With the advent of the Internet, prospective owners have unlimited new sources when looking for a puppy or adult dog. In addition to sites specializing in behavior, care training, and even determining which breed is right for you, many breed-specific clubs now have web sites available, as well, which provide incredible sources of information when researching a pure bred dog. To top it off, there are more individual breeders and organizations available through personal websites.
When looking for a puppy, searching for a breeder online can be a tricky process; you are exposed to information created by the individual themselves for public consumption. This is why it is important to remember the differences between the ethical, responsible breeder, and the irresponsible breeder; these differences frequently appear in the way their web sites are designed. Typically, there are two kinds of websites developed by breeders of purebred dogs: Those created to showcase the breeder's kennel and accomplishments, and those created to sell puppies. The former type of site belongs to the responsible breeder. The irresponsible breeder creates the latter.
WHY DO ETHICAL BREEDERS CREATE WEBSITES: Ethical breeders (by definition those who screen for genetic problems and prove their dogs' quality through shows and working events) create sites in order to share information. To brag, if you will. For example I created this site because I wanted to showcase my dogs. I wanted to display their photos, pedigrees and accomplishments, both for other Dachshund Breeders, as well as those interested in the breed.
WHY DO IRRESPONSIBLE BREEDERS CREATE WEBSITES: Irresponsible breeders breed for money. Their primary interest is not to share information about their dogs, but to sell their puppies. For them, a website is just another way to advertise a litter, not unlike a classified ad.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN SURFING DACHSHUND SITES: Because of the difference in intent, breeders' sites can have a slightly different feel, depending on what kind of breeder you are dealing with. When you type "Dachshund Breeders" into a search engine and start digging through the results, the following questions can help you determine what kind of breeder a site represents:
*WHEN,WHERE,AND HOW OFTEN ARE PUPPIES/LITTERS MENTIONED ON THE HOME PAGE? If the site mentions specializing in puppies, or discusses latest litter information multiple times within the first several pieces of text, you are dealing with an irresponsible breeder. Certainly, responsible breeders will mention their litters, however they will not be the central issue.
*WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THEIR DOGS? Does the breeder mention showing or working their dogs? Are there show photos of the dogs winning various prizes? If not, are there photos of dogs working? Do the activities the breeder participates in with their dogs seem to be of primary importance on the site? If not, what is the primary focus of this site? Ethical breeders, without exception, participate in some type of activity in order to prove their dogs worthy of breeding. If the primary focus of the site is puppies, you are in the wrong place.
DO THEY MENTION HEALTH CLEARANCES? Irresponsible breeders don't typically perform health clearances on their dogs, because they aren't educated, don't want to spend the money, or simply don't care. A responsible breeder will mention OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) clearances against hip displaysia, as well as listings with canine eye health foundations such as CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation).
WHEN DISCUSSING PUPPIES, WHAT DO THEY SAY ABOUT COAT/EYE COLORS? If the site makes claims of "rare" coat colors, or gives common colors an "exotic" name, go somewhere else. Eithical breeders understand that no one coat color is "better" or "more rare" than any other, and that color does not constitute a valid reason to breed.
DO THEY POST PEDIGREES? IF SO, WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE? Eithical breeders post pedigrees, typically so that other breeders can see the backgrounds on their dogs. The fact that they do so shows knowledge and interest in their dogs' ancestry. Conversely, a "breeder" who does not include pedigrees either does not know his dogs' background, or doesn't think it's important. Pay close attention to the dogs pedigree.. do the dogs have titles? These prove that the breeder is somehow active and involved with their dogs.
HOW ARE THEIR DOGS REGISTERED? Beware of a breeder who uses an unestablished, "alternative" registry to provide "papers" on their dogs. Due to the recent changes on registration made in the AKC (American Kennel Club), many irresponsible breeders and puppy mills in the United States are no longer able to meet registration requirements, and are looking for a cheaper way to make their dogs seem "legitimate". This has led to the use of for-profit registries, which will grant "official registration" to nearly any dog. These registries do not require proof that the dogs they register are purebred...in fact, many of them will register mixed-breeds as "new breeds". When examining a website, it is important to make sure that the breeder uses a well-established traditional registry, such as the AKC, or the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) in North America.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: Details on the individual dogs on a breeder's website can also offer telling information. When reading information posted on the dogs themselves, pay close attention to items such as age, and the number of times the dog has been bred. If, for example, a female is listed at three years old, and has already been bred twice, it stands to reason that her first litter was shelped before the age of two years. Ethical breeders will not breed a dog before the age of two years. (whether male or female). This is because their hips cannot be properly certified against hip displaysia until this age, and also because the average dog is not fully physically mature until at least 24 months.
WHY SHOULD YOU PAY ATTENTION? You may be thinking, "Well, what difference does all of this make?" Why should I be concerned if I'm just looking for a pet? Hopefully, by now, you've gotten a feel for what separates the responsible breeder from the irresponsible breeder. Basically, it is a dedication to the breed itself, rather than a dedication to making puppies. Dedication to the breed results from - and in turn prompts - a desire for knowledge; and knowledge is the best thing you can ask for when looking for a puppy. The knowledge of a good breeder will ensure that you puppy will be well-socialized and healthy throughout it's life. It will ensure that if you ever have questions about training, behavior, or the breed in generl, you know who can answer them, throughout your dogs life.
So, to Sum it Up! Irresponsible breeders create a website to sell their puppies. Responsible breeders create websites to celebrate their devotion!
Written by Jessica Breinholt.
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