The myth of the "private party"

Some people will tell you they got their puppy from a "private seller" rather than a "professional breeder."

They believe if they buy from someone who had one litter and who placed an ad in the newspaper, they're not buying from a breeder. Or if they buy from a neighbor who says, "Our Molly recently had pups. Would you like one?" they're not buying from a breeder.

Not true.

My friend, a breeder is any person who owns a female who has a litter. One litter is all it takes.

Even if he or she simply owned two pets who were bred together and the puppies advertised in the newspaper.

Even if the breeding was accidental. Even if the father was a mutt down the street, so the puppies aren't even purebred.

If they own the female, they are the breeder of that litter.

The key question is: did they produce their litter responsibly... or irresponsibly? Knowledgeably... or unknowledgeably?

Breed dogs together only if they have been cleared of genetic health problems.

Breed dogs together only if their temperaments are sound...i.e. they interact well with the rest of the world.

Are involved in canine activities such as obedience, agility, rescue, dog shows, kennel clubs, and so on.

Can give several other responsible breeders as references. (Not just satisfied puppy buyers.)

Breed dogs together only if their conformation and structure is close to the official Breed Standard. The breed standard is a written description of a breed, a blueprint that defines what each breed should look like and act like. "But I don't care what a dog looks like. I only want a pet, not a fancy show dog!" Ah, but...purebred dogs are kept distinct only because responsible breeders have agreed to adhere to an official Breed Standard. The official Breed Standard describes the traits that keep each breed sharply distinct from other breeds. Those who love purebred dogs try to preserve them as they were intended to be. So...standards are not about "show dogs." They are for all purebred dogs. They exist as quality control to keep one breed distinct from another. What SHOULD your breed look like?" If you want to find out what your breed SHOULD look like, I recommend the AKC Video Series. The AKC has produced a video for each breed, discussing the official breed standard for that breed. I recommend it for owners who want to learn what proper individuals of their breed should look like... and should NOT look like. For example, you'll learn: How broad or narrow your dog's head should be The proper size and shape of his ears, and exactly where on his head they should be attached What shape and color his eyes should be How long his muzzle should be, and whether it should be broad and deep, or narrow and pointy How long his tail should be, and how he should carry it, both when he is standing quietly and when he is trotting around What color his nose should be How his upper and lower teeth should be positioned How long his coat should be on different parts of his body The proper texture of his hair, from hard to soft to wiry to silky What colors he may (and may not!) be Whether his feet should be oval or round Whether his body shape should be slender, racy, powerful, athletic, even sausage-shaped! How tall he should stand at the shoulder, how much he should weigh, and what his proportions of height to length should be What his gait should look like when he trots, i.e. powerful, driving, rolling, ambling, quick, prancing, light-footed, etc./font> What traits would be considered faults in the show ring, and what traits would be considered outright disqualifications NOTE...These videos are short, ranging from about 15 to 25 minutes, so don't expect a full-length feature film! Also there is absolutely NO information on training, feeding, housebreaking, buying, or caring for your dog... but that's okay, because you can learn about THOSE topics on this very web site! Seriously, these videos are about the AKC Standard... and only the AKC Standard. You'll see good examples and less-good examples of the breed, along with expert commentary as to WHY these individuals are good and less-good. Sure, you can just read the AKC Standard yourself on the Internet, but you'll probably come away with puzzled questions such as "What exactly does a moderate-length muzzle mean? Compared to what?" These