Never buy a puppy from a pet shop or puppy mill. Pet shops buy their dogs from puppy mills Puppy mills massively produce pet puppies with no regard to the care of their dogs or their dogs health.
Never by a puppy from a flea market or a road-side vender. These people depend on you to impulse buy an animal. It is impossible to tell the conditions these animals have been raised in or the parents they have came from . Flea market vendors may not even be the breeder and may not be able to tell you the information you need to know about the puppy. Also these animals are exposed to many diseases while in such a public facility, which could lead to costly vet bills and possible heartbreak down the road. Being in such a chaotic environment is very stressful on any animal and it is not advisable to expose a puppy to this much stress.
Never buy a puppy from a breeder that is actively breeding more than 3 breeds. It is difficult enough for a reputable breeder to be knowledgeable about everything there is to know in one breed, let alone trying to keep up with multiples. If a breeder has more than three breeds that are actively producing puppies, then it shows that they are only in it for the money, not for the love of the animals or the breed.
Never buy a pup
strictly on color, or it may lead to great disappointment. Choose a puppy first
and
foremost by its health, conformation, and personality.
About Registrations,
Registration papers, and un-reputable vs. reputable registries
We also caution NEVER to buy from a breeder that promotes no name registrations.
These include such registries as listed below. They are commonly used by Puppy
Mills
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CKC " Continental Kennel Club" |
FIC "Federation of International Canines" |
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UKC "Universal Kennel Club" |
UKCI "Universal Kennel Club International" |
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ACA "American Canine Association" |
APR "American Pet Registry" |
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APRI "American Pet Registry, Inc." |
APR "American Puppy Registry" |
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NKC "National Kennel Club" |
APA "American Pet Association" |
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APA "American Purebred Association" |
WKC "World Kennel Club" |
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NAPDR-"North American Purebred Dog |
WWKC "World Wide Kennel Club" |
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CH "Champion Registry" |
DRA "Dog Registry of America |
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Watch for more up and coming
no-name, |
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(Please remember, if someone is using these other registries, normally there is a
reason they are no longer with AKC) Many breeders are going away from AKC
(American Kennel Club) because AKC now requires DNA on all male dogs that
produce more than 3 litters in a year or 7 or more litters in a life time. Also,
AKC requires all records be kept accurate and up to date and that all DNA
matches correctly. The AKC is very strict as to there records being up to date
and accurate. Those breeders who do not have DNA match correctly or their
paperwork or facilities are inadequate, are suspended of AKC privileges. Some
breeders also are leaving AKC because of an increase in prices, which would also
lead you to wonder what else are they skimping on? These no-name registries say
it themselves as to why they are un-reputable, and are quoted as saying "Tired
of registration & documentation hassles?----Lost or never had papers?----Breed
not recognized?----We take the red tape out of registration----no DNA
requirements----"What does this mean to you? It means that these registries will
put papers on any dog, purebred or not.
*There are quite a few newer no-name registries popping up every day. Some of the newest, and most confusing, consist of the ACA " American Chihuahua Association", which is nothing more than a piece of paper saying that the dog 'looks' like a Chihuahua. This is NO Guarantee that it really is a Chihuahua, and is nothing more than a piece of paper, and the opinion of a few individuals for a "small fee". There are also some new ones, like "Champiom Registry", which can be very confusing as it misleads people to believe the dog is an actual AKC Champion (a dog shown in AKC shows against other purebred AKC dogs, and won enough points to earn it's championship) when it has never been show in any AKC events.
*Please Note: there are international registries such as FCI (Federation Cynologique International), KC (The Kennel Club), and CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) which are reputable. If you see a breeder representing these clubs, they are another countries equivalent to the American AKC and are legitimate. There are also the UKC (United Kennel Club) that is also reputable in hunting breeds in America and also used for some rare breeds for those that are working their way towards AKC acceptance of the breed.
Also, NEVER buy from a breeder who has multiple registrations on their pet (such as a combination of any of the aforementioned no name registrations and/or a combination between any of these no named registrations and an AKC registration). This does not make a dog more valuable, more special, etc. but instead should send up red flags such as "why does the breeder feel they need to register the dog with more than one registry?". There is no need to be registered with these other registries, the dog is not more valuable or more unique but instead it just shows that the breeder didn't really know what he was doing, or that the breeder feels a threat of loosing their privileges with AKC.
*Please note that dogs in the U.S. that were imported would probably be duel registered with both the AKC and their original country, so this would be an exception to the above rule.*
The quickest rule of registries to help remember what is and is not reputable: If it's not AKC, double check what it really is and what it really means. If in or near Canada, it should be CKC (Canadian Kennel Club)
In association with the above two paragraphs, there have been many people say that papers aren't important, or some have asked "why is registration important on a pet?" Even if a puppy is being bought as a pet, if your going to pay for a puppy from a breeder, it should be registered with a reputable registry. Why? Because being registered with a reputable, closed registry (AKC) ensures that the dog is from a line of dogs that represent the breed accurately. Dogs from known true parentage are predictable in size, conformation, temperament, and physical and psychological traits known in the breed. Dogs from open registries (like those listed in Un-reputable registries table, like CKC or APRI) lack that predictability. Granted, there is the possibility of good and bad in both, and a line is only as honest as it's breeder, it does however present you a security that you are getting what you are paying for. Many registries (open ones, like CKC and APRI) will accept ANY dog, with the ease of doing it all on line, with minimal questions, fees, ect., with no proof that the dog is actually even close to breed standard. Buying a dog from CKC or APRI lineage is the same as a gamble or roll of the dice, with no guarantee that the puppy will mature to look or act like the breed it is supposed to be, like for say a pug. By simply filling in a form on the computer and paying a fee you are allowed to register any animal without any solid proof as to it's true paternity. AKC on the other hand, does do kennel inspections, DNA testing, and require breeders to follow a strict code of record keeping. Many breeders who have not been able to meet AKC's strict guidelines, loose their privileges and move on to the lower cost, no fuss registries like CKC. If their cost-cutting on the price of the registration, what else are they cost-cutting on pertaining to the animals well being (vaccinations, worming, health care, etc.?)
A reputable breeder may or may not show their dogs. Just because they show does does not mean they are reputable. And because a breeder does not show does not mean that they are not reputable. Showing does not make someone more or less knowledgeable, reputable, or concerned for their animals. Anyone can enter a dog into an AKC class as long as long as it is registered (with full registration) but unless it meets standards, it will have a hard time competing to win it's championship. Showing a dog was originally intended to prove the breed-ability of that animal, but now days there are many politics involved and many times it's a "who knows who" world, not which dog is best. You will also find that every judge, along with every breeder will have a different opinion as to what is the perfect pug for say.
Be careful, and don't buy a puppy just because the price is right, the LESS costly puppy in the beginning could wind up being the MOST costly in the long run.