Direct from the Source-I’ts so Important!
Years ago when I had a long commute to work several days per week, I relied on satellite radio to make my commute more interesting. Advertising by a well-known company, essentially a puppy broker, got me thinking about the importance of the breeder-puppy buyer/owner relationship. I wrote this blog at that time, and recently updated it.
You and Your Responsible Breeder
Why is your relationship with the breeder of your puppy so important? Responsible breeders will provide you with advice and support for the lifetime of your dog, and often that relationship extends beyond your dog’s passing. They have an in-depth knowledge of the breed, it’s traits, characteristics, original purpose, daily and less frequent care requirements, and more. On a more detailed level, they know the backgrounds of their breeding dogs including their bloodlines, health and temperaments. Knowing the history of your puppy can bring peace of mind when navigating decisions with your veterinarian and understanding the health of your dog as a puppy and mature animal.
Responsible breeders purposefully breed dogs, carefully matching health tested and titled parents, taking into account both phenotype (outwardly visible characteristics such as structure and colour) and genotype (known genes the dog carries). Every breeder has their own goals that drive their approach to
their breeding programs, but all responsible breeders work hard to do what is best for their individual dogs and their breed. They register all of their litters and puppies with registry bodies such as the Canadian Kennel Club and American Kennel Club, which maintains the integrity of their bloodlines. They spend hours evaluating prospective puppy families for suitability for one of their puppies. They are aware of the most recent research findings on subjects ranging from caring for and raising breeding animals to canine reproduction to puppy rearing for optimal health and temperaments. They sell all puppies on strict contracts that detail expectations of both puppy buyer and breeder and they provide all of their puppy buyers with a health warranty or guarantee. They expect a certain level of contact with all puppy buyers and if one of their puppy families is unable to keep their dog at any point in the dog’s life, the breeder expects that dog to come home to the breeder and this is usually written into their puppy/dog sales contract. Above all, they take their responsibility for all of their puppies extremely seriously.
How Does a Broker Fit in with Responsible Breeders?
The short answer is, it doesn't. A puppy broker is someone, or a company, that purchases puppies from breeders and resells them for profit at a higher price. As many municipalities ban pet store sales of puppies due to the lack of integrity of the source of the puppies, a broker is not dissimilar to a bricks and mortar pet store.
“Brokers have slick websites and savvy marketing messaging that placate buyers into a sense of false confidence.”
Consider the above detail about a responsible breeder, and the relationship that develops between breeder and puppy family. Inserting a “go-between” into the process of purchasing a puppy removes all of the important elements of that relationship. The puppy buyer doesn’t know where their puppy was bred, whelped and raised and the approach followed by the breeder. The breeder doesn’t know who purchased their puppy and details about the environment in which their puppy is raised and cared for. The breeder doesn’t know about any health or temperament issues that puppy develops or successes achieved by the puppy and its family. All of these details are important to a responsible breeder on a number of levels, one being the health and temperaments of puppies they have bred in the past are factored in to decisions about future breedings. What responsible breeder would enter into this type of broker arrangement? None that I know.
Puppy brokers have slick websites and savvy marketing messaging that placate buyers into a sense of false confidence. They use language like "adoption", "puppy love", and "your perfect puppy" to conjure up the warm and fuzzies but buyer beware! You have no idea where the broker is sourcing their puppies from and the conditions in which they were bred, whelped and raised. You won't know about the health of the parents and you certainly won't have the support of the breeder for the life of your puppy. Forget about having official registration certificates confirming the identity of the parents and the pedigree of the puppy in question. Without these documents, you will never really know if your dog is indeed the "breed" you purchased. Breeders that sell puppies to brokers simply don't care about where their puppies end up. There is really no difference between a pet store selling puppies for astronomically marked up prices and an online broker.
Breeder-Puppy Owner Relationship
Figuring out what breed(s) is well matched with your family and lifestyle is difficult. Finding a breeder who is a good fit with your family can be even harder, but it’s so important. Remember, this is a relationship that will last for the life of your dog and beyond. It is an important relationship that should not be taken lightly. Take your time, do your due diligence, determine your must haves in the dog of your dreams, do your leg work, meet with breeders virtually or in person, honestly work through breeders' screening processes with them, learn everything you can--be a sponge! In the end, you'll make an informed decision about your next breed of dog and the breeder you'll work with, improving your chance of having a better outcome than if you had skipped these steps.
Final Word
We enjoy working with our puppy families and look forward to supporting them through their successes and challenges. We want those who approach us for the first time to have a positive, informed experience. As members of the purebred dog community, we are committed to supporting good responsible breeder-puppy buyer connections and so we are more than happy to answer questions and provide support, even if you aren't interested in a puppy from us. Let's work together and achieve extraordinary outcomes for both humans and canines.