videos are excellent visual guides to the words in the Standard. For example, you'll see a dog with the correct moderate muzzle, compared to dogs with a too-short or too-long or too-shallow or too-broad muzzle, so you can see the difference. So, as long as you understand what you're getting -- a short visual lesson restricted to the AKC Breed Standard for your breed -- you'll likely be happy with one of these videos! Go ahead and order it! Choose from the list below: Affenpinscher - Afghan Hound - Airedale - Akita - Alaskan Malamute - Am.Cocker Spaniel - Am.Eskimo Dog - AmStaff - Am.Water Spaniel - Aust.Cattle Dog - Australian Shepherd - Australian Terrier Basenji - Basset Hound - Beagle - Bearded Collie - Bedlington Terrier - Belgian Malinois - Belgian Sheepdog - Belgian Tervuren - Bernese Mtn Dog - Bichon Frise - Black/Tan Coonhound - Bloodhound - Border Terrier - Borzoi - Boston Terrier - Bouvier des Flandres - Boxer - Briard - Brittany - Brussels Griffon - Bulldog - Bullmastiff - Bull Terrier Cairn Terrier - Card.Welsh Corgi - Cavalier King Charles - Chesapeake Bay - Chihuahua - Chinese Crested - Chinese Shar-Pei - Chow Chow - Clumber Spaniel - Collie - Curly-Coated Retriever Dachshund - Dalmatian - Dandie Dinmont - Doberman Pinscher - English Cocker - English Setter - English Springer - English Toy Spaniel - Field Spaniel - Finnish Spitz - Flat-Coated Retriever - Fox Terrier - French Bulldog German Shorthaired Pointer - German Wirehaired Pointer - Giant Schnauzer - Golden Retriever - Gordon Setter - Great Dane - Great Pyrenees Ibizan Hound - Irish Setter - Irish Terrier - Irish Water Spaniel - Irish Wolfhound - Italian Greyhound - Japanese Chin - Keeshond - Kerry Blue - Komondor - Kuvasz - Labrador Retriever - Lakeland Terrier - Lhasa Apso Maltese - Manchester Terrier - Mastiff - Miniature Bull Terrier - Miniature Pinscher - Miniature Schnauzer - Newfoundland - Norfolk Terrier - Norwegian Elkhound - Norwich Terrier - Old English Sheepdog - Otterhound Papillon - Pekingese - Pembroke Welsh Corgi - Petit Basset - Pharaoh Hound - Pointer - Pomeranian - Portuguese Water Dog - Pug - Puli Rhodesian Ridgeback - Rottweiler - Saint Bernard - Saluki - Samoyed - Schipperke - Scottish Deerhound - Scottish Terrier - Sealyham - Sheltie - Shiba - Shih Tzu - Siberian Husky - Silky Terrier - Skye Terrier - Soft-Coated Wheaten - Staffordshire Bull - Standard Schnauzer - Sussex Spaniel Tibetan Spaniel - Tibetan Terrier - Vizsla - Weimaraner - Welsh Springer - Welsh Terrier - Westie - Whippet - Wirehaired Pointing Griffon - Yorkie A responsible breeder abides by the quality control of the Standard. And a responsible buyer only supports breeders who abide by it. You and I are responsible buyers!

Sell all pet puppies with Limited (non-breeding) Registration Papers. A "pet" puppy is one who has been produced by a responsible breeder, who has the temperament and health to be a great companion, but who deviates from the Breed Standard in some way that means his genes should not be passed on. Typically these deviations are in size, color, coat, gait, shape of the head, carriage of the ears, positioning of the teeth, and so on. Limited registration means the puppy himself is registered, but any offspring of the puppy cannot be registered. Breeders who use limited registration have their breed's best interests at heart.

Please think about this. Your decision to buy from a particular person will affect future dogs and their owners. Because whoever you buy from will most likely breed again if he is rewarded with money. Don't encourage irresponsible or unknowledgeable people to keep doing what they're doing. Buy only from someone who has done all the right things. Someone who deserves to be rewarded and encouraged.

They don't wear signs around their necks, but there are enough clues that you should be able to spot them. In my book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide, you'll learn...

• Exactly how to interview a breeder, word-for-word, on the telephone.

• Twenty-five questions you should ask every breeder.

• The exact answers you should expect to hear.

• Examples of foolish answers and other red flags.

• The most common source people use to find a purebred puppy -- and why you should NOT use it.

• Fourteen signs that will tell you a breeder should NOT be trusted.