Choosing the Right Dog Breeder:
A Comprehensive Guide

Identifying Reputable Breeders

Reputable breeders prioritise the well-being of their dogs and adhere to ethical breeding practices.​

​

1. Registry Confirmation:

   • Ensure that the breeder is properly registered with the appropriate ANKC/Dogs Australia registry.​ You can do this by calling the state registry (for example, Dogs NSW) the breeder resides in directly, and confirming their name and prefix to ensure they are a current financial member. There is a link to each registry's website on our Links page. 

   • This confirmation prevents the purchase of non-pedigree or unpapered puppies with an unknown lineage from backyard and unscrupulous  breeders .
      

2. Research the Breeder's Reputation:

   • Investigate online reviews, but be discerning, as not all online information is accurate.

   • Reach out to other breeders within the community to gather insights about the breeder you are considering, especially where you feel you may have concerns. Often, breeders will happily refer you on to another breeder if their lines, plans or timing or litters do not align with you.

   • Speak to owners of dogs from different breeders to understand the varying qualities in different lines.

   • Seek feedback from local veterinary clinics, breed clubs, and trainers, as professionals in the field may have insights.
      

3. Visit the Breeder's Facility:

   • Observe the cleanliness, organisation, and overall condition of the facility.

   • Pay attention to the dogs' behavior – they should be social, curious, and comfortable around people, especially within the home.
      

4. Inquire about the Breeder's Education:

   • Ask about the breeder's experience, education, and involvement in breed-specific organisations. In the Purebred breeding world, most of the information we use is from our long term breed mentors with invaluable and thousands of hours of real life experience, as well as utilising veterinary journals and forums and following world-supported puppy raising programs. Often they are members of one or more clubs within the dog fancy.

   • There is no formal education for becoming an ethical, reputable breeder of dogs. Certificates such as animal studies (of which for example, Mel has a Certificate II within) do not cover the extremities of care and reproduction and are not a representation of one's education as a breeder. There are however, online guides, informal certificates and programs (such as Puppy Culture and MadCap University) that assist one in developing knowledge to breed ethically and responsibly.

   • Inquire about internationally supported puppy raising programs like Puppy Culture. A breeder may claim to have a self-produced program, however Puppy Culture is considered the Gold Standard of dog breeding and has been affirmed as so by thousands of breeders across the globe, and not just by a single individual. Although a tailored fit to puppy raising is sometimes necessary, one should not discredit such internationally supported programs in favour of one's own.

   • A commitment to ongoing education and research indicates a breeder's dedication to improving their breeding practices.
      

5. Does the breeder show their dogs?:

   • Breeders who actively participate in dog shows and obtain titles for their dogs demonstrate a commitment to breed standards and excellence, as a judge is looking for the specimens that most closely represent the breed standard in their choices. Show and title achievements provide an external validation of the breeder's dedication to producing dogs that meet the established benchmarks for their breed. This involvement in the show circuit indicates a breeder's willingness to subject their dogs to expert scrutiny.

   • Dogs with show and title accomplishments often come from bloodlines that have been carefully evaluated for conformation, temperament, and overall breed characteristics.

   • Dogs with major faults (such as crypto-orchidism (undescended testicles), underbites, overbites and kinked tails, overly shy or aggressive dogs) are disqualified from the show ring. These dogs with these major disqualifying faults, whilst some will make fabulous pets, should not be utilised in a breeding program as they can pass these traits on to their offspring.

​

General Considerations:

 

1. Visit the breeders home: 

   • It is a big red flag if a breeder is unwilling to have you visit their home and view their breeding facilities. Many will use excuses of germs, safety etc. and whilst this is a real concern to have and in certain situations is a warranted concern, however in Australia it is common practice for an ethical breeder to accept visits. If possible, you should be able to also pick up your puppy in person, direct from the breeders home.

   • If they do have a dedicated breeding facility, these should be located on the same property as the breeder's home, and not on a separate property.

   • Ask specifically where the puppies are raised to ensure they are exposed to regular family life, noises, and situations. Puppies raised in a home environment are more likely to be well-adjusted and socialised to a life where they will live inside and be an integral part of your family (link). They will have exposure to household sounds and routines ready for when they come home with you.
      

2. Nutrition:

   • Inquire about the nutrition given to puppies. Is it well researched, and a healthier brand? Ensure the breeder makes informed and updated choices. Ask what will be expected for continued care in their new homes. The condition of the dogs should indicate the reflection of good nutrition; a dogs diet will illuminate in its quality of coat and its health.
      

3. Support:

   • Ensure that the breeder provides ongoing support without additional charges. You should not have to pay for additional support from your breeder. They should be available to ask questions to about your dog for the lifetime of the dog. 
     ​

4. Comprehensive Health Guarantee:

   • A reputable breeder's health guarantee should cover genetically predisposed conditions that may not be evident through standard genetic testing.

