Finding a good dog is important to you; this is someone who is going to be in your life for years, if not decades, to come. As such, it’s absolutely vital that you ensure the breeder you are buying from is someone who is 100% the best you can work with. While not all breeders are puppy mills, not all breeders are created equal, and you can expect varying levels of quality and care from different breeders. Yet, for someone inexperienced in the industry, it can be difficult to determine who is legitimately a high quality dog breeder and who should perhaps be left behind in negotiations. Fortunately, we have some fairly solid things to look out for when choosing a dog breeder. Your breeder should…

1. Be Knowledgeable About Your Breed

Basically, your breeder should know everything about the breed, from international and national standards for the breed as well the particular temperament that breed tends to display; indeed, you may find out something new from talking to them about these things. Your breeder should be able to answer any and all of your questions about the breed. If you feel like they are lacking in knowledge, then they almost certainly aren’t right for you.

2. Ask You Questions

Your breeder cares about the dogs he or she has bred and reared, and they want to make sure that you are going to give the dog or dogs a good home. The breeder will inquire about who you are, your lifestyle and family situation, as well as what you plan for the dog. Your breeder is feeling you out and trying to determine if your home – and you – would be a good fit for the dog based on the dog’s unique needs and temperament. If your breeder doesn’t do this, he or she may not really care about where the dog ends up – and that says a lot about how they were bred and raised thus far.

3. Pursue a Follow-Up

Your breeder should be worried and thinking about your new dog long after you have adopted the dog. The breeder should have you sign a contract that outlines your particular responsibilities towards your new dog, all of which will be geared towards ensuring the dog is treated right. If your breeder doesn’t seem to want to ensure that your dog will be cared for in the years to come, that is another red flag that you will want to note before ever adopting.

There are more tells, but these are the big ones; when your breeder shows they care, you can feel confident that the dog has been in good hands!