless or questionable applicants.  Most breed rescues do home visits.  All reputable breeders, breed rescues, and shelters perform reference checks.  For them, it's not about the buyer/adopter's needs or wishes, its about the welfare of their animals, above all else.

How do you know if you're dealing with backyard breeders?

• They don't ask many questions about you, your reasons for wanting a dog, your experience with dogs or that particular breed, what happened to your last dog (if applicable), how you plan to keep and raise the dog, etc.  (Be sure not to volunteer this information.  Wait to see if they ask you.  If they don't, run like the wind.)
   
• They don't ask for AND CHECK your references.
   
• They are not especially knowledgeable about the breed, the breed's history, dog-related terms, how to read pedigrees, etc.
   
• Rather than being a reputable, established kennel, generally advertising their existence and the possibility of potential buyers applying to purchase from a future litter; they advertise a litter of existing puppies for sale in newspapers, on the Internet, or on bulletin boards.  (Avoid anyone using a term like "ready to go".)
   
• They're selling mixed-breed puppies.
   
• If purebred, their dogs do not meet the breed standard for that breed, especially in terms of size, colouration, etc.  (Don't be fooled by a term like "rare".  It likely means unethical breeding practices.)
   
• They don't show in conformation (and performance) and/or are not a member in good standing of that breed's parent club.
   
• They sell puppies to anyone who can pay.
   
• They sell puppies younger than eight weeks of age. (While some reputable breeders will let puppies go as young as 7 1/2 weeks, anything younger is unacceptable, and probably indicates an unethical breeder.  In California, for instance, it is ILLEGAL to sell puppies younger than eight-weeks-old...for good reason!)
   
• They own both the sire and dam.  (While some reputable breeders do own both the sire and dam, it is not common.  As such, reputable breeders will be able to explain the extraordinary circumstances that led to them owning both.)
   
• They don't do any health testing of the type that predicts/detects inheritable defects.  (These are tests such as PennHip, OFA, CERF, etc.)
   
• They don't require buyers to sign a legal, written contractual obligation regarding the care and use of the dog being sold.
   
• They don't insist, as part of that contract, that the dog be returned to them, should the buyer ever choose to re-home the dog at any point in the future.
   
• They sell "pet quality" purebred puppies with full registration, instead of limited registration papers.
   
• They sell "show quality" puppies capriciously, or without a legal, written contract outlining the care, showing, and potential breeding of that dog.
   
• Overall, they simply sell puppies to virtually anyone who claims they will give the dog a good home, and has the means to pay.
   

2. Some pet stores sell puppies (and kittens). Sure, there are lots of arguments about these animals having a higher incidence of disease, but that's not the real reason not to buy a dog or cat from a pet store. You shouldn't purchase a dog or cat from a pet store because the animals come from irresponsible breeders. If those breeders profit from the sale of their animals, they will continue. Do you want your hard-earned dollars going to support animal cruelty? 

How do we know they're irresponsible breeders? Well, there isn’t a single, ethical breeder, on the face of this planet, who'd allow one of his/her scrupulously bred little ones to spend 24 hrs a day in a cage, with little or no interaction with others, where s/he could be purchased by anyone walking in off the street. THAT'S how we know the breeders of pet store dogs and cats are irresponsible. 

Find out why pet store puppies are so notoriously difficult to housetrain.

By definition, a pet store can't legally refuse to sell a dog to anyone who has the means to pay: no matter how careless or cruel the person might openly admit to being.  However, most pet store proprietors will never know what happens to the puppies they sell because they don't screen buyers and they don't do any follow-up.  They simply don't care.  It's business, plain and simple.

3. Puppy mills. If you've ever seen the adult dogs at a puppy mill, you'll know why this "business" must be stopped. It's bad enough that puppies are seen as a commodity, rather than living, feeling beings with certain rights.  Poorly-bred puppies from parents of questionable health and lineage is what puppy mills spew out in large numbers.  There's a sucker born every minute, when it comes to purchasing a puppy from a puppy mill.

But the cruellest existence is that of a puppy mill's breeding female. She exists solely to create puppies. Once she's no longer profitable, who knows what happens to her?  Some are killed.  Many die from neglect or disease. 

No compassionate or ethical person could operate a puppy mill. Again, do you want your hard-earned dollars going to support animal cruelty?

There are millions of unwanted animals in need of homes right now in shelters around the world. Even if you’re looking for a purebred dog, they can be found at both shelters and through breed rescues. If you absolutely must buy a purebred puppy from a breeder, please do everything in your power to ensure your money is supporting an ethical, responsible breeder, and not some yahoo with a couple of fertile dogs in his yard.

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