The breeding of your future fur baby is quite important, both in terms of healthy genes, a good mind and, not least, the best start in life. But how do you know if you have found a good breeder? Here we guide you through the things to look for when choosing a breeder.
Please note that this blog post is very generalizing and the most important thing is that you as a buyer follow your gut feeling.
Places to buy a puppy
Danish Kennel Club
Once you know what breed or type of dog you're looking for, you can start looking for the right breeder. The Danish Kennel Club has a list of breeders for almost all breeds on their website who can be contacted. It can be a great idea to meet the breeder, see the breeding site and have a general chat about the breed, even before they have any current puppies.
Den Blå Avis
Another place where many people find their future dog is the dba.dk. On dba, there is typically talk of small home breeding, which can also be a really nice solution, but you have to be a little extra careful here, so you do not suddenly end up with a puppy from a puppy factory or other poor breeding.
If you get a puppy from a bad breeder, it can be very expensive in vet bills, a tough experience and you're supporting the wrong people.
There are breeders who really care about their work and responsibility for the dogs they breed, and they are much nicer to support.
5 things to be aware of
Once you've found a breeder, whether it's a professional or a family with a home breeding program, you can pay extra attention to these 5 points. Again, please note that these points of attention are very general and do not necessarily mean that you are talking to a bad breeder.
The best advice is: go with your gut.
Can you come and visit?
It's a good idea to ask if you can come and see the puppies. Many breeders want the puppies to be at least 2-3 weeks old before you can come and see them for the sake of the calmness that mother and puppies need. This is a good consideration, but it is essential that you can come and see the puppies before they are collected. If you have a breeder who does not want you to come by before the day the puppy is to be picked up, this is typically a bad sign. Also, please say no to breeders who offer to deliver your puppy before you've seen where it comes from.
Can you feel the commitment of breeders
Whether you're dealing with a professional breeder or you're in the living room of a family that only makes a few litters of their family dog, it's essential that you can feel the commitment of the breeder. They must be passionate about the puppies, the breed and do their utmost to ensure that they send the puppies out with the best start. If you get the feeling that it's just a \"money machine\" then it's best to stay away - good breeding requires heart and soul.
Are the puppies fresh, clean and tidy
Just as the environment the puppies are in should be clean and tidy, so should the puppies. Another thing you can pay attention to is whether puppies are fresh after sleeping. There's nothing strange about visiting some tired puppies, but it can make it difficult to assess whether you're dealing with a healthy litter. If you come just before the puppies go to sleep, you can, if it feels natural, wait until the puppies wake up again or come again another day to see if they are otherwise fresh and healthy.
However, this \"point\" only applies to puppies that are at least 5-6 weeks old, as this is when you can expect active puppies.
Healthy breeding
Feel free to ask for thoughts on breeding. Has there been x-rays taken of mom and dad's hips, elbows, etc. What is the dental position of the mother and the puppy. And talk to the breeder about the criteria they used to select the male dog. A good breeder has certainly given some thought to who will be the father of the puppies and why.
But remember that healthy breeding is also a dog with a good psyche, so if the breeder replies that the father of the puppies is just a really good dog, then this is quite common in house breeding.
