Hunter's Heart Brittanys - Choosing a Breeder

There are a lot of things that make a good breeder. And not everybody would agree on the “must haves” and “should haves”. I will talk about things we try to achieve as breeders. We recognize that everybody doesn't believe in the same set of rules. But hopefully, what we all have in common is the knowledge that bringing puppies into this world shouldn't be taken lightly.

Deciding What Dogs will Breed

photo: Storm & Spirit lying on their dog bed

When breeders mate two dogs, they should strive to produce puppies that are better than the parents. That’s the way to improve the breed over time. They should consider the ancestry of the sire and dam. They should evaluate the prospective parents with an eye to conformation, temperament, and working instinct and ability. The sire and dam should be free from all serious defects, and not be bred if they've produced flawed puppies in the past.

Good breeders do all they can to produce healthy puppies. Potential breeding stock must be thoroughly checked by a reputable veterinarian. Your breeder should be knowledgeable about genetic diseases commonly found in their breed. They should be able to show you certificates proving that their dogs don't suffer from these problems. Brittanys are at risk of hip dysplasia & breeding dogs should be X-rayed and certified by either OFA or PennHip before breeding. The eyes can be checked for inheritable diseases, and certified by CERF. In future, thyroid testing may become more commonplace. Someday testing for epilepsy and DNA testing may also be possible.

“Dog” people often talk about type and soundness. A “typey” dog is a good example of his breed. He looks like other dogs that conform to the breed standard. He does the work the breed is intended to do & has the typical temperament of his breed. But that’s not good enough by itself.

Soundness is also important. A dog that’s sound in mind and body is just as important as being a good- looking example of the breed. For example, even a show champion whose movement looks good should not be bred if he’s unsound because of hip dysplasia.

Raising Puppies

What else should a breeder be concerned with? If the breeder breeds mixed breed pups or purebred pups of many different breeds, sells them through pet stores, and keeps no records, watch out! Puppy mills are essentially lacking in care of & concern for the well-being of their breeding stock & resulting puppies. For example, bitches may be over bred, which is hard on their bodies & takes its toll. And many animals may be kenneled together without adequate mental & physical activity or proper veterinary care.

photo: puppy chewing on Gary's shoe, while he's still wearing it

A good breeder takes care of their dogs and pups. He/she doesn’t breed dogs that are too (physically or mentally) immature; or too old. He/she feeds bitches appropriate food, especially during pregnancy & nursing. The puppies aren’t taken away from their litter & their mother before they have a chance to learn what being a dog is all about. (The United Kennel Club defines the earliest appropriate age for separating a puppy from its litter as 7 weeks in most cases, or 8 weeks where the puppy will be shipped.) The puppies are raised indoors as part of the family.

Puppies require a lot of individual attention and socialization. Socialization basically means exposure to many different sights, sounds, people & dogs at an early age. This is how a puppy learns to deal with the world around them and to get along. A puppy that isn't properly socialized will never behave normally. (Imagine a child growing up on a deserted island with no company or guidance. Adults raised like this will have many problems, no matter how much care and attention they receive later in life.) Breeders are responsible for starting off the process of socialization just as much as the family is responsible for continuing it on after they bring their new puppy home.

Selling a Puppy

A lot of the things a breeder should do are just good business practices. Breeders should be up front with their customers and treat them politely and fairly. They should return phone calls or emails promptly. Advertising should not be misleading or intrusive. Any guarantee, non-breeding agreement or co-ownership should be in writing. That way, it's spelled out in the beginning what you are both committing yourselves to.

Good breeders carefully screen potential puppy owners. They try to make sure you can provide a good home for a puppy of their specific breed. (For example, you & your family can handle a Brittanys need for exercise.) Breeders ask & answer questions. They should do everything reasonable to make sure that the individual puppy is a "good fit" for you & your family. A good breeder should not sell puppies that will be given away to somebody else as a gift. Good breeders also don't sell their pups to pet stores. And would rather see you adopt a dog from a rescue club or the Humane Society than a pet store.

Responsible breeders are concerned with the pet overpopulation problem. So they encourage buyers of pet quality puppies to spay or neuter them. All puppies should be sold with a written non-breeding agreement. The requirements for lifting this agreement (i.e. the dog turns out to be an exceptional adult that you will breed) should be clearly written out.

photo: Spirit nursing several puppies

The breeder should provide anybody adopting a puppy with the following records: pedigree, written guarantees, records of diet, vaccination, parasite control & identification (tattoo or microchip.) Expect a written guarantee dealing with the health of their puppies. Common statements you might see in the breeder's guarantee include what how they deal with unforeseen problems such as hip dysplasia & temperament problems. It's extremely important that every client leaves the breeder with a clear understanding of when their new puppy's next vaccination is due.

The breeder should arrange to register your puppy as a purebred dog, e.g. with the Canadian Kennel Club. If you buy a purebred dog that's a legal requirement. You should expect your official papers to arrive within about 6 months.

It's a controversial issue in the dog community as to whether breeders should unconditionally accept the return of the puppies/dogs they raised. Some people argue that if a family abuses or neglects their puppy, the breeder shouldn't be held responsible for finding the resulting adult a home after he's abandoned by his original owners. One thing is for sure: breeders who allow clients to return their dog at any age, for any reason do care about what happens to the dogs they sell.

Breeders Are a Source of Information

Breeders should be a source of up to date information about their breed for the general public. Beware of breeders who don't know about their breed in detail. Breeders should know the Canadian Kennel Club breed standard for their breed & be able to answer your questions. We applaud breeders that can also recommend books, magazines and videos where you can learn more.

Your breeder should offer support & advice in years to come. If you're having problems with your pet, they should be available to help solve them. When a kennel is recognized by the CKC (or other registry) it's an indicator of that breeder's commitment to the breed in the long run.

Good breeders have a breeding program aiming to produce puppies to fulfill certain goals. For example, they may be producing puppies they hope will be future field trial champions. Or they may attempting to breed family pets that are good with children. To be able to evaluate the potential of the puppies, breeders should have experience in these areas. For example, they may be members of a Brittany web ring or club that hosts field trials.

It helps if the breeder you buy a puppy from has interests in the same areas of dog competition as you do. Breeders should clearly state the purpose of the puppy you are considering adopting. Not every dog is destined to be a show champion. Don't just buy a pet & sign him up for a show. If you're looking for a future show champion, be sure your breeder is breeding for this quality & that he/she feels the puppy you're looking at should be able to succeed.

Look for a breeder who's a member of dog clubs, for example the American Brittany club or the Calgary Associated Dog Fanciers, etc.. Look for a breeder who enjoys competing with their dog. With Brittanys, that could mean exhibiting in dog shows; hunting, field trials & field tests; or obedience or agility or tracking competition. Involvement like this means the breeder is likely genuinely interested in their dogs, informed about these sports & a good source of information for you. And hopefully they're good sportsmen or sportswomen too! (Unnecessary gossip and criticism does us all a disservice.) As a newcomer to the world of dog competition, it's invaluable if you can find a mentor to help you in the beginning.

Think Before You Buy a Puppy

In the end, consider not only the breeder's experience and reputation. Look for actions to back it up. Find a breeder that you feel comfortable with. If you feel uncomfortable, please wait. A dog is a lifetime commitment: you should be sure before you make the leap & bring one home with you.