Breeding 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? We guide you here through the things you should look for when choosing a breeder.
We would like to point out that this blog post is very general 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 are looking for, you can start finding the right breeder. The Danish Kennel Club has a list of breeders for almost all breeds on their website that you can contact. It can be a really good idea to meet the breeder, see the place where they breed and have a general chat about the breed, even before they even have any current puppies.
The blue newspaper
Another place where many people find their future dog is the blue newspaper. At the dba, it is typically about indoor breeding, which can also be a really good solution, but you have to be a little extra careful here, so that you don't suddenly end up with a puppy from a puppy factory or other bad breeding.
If you get a puppy from a bad breeder, it can be really expensive in veterinary bills, a tough experience and you're supporting the wrong people.
There are breeders who are truly committed to their work and responsibility for the dogs they breed, they are much better to support.
5 things you should pay attention to
Once you have found a breeder, whether it is a professional or a family with an indoor breeding, you can pay extra attention to these 5 points. We point out again that these points of attention are very general and that it does not necessarily mean that you are talking to a bad breeder.
The best advice is: follow your gut feeling.
Can you come visit?
It is a really 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 in order to give the mother and puppies peace of mind. This is a good consideration, but it is essential that you can come and see the puppies before they are picked up. If you have a breeder who does not want you to come by before the day the puppy is to be picked up, it is typically a bad sign. Also, say no to breeders who offer to deliver your puppy before you have seen where it comes from.
Can you feel the commitment of the growers?
Whether you are dealing with a professional breeder or you are at home in the living room of a family who only makes a few litters of their family dog, it is essential that you can feel the commitment of the breeder. They must be passionate about the puppies, the breed and do their utmost to send the puppies out with the best start. If you get the feeling that it is just a "money machine" then it is best to stay away - good breeding requires heart blood.
Are the puppies fresh, clean and neat?
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 the puppies are fresh after sleeping. There is nothing strange in visiting some tired puppies, but it can make it difficult to assess whether you are dealing with a healthy litter. If you come just before the puppies are going to sleep, you can, if it feels natural, wait until the puppies wake up again or come back 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.
The healthy breeding
Feel free to ask about the thoughts about breeding. Have x-rays been taken of the mother dog and father dog's hips, elbows, etc. How are the teeth of the mother and the puppy? And talk to the breeder about the criteria they used to choose the male dog. A good breeder will certainly have given some thought to who should be the father of the puppies and why.
But remember that healthy breeding is also a dog with a good psyche, so breeders who say that the father of the puppies is just a really good dog are quite common in indoor breeding.
