You Need To Know

After purchase, will help with grooming or training problems. Will take back pup you can't keep rather than see it disposed of inappropriately. Sells pets with spay/neuter agreement or limited AKC registration.

Dedication to quality dogs is serious avocation. Has so much invested in dogs that struggles to break even, not make profit. Will sell pups only to approved buyers.

Breeds family pet to any convenient pet of the same breed just to have purebred pups. Has no concern for genetics, bloodlines or breed improvement.

Can explain how planned breeding to emphasize specific qualities through linebreeding, outcrossing or, more rarely, inbreeding.

Though pet may be well-loved, it wasn't x-rayed for hip dysplasia or other heritable problems.

Has breeding stock x-rayed to check for hip dysplasia and tests for other genetic faults. Can produce certification to prove claims.

Offers no health guarantees beyond proof of shots, if that. Unqualified to give help if problems develop.

Lifetime commitment to replace a dog with genetic faults or to help owner deal with problems.

Seller has little knowledge of breed history or AKC breed standard. May claim that this doesn't matter for "just pets."

Loves breed and can talk at length about its background, uses and ideal type.

Pups raised in makeshift accommodations, indicating lack of long-term investment in breeding.

Has a serious investment in dog equipment such as puppy pens, crates and grooming tables and knows how to use it.

Even when selling "just pets," may produce AKC papers or "championship pedigree" as proof of quality. Yet seller doesn't increase own knowledge through participation in national or local breed club. Doesn't show own dogs to "prove" quality.

Belongs to local or national breed club, indicating a love for sport of dogs. Exhibits own dogs as an objective test of how stock measures up.

May be unwilling to show buyer entire litter or to introduce dam of litter. Can't or won't compare/critique pups or pups ancestors.

Shows litter and dam in a sanitary environment. Helps buyer evaluate and choose pup. Explains criteria for "show picks" versus "pet picks."

Prices at low end of local range, since must move pups quickly.

Prices will be at high end of local range, not cut-rate. Price won't reflect all that is invested in pups.

No concern for the future of individual pups or breed as a whole. Doesn't use AKC's limited registration option or ask for spay/neuter contract to guard against breeding of substandard pets. If you can't keep pup, tells you to take it to dog pound or sell it.

Authored by:
Chris Halvorson

Motive for breeding: "fun," "good for kids," "to make money." Doesn't screen buyers and seldom refuses to sell, even if buyer is unsuitable.