-- How long has the breeder been involved in Portuguese pointers?
-- Is the breeder an active member of their national breed club? Does he or she support the Code of Ethics of that club and the UKC?
-- What percentage of dogs does the breeder register with the UKC and/or AKC FSS?
-- Is the breeder actively involved in competition - whether in the breed ring, field or companion events - to seek evaluation of their dogs?
Does he/she require any of his/her breeding stock to have conformation and/or performance titles?
-- Does the breeder know the accepted breed standard? Do his/her dogs look like other Portuguese pointers you have seen?
-- Does he/she seem knowledgeable about the pedigrees of the dogs he/she is breeding?
-- Can the breeder explain his breeding program and/or philosophy? What is the breeder hoping to achieve with their breeding program?
-- Does the breeder seem to have a genuine love for the breed?
-- Is the breeder interested in placing the dog in a good home? Is the breeder asking you questions about the home you would provide for one
of their dogs? If the breeder does not have any dogs available, is he/she willing to recommend other reputable breeders?
-- Is the breeder willing and able to answer your questions?
-- Does the breeder openly discuss health problems that affect the Portuguese pointer? If the breeder tells you there are no health problems in
the breed, find another breeder!
-- Does the breeder x-ray hips of his/her breeding stock? Does the breeder know if any of the dogs he/she has produced have been x-rayed
and what their ratings are? Ask what the OFA and/or PennHIP results are for their dogs and request the paperwork as proof.
-- What is the breeder's policy on pet quality puppies? The breeder should require a pet quality puppy be spayed/neutered so that it can not
be bred. Can the breeder point out the qualities that determine which are pet and which are show prospect puppies with respect to the breed
standard?
-- Does the breeder offer a written contract signed by both parties? A contract should protect you AND the breeder. It should include any
health guarantees that the breeder offers, including puppy replacement/refund information and spay/neuter requirements.
-- Have you visited the breeder's kennel? Do the dogs look healthy and well-cared for? Are the premises clean? Try to visit any breeder you
are interested in.
-- Is the breeder over-breeding? How many litters out of each female does the breeder produce? What are the minimum and maximum ages
of the females he/she is using for breeding?
-- Have you seen the mother (dam) of the litter? Having both parents on the premises should not always be expected. A breeder should be
breeding to a dog that complements his/her female, not just putting two dogs together that he/she happens to own. Did you see pictures of the
sire? Ask the breeder why he/she bred those two specific dogs together. Is the breeder keeping a puppy out of the litter?
-- Have the puppies had all age-appropriate vaccinations? De-wormings? Properly socialized? Tails docked? Healthy skin? Alert and active?
At what age is the breeder willing to let the puppies go home? Eight weeks should be the minimum. If the puppy needs to stay with the breeder
longer than 8 weeks, what arrangements can be made?
-- Are the breeder's puppy prices comparable to other breeders? Price is not necessarily an indicator of quality yet it is expensive to produce
quality dogs so beware of bargain basement prices. Don't ever buy from a pet store or auction. Reputable breeders will never sell to a pet
store, donate dogs to auctions, or sell to third party puppy dealers.
-- Does the breeder accept credit cards or Pay Pal payments?
-- Does the breeder offer support after you have taken the puppy home? Does he/she provide information on feeding, supplements and
excercise? Can he/she offer ideas on training and socialization as well as information on events?
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS! Ideally you will have a relationship with your dog's breeder for the lifetime of your dog or longer. If
something doesn't feel right, move on. Your choice in a breeder is as important as your choice of a dog. I t is every bit your right to
ask the important questions; a reputable breeder will appreciate your dedication and the effort you have put into finding the right
dog. Only by having educated buyers putting pressure on less-than-ethical breeders can we try to eliminate thoughtless breeding
programs aimed only at making money and not bettering the breed.
-- Is the breeder an active member of their national breed club? Does he or she support the Code of Ethics of that club and the UKC?
-- What percentage of dogs does the breeder register with the UKC and/or AKC FSS?
-- Is the breeder actively involved in competition - whether in the breed ring, field or companion events - to seek evaluation of their dogs?
