Buying a Dog From a Breeder - Guide

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If you choose to buy a purebred dog, the most important thing is to be responsible and find a reputable breeder. Be patient, avoid backyard breeders, and never buy a dog from puppy mills - these puppies have unknown backgrounds and may be unhealthy.

First of all, the breeder you choose should have specific papers proving that he is qualified to breed animals and he needs to show you those papers. If he can’t or won’t show them to you, turn around without buying a puppy and report a breeder to the relative authorities. 

Breeding documents

Every breeder should have a license to breed any kind of animal. You would never consider buying a racehorse that costs a huge amount of money without checking absolutely everything there is to know about them and the person who is breeding them. You should have the same approach to buying a dog. Your dog might not go to dog shows or compete in any dog sporting events, but that doesn’t mean that it is any less important that your new dog is properly bred. Responsible breeders will keep track of the dogs they breed and will have all the health certificates for the puppies and their parents.

One of the most important things is that the breeder you are thinking of buying a dog from is registered in their nation’s cynology association.The Kennel Club is the governing cynology Association of Great Britain, VDH, or Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen is in Germany, and so on.

These associations should have the registration documents of all breeders that are from their country so you can always double-check with them. Keep in mind that different countries have different rules and just because something is allowed in the USA does not mean it is allowed in Japan. Be sure to check the laws as well as restrictions your country might have before you go buying a dog.

Responsible breeders won’t have any problems in showing you their registration documents, in fact, they will probably be happy that you are a knowledgeable buyer and that is the first sign to the breeder that their puppy is going to a good home. Unregistered breeders may try to trick you but we recommend that you check with your national cynology association or contact World Dog Finder.

At World Dog Finder all breeders that are interested in selling their dogs must present us with all the up-to-date documents and certification for breeding so you can be sure that the dog you are interested in will come from a responsible and registered breeder and will have all the necessary documents.

How to check puppy health?

A good breeder will only breed from two healthy animals. Ask a breeder to show you the puppy’s parents' health clearances. Get a full medical history, especially if you are interested in a breed that is known to be prone to certain health conditions. For example, buying a German Shepherd that is prone to hip dysplasia without seeing proof that parents’ (and even grandparents’) hips are normal and healthy is not smart (not to say stupid). Of course, no one can guarantee your dog’s health through all his life, but you should do whatever you can to get a dog that is unlikely to inherit genetic diseases. Ask a breeder to show you the puppy’s parents in person. Seeing the puppy’s parents will give you a sense of your future dog’s temperament, size, and appearance.

Buying a dog - guide

Visit the place puppies were born and raised. Always make sure you see mum and her pups together to exclude the possibility that a breeder isn’t just a dealer who has bought the pups in. If they were bred and raised in proper conditions and with lots of love, the mother should be nice, friendly, and welcoming, and the puppies should be bright-eyed, friendly, and never shy or fearful. Never agree to meet a breeder in some third place that isn't the puppy's home; insist on going to a breeder’s house and make sure that the puppy you are interested in is a product of responsible breeding. Check the facilities; make sure they are clean and that the litter appears alert and healthy. Observe the relationship and communication between a breeder and his dogs. Breeder’s dogs should not shy away from him. 

Is puppy socialization necessary?

Dog’s stable personality and even temper are not just about how you raise them. The conditions they were raised in the first few weeks of life also have a significant impact on temperament. The puppies must be properly socialized early in life and a reputable breeder will work hard to socialize his puppies from a young age. The puppy should also be microchipped and registered with an approved database before he is removed from his place of birth. When the ownership of a puppy is transferred from one person (breeder) to another (buyer), that must be recorded on the dog’s certificate of registration. 

Are breeders good or bad?

If a breeder insists that the puppy stays at the kennel for at least two months after being born it is a good sign! This shows you that a breeder isn’t trying to get rid of the puppy as soon as possible. On the contrary, he wants the puppy to be with his littermates and his mother as long as possible so he can mature and socialize. A reputable breeder will want to meet you in person and interview you. It is a great sign if a breeder is asking you a lot of questions about your lifestyle and home environment. This shows that he wants to make sure you are the right people for his beloved puppy and that the puppy is going to a good home.

Can I get my dog papers?

When you make sure that a breeder you have chosen to buy a puppy from is reputable and that his dogs are healthy and being raised in a loving home ask a breeder for a copy of the puppy’s medical records, including vaccination certificate and records of worming and flea treatment and then take your new buddy home.

Let the adventure of your life begins!

World Dog Finder team