   • Be cautious if a breeder offers a vague or limited health guarantee.
      

5. Align Breeder with Lifestyle:

   • Consider the breeder's lines (temperaments, looks, level of drive), practices, and support in alignment with your lifestyle. Are they calmer lines? Are they more suited to an active lifestyle and dog sports? What is their off-switch like? Ask them about dog reactivity in their lines (which can often be an issue in many for younger dogs in Finnish Lapphunds). What kind of support will they have on offer to you to help get you through the hurdles of teenagehood?

   • Some lines may be better suited for specific activities or have different temperaments suitable for different lifestyles and households.
      

6. Temperament testing:

   • ​Look for a breeder that uses a proven and studied form of temperament testing, such as Volhard/PAT (Puppy Aptitude Testing) testing, or even one that utilises an accredited Canine Behaviourist to do so. A proper temperament test's results do not include how cuddly and affectionate they are, but help predict their temperament, drive, difficulties and strengths as an adult. 
      
7. Contracts:
   • Ask to see a copy of a contract BEFORE you pay for your puppy. Ensure the dogs health, ownership and any guidelines (such as de-sexing, or any terms relating to breeding, showing or guardianship if this is the intention for the puppy) are stipulated within the contract. Ensure the terms are mutually fair for both parties, and that there isn't any terms that negate your rights as the dog's owner. 
     ​
8. Deposits:
   • Although this is normal and standard practice for many breeders, no breeder should accept a deposit before the litter is born. At the least, wait to give a deposit once a litter is on the ground and it is confirmed there should be a puppy for you. Unfortunately, sometimes tragedy strikes and puppies become sick, injured, pass away, or there may just not be a suitable puppy in temperament for your family, however in these cases, the breeder should immediately refund your deposit within an acceptable timeframe, as soon as possible. A breeder, although fine to suggest so, should not pressure you to or state that they will keep the deposit with them for a future litter, especially where you are not on board.​
   • In Australia, dogs are considered goods, and as such ALL DEPOSITS ARE REFUNDABLE BY LAW. You can contact ACCC or your local state Fair Trading office for advice if you feel that you have been unfairly denied a deposit refund and that this may apply to you.

​

​

Avoiding High Volume Commercial Breeders and Puppy Farms

 

High volume commercial breeders and puppy farms are on the rise with the fluctuation and boom of dog ownership and pricing through COVID. These breeders often prioritise profit over the welfare and health of the animals. Avoiding such breeders is likely to ensure a healthier and happier pet, and one that has had regular exposure to a family home environment, with genuine support directly from your breeder.

​

1. Ask About Breeding Practices:

   • Inquire about the breeder's breeding philosophy, including the goals and priorities in their breeding program.

   • Ethical breeders limit the number of litters they breed, prioritising the well-being of each dog. Ask the breeder number of litters born each year, and the amount of puppies raised in total, throughout all given breeds they breed. There are databases in which this can be confirmed in ANKC registered dogs.
      

2. Inspect Living Conditions:

   • Look for spacious and clean living conditions, with ample room for the dogs to move.

   • Check if there are signs of enrichment, such as toys and opportunities for mental stimulation, and ask the breeder what they do to with their dogs in terms of training and activities, what kind of training they use, how they enrich their dogs lives etc.
      

3. Research Local Regulations:

   • Be aware of local breeding regulations and ensure the breeder complies with them; ethical breeders willingly share information about their compliance and may even exceed legal standards.
      

4. Hands-On Involvement: 

   • A responsible breeder is actively involved in the daily care, socialisation, and raising of litters.

   • A small-scale operation with direct breeder involvement ensures that each dog receives personalised attention and care.

   • Choose breeders who are actively engaged in the daily lives of their dogs, from whelping to weaning, fostering strong bonds and promoting positive socialisation, as well as supporting you directly.
      

5. Staff Presence:

   • Be wary of breeders who rely heavily on staff for the primary care of dogs and litters.

   • Breeding operations that require an extensive staff may indicate a scale that compromises individualised care.

   • Often staff in puppy farm and even some commercial kennel situations are exploited, abused, underpaid or are unpaid on a 'volunteer' basis, and expected to work additional unpaid hours.
      

6. Number of dogs at home:

   • A breeder should have a manageable number of dogs to ensure proper care and attention to each individual.​

   • You can decide what this number means to you. Consider the person's regular job, time spent with the puppies
      

7. Number of puppies and dogs available:

   • Be cautious when dealing with breeders who consistently have dogs and puppies available, as this may raise concerns about responsible breeding practices. Most ethical and responsible breeders only have 0-5 litters a year.

   • Having puppies available all the time, especially from multiple existing litters, may indicate overbreeding.
      

