When looking for a responsible dog breeder, doing thorough research is essential. The best breeders are looking for puppy buyers who have chosen their breed carefully and are eager to learn. Many breeders have websites with contact information and details about their breeding programs. In that case, you may find answers to some of the following questions right away.

Carefully review the information available from the breeder before making contact through their preferred method of communication. Use these questions to ensure you’re working with an ethical and responsible dog breeder when adding your next puppy or dog to your home.

1. How long have you had this breed, and why did you choose it?
   • Green Flag: Look for passion and excitement about the breed. New breeders should describe their preparation and have an experienced breeder as a mentor.
   • Red Flag: Multiple breeds with no specific passion or their breed selection is more out of convenience.
   • Pro Tip: Most responsible breeders’ involvement with the world of purebred dogs goes beyond raising puppies. They participate in competitive events because they enjoy spending time with other dog lovers and bonding with their individual dogs.
2. What are your goals as a breeder?
   • Green Flag: Breeders should aim for specific health, temperament, and breed-specific traits in line with the AKC breed standard.
   • Red Flag: Emphasis on breeding for rare colors or coat types over health and temperament.
   • Pro Tip: Know what the breed standard says about size, color, and coat type. If the breeder is intentionally producing and promoting their dogs that fall outside this range, then they are not reputable.
3. Are your dogs and puppies registered with the American Kennel Club, and do your puppies come with AKC papers?
   • Green Flag: Breeders should ensure puppies come with AKC (American Kennel Club) papers when they go to their new homes. Be wary of breeders who use the term “papers” generically. AKC is the only U.S. registry that is non-profit and inspects its breeders to enforce care and conditions policies. The AKC care and conditions requirements are stricter than the USDA’s.
   • Red Flag: High-volume breeders often partially register with AKC to avoid AKC inspections. This means not all of their dogs are AKC-registered and the puppies may not come with papers but the breeder still markets themselves as an AKC breeder.
   • Pro Tip: View AKC papers as a bare minimum requirement but understand they are not themselves an indication of a responsible breeder. Look for an AKC Breeder of Merit and learn about the requirements here.
4. What health tests do you perform on your dogs before breeding?
   • Green Flag: Breeders should share specific health tests for their breed and their dogs’ results, ideally verified by the OFA Canine Health Information Center (CHIC).
   • Red Flag: Vague statements about regular veterinary care or reliance solely on extensive DNA panels.
   • Pro Tip: Breeders can pay a fee to have each dog’s health tests verified, publicly displayed and searchable on the OFA CHIC web site. Use this free search tool in your research.
5. Are you a member of the AKC Parent Club for your breed?
   • Green Flag: Membership in the breed’s AKC Parent Club usually indicates adherence to a code of ethics and breed standards.
   • Red Flag: Blanket statements about not seeing the benefit without valid reasons.
   • Pro Tip: Your breed’s parent club can be a great resource for finding breeders and may provide screening tips specific to your breed.
6. How do you socialize your puppies?
   • Green Flag: Look for a well-thought-out socialization protocol, possibly following programs like Puppy Culture or Avidog.
   • Red Flag: Simple claims of raising puppies at home with occasional interactions with children or other adults in the home.
   • Pro Tip: Programs like Puppy Culture get the puppies started on potty training, crate training and clicker training before they leave for their new homes.
7. At what age do your puppies go to their new homes?
   • Green Flag: Responsible dog breeders keep puppies until at least 8 weeks old, sometimes longer for toy breeds (9-12 weeks).
   • Red Flag: Early separation from the litter.
   • Pro Tip: Separation from the mother, which begins at weaning, and separation from the litter, are important parts of a puppy’s development.
8. What veterinary care do your puppies receive before going home?
   • Green Flag: Puppies should have vaccinations, a veterinary checkup, fecal check, deworming, and ideally, a microchip.
   • Red Flag: Lack of veterinary care, no proof of vaccinations or worming protocol
   • Pro Tip: Some states require puppies to have a veterinarian-issued health certificate at time of sale.
9. Do you provide a health guarantee?
   • Green Flag: Responsible breeders offer a contract which includes a health guarantee, showing they are confident in their breeding decisions.
   • Red Flag: No health guarantee or a health guarantee that offers little to the buyer.
   • Pro Tip: Even if there is no contract, some states have “puppy lemon laws”
10. Do you have requirements for your puppy buyers?
    • Green Flag: Breeders may have requirements for spay/neuter and specify basic standards of care.
    • Red Flag: No requirements OR restrictions on veterinary care, forcing specific diets or products, especially when they come from MLM companies.
    • Pro Tip: Ask for a copy of the contract in advance. Know what you’re getting into before that cute puppy is in your lap and too hard to resist!

When searching for a responsible dog breeder, these questions will help you identify the breeders committed to the health and well-being of their dogs. Always research and ask follow-up questions based on the information provided. A responsible breeder will be transparent and willing to share their knowledge and practices with you.

Why are these questions important?

You are helping to support ethical breeding practices that place the care and happiness of the dogs as the number one priority. And most importantly, your support of a responsible dog breeder is helping to put irresponsible breeders out of business, thereby reducing the population of dogs in shelters and rescue.

Click here to read the top 5 hallmarks of a responsible dog breeder.