How do I know if they are a good breeder or not?

[SmileAndNod]

As I had a conversation earlier which has made me doubt my judgement.

We've been in contact (email / calls / visits) with a local breeder since March with a view to maybe getting a puppy. They breed mainly for showing and a KC accredited. I heard this morning I the grapevine - someone I know has a relation who also breeds / shows the same breed - that our chosen breeders aren't very good. No more specific than that.

So now I'm beginning to doubt myself. We've met their dogs (all of them), the potential mum who is gorgeous and was good with the children. Been inside and outside of their house and had meetings each time of at least an hour. They asked us lots of questions, as did we. Nothing made any alarm bells ring at the time, so I'm not sure why I'm wobbling now.

What should we have looked for? Have we hope about this the wrong way?

All I will say is the dog showing world is sooooo bitchy and judgemental, try and get some facts as to why they think they are no good, and then assess , it may be well founded, but it very well be not.

we had the same thing! it was nothing to do with the dogs and all to do with personalities.

Thank you. I'm hoping that it is just a case of kennels being 'funny' about each other. Why is the show world so bitchy? I thought that they would be supportive of each other, being into the same breed and all that. They really didn't give any reasons at all

What did you do in the end sanfairyanne?

Was at this thread title when it popped up in active threads before realising when section it's in

*what

we got the dog. none of the reasons turned out to be animal welfare and i am not going to be in the dog show world so it didnt seem important. i liked her and her dogs and our pup is great

" I thought that they would be supportive of each other, being into the same breed and all that."

Some are, but the competitive element doesn't bring out the best in some people.

I've been trying to do a bit of digging on the internet but to no avail. All I can find out is that our breeder shows AND judges, the other shows. Is there a way of finding anyone who has had dogs them before - to get an opinion?

I'm so confused by it all.

Why is the show world so bitchy? I thought that they would be supportive of each other, being into the same breed and all that.

It mostly is very nice and supportive but as tabulahrasa said it can be a competitive hobby and there's always some who take it far too seriously.

The fact that they're a judge as well as a breeder will almost inevitably mean they've made some enemies. Judging is obviously quite subjective and different judges will interpret the breed standard slightly differently. Most people who show get to know this and don't bother competing under judges who they know don't prefer their dog's type but some people will take it personally if their dog isn't placed.

Many breeds have a pedigree database (for example this is the one for my breed) and you can look up dogs your breeder has bred and some may have the new owners' names on. You might be able to find some previous puppy buyers that way. Alternatively you could just ask the breeder if they'll put you in contact with some previous buyers.

i wouldnt worry about all this. theres been no allegation about how they raise the pups and you've met them, their dogs, been interviewed by them, and nothing made you feel suspicious. what are you worried about wrt how they raise the pups? if nothing, then dont let slurs put you off. i dont think its fair of that person to do that - if it was a serious concern surely they would have been more specific?

What's the breed?

I would say look for the following:
-Healthy mum, who is friendly
-Ask if it is possible to see the dad at all
-See proof of all the relevant medical checks that the parent dogs have had (each breed has their own things that should be checked prior to breeding)
Ask plenty of questions, including how many litters has the mum had and her age etc.
-And something that I think is extremely important and ANY GOOD breeder should do is that they should be asking YOU all sorts of questions - their motivation should not be money but prolonging a healthy breed and good bloodlines, so they should want to know exactly where their pup will be going and the type of life they will have.

There are other things too, but these are the main points.

I was asked by our breeder:

To provide photos of the garden
To provide floorplan of house so she could see he'd have room
To tell her which rooms he'd be allowed into/banned from
Our intentions to train him, which method & which teacher
For our vets phone no so she could speak to him for a reference on us
For details of who'd have him when we went away
For our opinions on discipline
On our intentions to take him overseas with us if/when we travel
Confirmation we'd have him neutered

It was very intense & felt like an initiation & endurance test but was well worth it.