8. Note how many different breeds are bred:

   • It takes thousands of hours to properly research a breed, pedigrees, health, temperaments, differences in lines, differences in whelping and raising techniques, breed traits, advice to owners etc.

   • Consider how much time a breeder has to dedicate to a breed if they have a large number of different breeds, or to be able to keep access to enough of a population to breed said dogs without keeping an absurd amount of dogs.

   • Most ethical breeders only dedicate themselves to one to two breeds, and whilst they may own or exhibit other breeds, they will often not breed these dogs themselves as they do not have the time to research to their desired level to make informed choices.​
      

9. Note how quickly they obtained their dogs:

   • Where a person accumulates a large number of dogs quickly, it may be an indication of the beginning of a commercial breeding facility or puppy farm. If this seems to be the case, question why they have accumulated so many dogs in a short space of time.
     ​

10. Regular litter updates:

    • Reputable breeders take time to showcase their litters as they grow. There is so much technology these days that there should be no issues or excuses for them to take a couple of videos and photos with their phone of each puppy within a litter, each and every day, if not every second day.

    • They should be able to consistently show you the development of puppies in all of their litters.

    • They should be able to Facetime you / video call the litters and their living conditions, and be knowledgable of the development of each puppy; their strengths, weaknesses, the first day they opened their eyes, when they started to wean, when they started to walk, when they started to play.

    • The lack of ability to do this or vagueness upon consult can indicate a breeder that does not spend a lot of time with their puppies.

​

Avoiding Scams

 

Scams in the pet industry are unfortunately common. Being vigilant and thorough in your research can help you avoid falling victim to fraudulent practices.

​

1. Verify Identity and Location:

   • Cross-check the breeder's identity through official channels, such as the breeder's association or licensing authorities (Dogs Australia and subsequent state kennel registries).

   • Schedule a visit to the breeder's location to confirm its legitimacy and assess the conditions firsthand.
      

2. Request References:

   • Ask for references from recent buyers, specifically inquiring about their experience post-purchase.

   • A breeder confident in their practices will readily provide references.
      

3. Research Breeder's Online Presence:

   • Scrutinise the breeder's website and social media for consistency and detailed information.

   • Be cautious if the online presence is limited, lacks transparency, or seems hastily put together.
      

4. Beware of using online payment facilities:

   • Beware of those offering online payments and credit card facilities, especially where all of your interaction is only online. Do not pay for a puppy you are not confident exists.

​

Health; Testing, Transparency and Research

​

A responsible breeder conducts thorough health testing before a mating takes place and is transparent about the results, ensuring the health and well-being of their dogs. They are also able to tell you about any issues in the lineage of their dogs and why they have made the choice to put together a particular pairing.

​

1. Health Certificates, Vaccinations, Worming Protocols, Litter Eye Screening, DNA testing).

   • Your breeder should be able to provide you with a health certificate  (and explain anything that departs from "normal" (e.g. umbilical hernias, undescended testicles, heart murmurs etc). They should also adjust their contract to consider anything departing from normal at the initial health check.

   • They should also be able to provide you with the puppy's vaccination certificate and ongoing schedule.

   • The should provide your with their worming protocol and recommend wormers and timing for their next dose.

   • If they go above and beyond (like many breeders within Finnish Lapphunds do), they may provide you with a litter eye screening certificate indicating the puppy has been screened by veterinary ophthalmologist, and DNA certificates indicating what breed related diseases and/or traits the puppy carries. Preferably, this would also include DNA parentage confirmation to make sure the litter is not paper hung (i.e. putting a different sire and/or dam on the puppy's registration papers than those they are actually from), however this is only a requirement within Dogs Queensland of now.
     ​

2. Request Health Testing Records:

   • Ask for detailed records of health tests performed on both the puppy's parents. In the case of the Finnish Lapphund, this should be DNA testing indicating prcd-PRA, DM and Pompes (GSD-II) carrier status at a minimum, ACES eye testing and ORCHID / CHEDS Hip and Elbow testing (And/or Penn Hip). Additional testing for heart screening, gonioscopy, parentage confirmation and other genetic disease may also be available.

   • Verify the authenticity of the records by cross-referencing them with veterinary information.
      

3. Discuss Health Guarantee:

   • Inquire about the breeder's health guarantee and what it covers.

   • A comprehensive health guarantee should include genetically predisposed conditions beyond standard genetic testing.
      

4. Visit the Veterinarian:

   • Ask for the contact information of the breeder's veterinarian and contact them for additional insights.

   • Confirm the breeder's claims about health testing and ongoing veterinary care.
      

5. Ask About Previous Health Issues:

   • Inquire about any health issues present in the lineage of the puppy.

   • A responsible breeder openly discusses challenges and demonstrates active efforts to improve health.
      

6. Seek References from Previous Buyers:

   • Outwardly seek references specifically related to the health and longevity of dogs from the breeder.

