by Kary Parks S&R dog handler and trainer
The mark of a GOOD breeder isn't just breeding Champion dogs, the mark of a good breeder is how they handle it when the train runs off the tracks.
But health testing is a good way to start. I am currently researching breeders (All over the country) for a friend who wants a Miniature Schnauzer. I started with the OFA and CHIC databases.
I look over their website and look for red flags. "puppies always available", Will take credit cards, puppies with papers or breeders withholding papers.
A breeder who has multiple breeds of dogs with puppies available, or has multiple litters available at a time.
Run down the checklist of the responsible breeder list. Finding a good breeder is well worth the cost and a good breeder is price competitive.
Red Flags,
Breeders you probably want to avoid I'm really not a person who likes to use the words "never" or "always", so take the following as signs for caution. Yet, in some cases I will just have to use one of those words. Sorry, but keep reading, you will see.
Registered Breeder
If you see a reference to a "registered breeder" and most especially to a "USDA" licensed or registered breeder just stop right there.
The USDA concerns itself only with mass breeders. Mass breeders are breeding for the money. If there is ever a question between profits and the best interests of the dog, the dog loses. Please, don't let mass breeders profit from your money.
Champion bloodlines
this term used by those who have no clue. A responsible breeder knows it just isn't a sales point. That doesn't mean that the responsible breeder won't brag about their dog's background. They do, and they should. But if neither the sire nor the dam has their own championship then the responsible breeder is going to be focusing on explaining why not, and how they know that the dogs are of good quality, and merely claiming "Champion bloodlines" is no evidence at all.
AKC UKC OR CKC registered
This is just as meaningful and just as important as a car advertisement claiming "DMV" registered. Yes, you want to know that, but no it is not a sales point. A responsible breeder will include the information on the registry, so it's the tone or the focus you are looking at, not the mere inclusion of the information. If they think "AKC" is a selling point, they are clueless. Some breeds have their own registries that may be more careful than AKC, and in those cases listing the registry might be a selling point. Although there are reputable registries in the USA other than AKC and UKC (and CKC in Canada) there are also a lot that hand out completely meaningless "papers". Be especially cautious with any registry that has initials the same as a well-known registry. Be especially cautious of registries that complain of some imagined difficulty or expense in registering dogs through AKC. Look for excellent centralized record keeping, breed standards, and competitive events to determine degree to which a dog conforms to breed standards, and who controls registration requirements. Could you become an active participant in the process? If not, then doubt the registry.
Vet checked
Is another meaningless term, it's like saying, "it runs" in a car ad. Not very impressive. Of course you want the puppy to be "vet checked" but if the breeder thinks that's a selling point they probably haven't CERF'd the puppies.
cerf
Don't know what I mean when I said, "CERF'd" the puppies? Stop right there, you aren't ready to be talking to breeders yet.
It's a basic eye check done in many breeds, and its one of the few tests that are actually done on both the puppies and their parents. Does the advertisement tell you the color of the puppies but not a word on health testing? Then expect someone who is a shallow breeder, breeding for appearance but ignoring health and temperament. This will either be because they don't care, or more likely because they lack the knowledge to do better. If you desire a healthy dog you will do better to get a random bred dog (mutt) over one where the breeder focusses on appearance but ignores genetic health.
health check
Does the breeder talk about health checks? Look on https://www.ofa.org/ and see if your breeder is listed there. Both parents should be listed in this searchable database. If your breeder is conscientious, they will be happy to share these results with you. If they aren't this puppy probably is not the right one at any price, even free. Tests recommended by the parent breed club to OFA are: NORWEGIAN ELKHOUND OFA-CHIC Health Testing Requirements The OFA, working with the breed's parent club, recommends the following basic health screening tests for all breeding stock. Dogs meeting these basic health screening requirements will be issued Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) numbers. For CHIC certification, all results do not need to be normal, but they must all be in the public domain so that responsible breeders can make more informed breeding decisions. For potential puppy buyers, CHIC certification is a good indicator the breeder responsibly factors good health into their selection criteria. The breed specific list below represents the basic health screening recommendations. It is not all encompassing.
There may be other health screening tests appropriate for this breed. And, there may be other health concerns for which there is no commonly accepted screening protocol available.
These are examples of my breed.
Hip Dysplasia (One of the following)
OFA Evaluation (min age 24 months) ➚
PennHIP Evaluation (min age 6 months)
Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist, minimum age 2 years, recommend exams every 2 years
Results registered with OFA ➚
Autoimmune thyroiditis (Optional)
OFA evaluation from an approved laboratory ➚
Patellar Luxation (Optional)
OFA Evaluation ➚
Fanconi Syndrome (Optional)
PennGen test
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test (Optional)
DNA based PRA test results from an approved lab ➚
Chondrodysplasia/Dwarfism Test (Optional)
I am posting examples of health checks so you can see the DIFFERENCE between a health check (temperature, heart, teeth) and health TESTS. This dog is 15 years old, neutered, and to be bred at all, would need to be DNA tested and microchip scanned, and certified by a Theriogenologist. None of this is the case, so none of this information can be used or stolen for reproductive purposes. So these are EXAMPLES of what a health tested documentation looks like. https://www.facebook.com/diddy.parks/media_set?set=a.201447476537091