Why breeders are good

Like with breeders, not all shelters are alike, and so before going to one to get your dog, check out some reviews. And when you visit the shelter, pay attention to the cleanliness, how well the staff interact with the animals, and if the dogs seem healthy and well taken care of. Both shelters and breeders should care deeply about the animals they keep, and make sure they go to good homes. Wherever you go, be sure to ask the staff plenty of questions; if they are unwilling to answer you, that may be a red flag.

Similarly, staff members should ask you questions about your ability to be a responsible dog owner, and not be willing to give a pet away to just anyone who walks in the door. Expect to be interviewed about your home environment, ability to raise the puppy, etc. If a breeder is unwilling to let you meet them and their dogs at their home or care facility, that is a giant red flag, and it might mean they're working for a puppy mill and are not actually a reputable breeder.

If you come across a suspicious or abusive breeder or shelter, try your best to document the situation and contact your local law enforcement or animal control. Whatever the motivation, there are many things to consider before taking the necessary steps to enter into dog breeding.

After all, dog breeding requires professionalism, responsibility and commitment. For those who might be interested in responsible dog breeding, here are some of the pros and cons to think about.

New breeds — Over the years dog breeding has resulted in new breeds, which further fuels our love of dogs. Certainly, they have enabled many people who may not have previously been able to live with a dog due to allergies, for example to now enjoy the company of a fur friend. Safe, responsible dog ownership — Breeders can help encourage responsible pet parents. You can do this by sharing your knowledge of the breed, ensuring the owners are a good match and staying in touch to answer any questions.

Genetic know-how — Professional dog breeding requires knowledge. Good and reputable breeders should have a sound understanding of genetics. However, this requires a deep understanding of the health of the breed and the ability to select an appropriate mate.

Time investment — Dog breeding can be an all-consuming profession. Responsible breeders want to produce the healthiest dogs possible. They are acutely aware of the genetic diseases common in their breed and perform specialized health testing on their dogs before breeding them so they can avoid breeding dogs who might pass on faulty genes.

This means the puppy you buy will have a higher chance of not developing a genetically linked disorder. All puppies are different.

It can be impossible for you to guess if an individual puppy in a litter will grow up to be assertive or mellow, high energy or laid back. Good breeders know their breed and know their puppies. They will help match you with the best puppy for you and your family. Good breeders care about their puppies even after they leave their home.

Good breeder feels responsible for what happens to the puppies they produce. From a genetic viewpoint, it's always good to have a wide selection of dogs that contributed to a breed's foundation. You never know when it might be necessary to reintroduce some of the genes from an older breed for health reasons. If those breeds are extinct, that's no longer a possibility. Although the Kennel Club in Britain registers fewer dogs than we do in the U. While the Labrador Retriever — the top dog registered by the AKC for over 20 years — has tens of thousands of individual registrations every year, other breeds have far fewer numbers.

Beyond a few popular breeds, most breeds have relatively small numbers of dogs registered each year. We have many breeds in the U. That's why we need breeders of purebred dogs today. People who breed to preserve dog breeds are usually hobbyists. The dogs that they can't keep are usually placed in pet homes. Yet cities and state legislatures are passing laws that can make it virtually impossible for smaller breeders to continue this important work.

For example, a bill currently under consideration in New Jersey would ban breeders from selling dogs outside the state unless the sale was made face-to-face. If you are a breeder in New Jersey and a potential buyer in say, California, is interested in one of your dogs, this buyer would have to come to New Jersey to see and buy the dog.

Or the breeder would have to take the dog to California. This is obviously onerous and unnecessary. It also adds a tremendous expense to the cost of the dog.

Before you say that the person in California could find another dog closer to home, what if the New Jersey breeder is one of the few people in the country breeding that particular breed? In many cases we are talking about breeds that may only register a few litters per year.

That's why this kind of legislation is so dangerous.