Does he/she require any of his/her breeding stock to have conformation and/or performance titles?
-- Does the breeder know the accepted breed standard? Do his/her dogs look like other Portuguese pointers you have seen?
-- Does he/she seem knowledgeable about the pedigrees of the dogs he/she is breeding?
-- Can the breeder explain his breeding program and/or philosophy? What is the breeder hoping to achieve with their breeding program?
-- Does the breeder seem to have a genuine love for the breed?
-- Is the breeder interested in placing the dog in a good home? Is the breeder asking you questions about the home you would provide for one
of their dogs? If the breeder does not have any dogs available, is he/she willing to recommend other reputable breeders?
-- Is the breeder willing and able to answer your questions?
-- Does the breeder openly discuss health problems that affect the Portuguese pointer? If the breeder tells you there are no health problems in
the breed, find another breeder!
-- Does the breeder x-ray hips of his/her breeding stock? Does the breeder know if any of the dogs he/she has produced have been x-rayed
and what their ratings are? Ask what the OFA and/or PennHIP results are for their dogs and request the paperwork as proof.
-- What is the breeder's policy on pet quality puppies? The breeder should require a pet quality puppy be spayed/neutered so that it can not
be bred. Can the breeder point out the qualities that determine which are pet and which are show prospect puppies with respect to the breed
standard?
-- Does the breeder offer a written contract signed by both parties? A contract should protect you AND the breeder. It should include any
health guarantees that the breeder offers, including puppy replacement/refund information and spay/neuter requirements.
-- Have you visited the breeder's kennel? Do the dogs look healthy and well-cared for? Are the premises clean? Try to visit any breeder you
are interested in.
-- Is the breeder over-breeding? How many litters out of each female does the breeder produce? What are the minimum and maximum ages
of the females he/she is using for breeding?
-- Have you seen the mother (dam) of the litter? Having both parents on the premises should not always be expected. A breeder should be
breeding to a dog that complements his/her female, not just putting two dogs together that he/she happens to own. Did you see pictures of the
sire? Ask the breeder why he/she bred those two specific dogs together. Is the breeder keeping a puppy out of the litter?
-- Have the puppies had all age-appropriate vaccinations? De-wormings? Properly socialized? Tails docked? Healthy skin? Alert and active?
At what age is the breeder willing to let the puppies go home? Eight weeks should be the minimum. If the puppy needs to stay with the breeder
longer than 8 weeks, what arrangements can be made?
-- Are the breeder's puppy prices comparable to other breeders? Price is not necessarily an indicator of quality yet it is expensive to produce
quality dogs so beware of bargain basement prices. Don't ever buy from a pet store or auction. Reputable breeders will never sell to a pet
store, donate dogs to auctions, or sell to third party puppy dealers.
-- Does the breeder accept credit cards or Pay Pal payments?
-- Does the breeder offer support after you have taken the puppy home? Does he/she provide information on feeding, supplements and
excercise? Can he/she offer ideas on training and socialization as well as information on events?
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS! Ideally you will have a relationship with your dog's breeder for the lifetime of your dog or longer. If
something doesn't feel right, move on. Your choice in a breeder is as important as your choice of a dog. I t is every bit your right to
ask the important questions; a reputable breeder will appreciate your dedication and the effort you have put into finding the right
dog. Only by having educated buyers putting pressure on less-than-ethical breeders can we try to eliminate thoughtless breeding
programs aimed only at making money and not bettering the breed.
 |
 |
| Last updated 19 November 2009 |
| Guidelines for Finding a Reputable Breeder |
| With thanks to Kathy Cressia of Sleeping Giant Cane Corsos and the Cane Corso Association of America |
Use these questions to help gain a better understanding of a breeder's philosophy and goals for
breeding Portuguese pointers. While all may not be applicable to every breeder, the majority of these
questions will allow you to more effectively determine which breeders are in it for the betterment of the
breed and which are just making puppies to supplement their incomes.
breeding Portuguese pointers. While all may not be applicable to every breeder, the majority of these
questions will allow you to more effectively determine which breeders are in it for the betterment of the
breed and which are just making puppies to supplement their incomes.