   • Dogs are living breathing animals, and of course sometime we are unlucky and something unexpected will pop up. However, positive references indicating good health do suggest a breeder's commitment to producing healthy animals.
      

7. Review Pedigrees and Genetic Diversity:

   • Examine pedigrees for diversity, reducing the risk of hereditary health issues. The Finnish Lapphund Club of Finland recommends matings of no more than 6.25% COI over 8 generations. Question a breeder their choices if they have litters resulting in over this COI. 

   • A breeder focused on genetic diversity, with carefully researched and chosen lines, is likely to provide healthier, more robust dogs, with less cases of autoimmune and epileptic disease.

   • Beware of blanket breeding (using the same sire and/or pairing over and over) and use of young dogs. It is considered detrimental to breeding programs to consistently utilise such breeding tactics, whereby it negatively affects the diversity of the genepool (especially in the case of use of popular sires).

   • If young dogs in particular are overused, you are unable to see the development of their puppies over time to see if any issues arise, and may end up with a large population of disease or trait-affected individuals.

   • Good practice is to wait until both the male and female are fully mature (preferably over 2 years, but 18 months is often acceptable) before breeding, and waiting for these puppies (particularly in the case of the use of a stud dog) to grow for a few years and determine any issues before further use. CHEDS Hip and Elbow testing is not recommended for use in puppies under 12 months old, as it is not indicative of their hip joint as an adult. Neither is eye testing or heart testing, as some major conditions do not appear until the dog is over a year old.
      

8. Thoughtful Approach to Colour Breeding:

   • Ethical breeders prioritise health, structure and temperament over specific coat colours.

   • Be cautious if a breeder heavily emphasises or exclusively breeds for rare or fashionable colours.

   • Responsible breeding focuses on the overall well-being of the dog rather than superficial traits.
      

9. Transparency About Imperfections:

   • Ethical breeders are open about the potential negatives in their dogs, including health, temperament, health, and conformation.

   • It is a positive when a breeder displays health results on their website or litter announcements.

   • Speak to a breeder for clarification and interpretation of health results. They should not minimise things such as a high hip dysplasia score, should be able to explain their choices in pairings, and should be able to provide information references for what the health testing means.

   • Avoid breeders who claim every dog is perfect; honesty about potential challenges is a sign of responsibility. No dog is perfect. Almost all lines of any given dog breed will have anomalies, and a breeder should be able to point these out. 
      

10. Ask about the general health history of the breeding animals:

    • ​Beyond genetic disease, how often have the dogs required the vet for illness? How long are the breeder's dogs living for before passing away? What was the cause of death in deceased dogs?

​

​

Checking the Condition of Dogs and Puppies

 

Inspecting the physical condition of dogs and puppies ensures they are raised in a healthy and clean environment. Low numbers are not necessarily indicative of there being no neglect or abuse.

​

1. Check for Cleanliness:

   • Puppies and adult dogs should be presented in a clean manner, well groomed and free of matts.

   • Dirty or unkempt conditions of a dog may indicate neglect or inadequate care.
      

2. Observe Tear Staining:

   • Excessive tear staining may indicate health issues or poor living conditions.

   • Healthy dogs should have minimal tear staining.
      

3. Assess General Well-being:

   • Examine overall health indicators, including coat condition, weight, and energy levels.

   • Healthy dogs should display a vibrant appearance and well-maintained coats.

​

Evaluating Guardianship Programs

 

When engaging in guardianship programs, carefully read and evaluate the terms to ensure fairness and avoid potential exploitation.

​

1. Thoroughly Review Agreements:

   • Carefully read guardianship agreements, ensuring fairness and mutual benefit.

   • Avoid agreements that overly favour the breeder or pose financial pressures on the custodian (owner of residence) of the dog.
      

2. Beware of Financial Pressures:

   • Be cautious if pressured to be the primary financial supporter of a dog without ownership.

   • Avoid arrangements where you are forced to send the dog back for multiple litters solely for profit of the breeder, while you are the one paying for the dog's care.

​

Red Flags - Key Points to Remember:

• Breeders with consistently available dogs may prioritise quantity over quality.

• Lack of transparency regarding breeding practices, health testing, or living conditions.

• Pressure to engage in guardianship programs without fair terms.

• Dogs consistently exhibiting tear staining or presented in consistently dirty conditions.

• Breeder unable or unwilling to provide references or proof of health testing.

• Minimal online presence or inconsistent information about the breeder's practices.

• Breeder avoiding questions about their breeding philosophy, number of litters, or facility conditions.

• It is a very big red flag if the breeder does not allow you to visit their home or breeding facility, and all aspects of it in which the dogs are kept.

​

Remember, the decision to bring a new furry family member into your home is a significant one. Take the time to research and ask questions to find a breeder who shares your commitment to the well-being of the dogs they breed.