Selecting a Dog Breeder

SELECTING A DOG BREEDER

Take the time to do your research in this area. You need a breeder who is committed to achieving excellence in the Entlebucher breed. There are many questions a breeder will ask you about your situation before deciding to sell a pup to you. It is also your perogative to ask the breeder questions as well.

If you can, it is best to visit the kennel before deciding it's where you want your puppy to come from. This might take some doing as there are not that many breeders. At least ask the breeder about its environment. The kennel should be clean. Filthy conditions can mean unhealthy dogs. If you can't visit the kennel ask where the puppies are kept? Find out the conditions of where the puppy spends its first 8 weeks. Will they be kept with their mother or separated before 8 weeks? Are they kept outside in a small kennel? How big is their area? The puppy should not leave the mother before 7 weeks, 8 weeks being ideal. The period between 6 and 8 weeks is a crucial developmental period where the puppy learns to interact with litter mates and mother. Puppies have been known to elicit aggressive and other behavioral problems if taken away from their mother and litter mates too early. If you can see the puppies, they should be active and curious, have healthy coats and clear eyes and have some puppy fat. Ask to see pictures of the pup before making a commitment if you can't see them in person.

Ask them about the puppy's parents. It is very important to breed dogs with good sound temperaments and healthy bodies. Each dog is different. Ask what kind of temperament and physical characteristic each parent has (ie some dogs have more herding instinct, some more active, some more sensitive, some are taller, some are longer, etc.) Ask them whether the dogs are involved in Obedience, Conformation or Field Trials. Ask to see the pedigrees, the eye CERF and the Hip Dysplasia rating of mother and father. And ask questions if you do not know what you are reading. Some documentation can be difficult to understand. You can call the OFA and CERF to verify hip rating and eye certification numbers. The eye CERF should be done once per year. ERG (Electro Radiogram) is also a good eye test (especially at a later age) but dogs must be CERFed yearly as well. To call these organizations you will need the breeder's name and the dog's pedigree name.

Ask them what kind of socialization they will get or have received. Have they been exposed to children, strangers, other animals (cats, birds, cows, horses, etc), cars, loud noises. Ask them about the puppies personalities. The breeder usually will try to match the puppy with its new home. If someone lives on a farm and has cattle or other livestock, then that person needs a dog with a strong personality. If the dog will live in the suburbs and take walks mostly on a leash, then the dog needs to be a little more mellow. It is very important to get a good match.

Ask about pricing and exactly what the price entails. There seems to be a great range of prices out there and in no way does a higher price mean a better kennel. These dogs are rare and breeders are setting prices based on that and market conditions. We purchased our Shaman for $2000 and that seems to be a fair market price. There are prices as high as $3000 - 4000. This breed is rare but not that rare! It might just mean waiting a little while before you get a pup from the breeder you feel most comfortable with and where the price is more reasonable. Also, because the price is higher than most other popular breeds, please don't consider breeding in order to recoup the money spent. Believe me, that is not a good reason to breed or purchase an Entlebucher. There is a huge amount of time, effort and money spent to properly breed these dogs. Most people do not have the time nor the facilities to undertake something that involved.

Other questions you can ask if the pups are already born: What shots and worming have they had and at what age? Ask to see the puppies weight charts. You want to see a steady increase in weight and weight loss is an excellent indicator of poor health. You can also ask what kind of puppy food they are feeding. Then go to the grocery or pet store to see the quality of the food. A lot of by-products and fillers means poor quality food. Usually grocery store pet food is not good quality.

Ask about a contract. A breeder should supply you with one that explains all agreements between you and the kennel. It safeguards you and the breeder. Some contracts are for spay/neuter and usually the price is lower for this type of contract. The contract should explain what recourse you have in case of problems and explain what recourse the breeder has if you break the contract. (i.e. if you bought a pup on a spay contract and end up breeding her or if you bought a puppy to breed and did not do the required health tests before breeding. There would be some serious consequences.) When the breeder has a contract, it means the breeder is serious about their relationship with clients.

Ask for references of other families who have purchased a dog from the breeders. You can find a lot of information about the kennel through other people.

The breeder should be a resource to you throughout the life of your dog. They should be concerned about the health and welfare of him or her. They should be available via email or phone to answer any questions you may have. If you have problems or issues your breeder should be able to help you.

Ask about what clubs the kennel belongs to. A good breeder is interested in promoting the breed and clubs are good resources to do that.

I think you get the jist of the selection process. Everyone should be asking a lot of questions.

If you have questions or comments, please contact Katlin@entlebuchers.net