How do you choose a breeder?

[CanSomeoneElsePickMyName]

A friend is looking to add a dog to their family. I've spent some time talking to them about what not to do as regards puppy farms, online pet sales etc. She then asked how to find a good breeder. I suggested kennel club site but advised that it still wasn't a guarantee. Also recommendations but keeping in mind the puppy farm/online negatives.
How did you find your breeder!

(Not looking for lectures on rescuing as I always have and she doesn't fit criteria for most rescues)

Find the contact numbers of the breed clubs if the breed she’s interested in, they’re on the Kennel Club website. Many breeds have more than one club, except some of the rare breeds.
Ring them all & ask them if they know of any members who have or are expecting litters, or may have waiting lists. All serious, reputable breeders tend to belong to at least one of the breed clubs as they often show or used to. Ring a few & chat to them. Even if they have nothing planned they often know if friends in the club who do & it gets you onto the breed grapevine. I’ve often had owners come to me that way or passed enquiries on to others. You could also ring some stud dog owners & ask if they’ve had any matings recently or any in the offing.

Sorry, meant to say it’s the secretaries of the breed clubs contact numbers you need.

I went through the breed club. That only helps if she’s looking at a pedigree. Before Covid I would have said try and get out and go to some shows etc and meet breeders. Expect to be grilled. You may well have a house check. Expect to have to sign a contract.
It’s a bloody minefield. KC club means pedigree. Not good breeder. Stay off Gumtree and Prts4homes. Remember it’s not just about the pup you buy but the welfare of the parents too. And puppy farmers are crafty.

@Wolfiefan

I went through the breed club. That only helps if she’s looking at a pedigree. Before Covid I would have said try and get out and go to some shows etc and meet breeders. Expect to be grilled. You may well have a house check. Expect to have to sign a contract. It’s a bloody minefield. KC club means pedigree. Not good breeder. Stay off Gumtree and Prts4homes. Remember it’s not just about the pup you buy but the welfare of the parents too. And puppy farmers are crafty.

Completely agree. Was talking to a friend today who has a friend who bought a puppy off gumtree two weeks ago. Today the puppy died of parvo.

Oh @CanSomeoneElsePickMyName that’s bloody heartbreaking.
Case round here a few months ago. Giant pup bought as a surprise present for family (so breeder didn’t ask to meet whole family) died of parvovirus. Poor bloody pups.

This was a pup brought from Ireland. Mum was 'out for a walk' when they went to see the pups and new owner didn't question.

Contact breed club. Find a proper show breeder who mostly shows dogs and has a litter ever few years

Get on a wait list and be prepared to wait up to a couple of years

Join a breed FB page and ask around. A lot of reputable breeders and owners of stud dogs hang out on the page I'm on. Don't rule out the internet entirely: some very good litters are advertised in ChampDogs, and at least one parent has to be health-tested. I've had a decently-bred dog from Pets4Homes, but I did grill the breeder and knew what I was looking for.

Always check a breeder's breeding history and see how many litters they take off their bitches, how often and at what age. Some breeders are savvy enough to health-test but I still wouldn't touch their puppies with a bargepole.

I did a long post a while ago about breeders. I'm about to go to work but I'll try and find it later on.

I echo the breed club suggestion. They'll all have Facebook groups where you can meet owners and get to know people and learn loads about the breed.
Some do meet ups for prospective owners.

They'll all hold lists of potential litters and of people looking for puppies. Expect to have to give quite a bit of information about yourself and potentially a home visit. Our breed club have volunteers all over the country to do this.

Also be warned that some rarer breeds have huge waiting lists because of Covid. A lot of planned matings didn't happen because reputable breeders were following lockdown rules. A breeder with a long waiting list is likely to be a good one, people will wait rather than buy a puppy off gumtree.
Look out for people charging far in excess of what you'd expect to pay, again our breed club were very critical of this and most breeders continued to charge the expected puppy price.

What breed is she interested in? It will make a difference as to how to find a breeder

We went to the breed club, then were recommended a breeder, who is lovely and very much aligned with our philosophies/ideals, so a good match for us.

We were then invited to join the FB group for the club and a more sort of social one for breed enthusiasts, where we have got to know the breeder and several families who have their pups, as well as members of the wider breed community.

We are having a rare breed, so always long waiting lists anyway, but we were already planning a long-time in advance. The advantages of this are having plenty of time to build a relationship with the breeder and the wider breed community and to learn everything you can about the breed, so you are as fully informed and prepared as possible when you do eventually get your pup.

Ordinarily I would have gone to the club show and some breed meet ups, plus either Discover Dogs or Crufts, but that hasn’t been possible because of Covid. Although, thanks to planning well ahead, we are hoping this still may be possible before we get our pup.

It sounds convoluted, but we have had lots of rescue dogs and it’s no harder than going through the adoption and approval process for most rescues (and definitely a more pleasant experience than we had with one rescue in particular) and ultimately worth it to get a well adjusted, healthy pup.

We have only had one purebred dog before (all the others have been crossbreed rescues). That time we also went through the breed club, but in that instance, the club kept the puppy waiting list and breeders contacted you when they’d read your application and were planning a litter. That was a very long time ago though.

Champdogs is a really good site for reputable breeders

Found list via assured breeders looked for someone who had been registered for a long while, had breeding experience and was a member of a breed club. Then searched their prefix saw that they were active in the show ring, winning breeds, look at their own website - which showed all health certifications.
Phoned breeder she grilled me, I grilled her. I am now waiting for a litter to come along I know I could wait 6-9 months for a puppy as she currently only has two active bitches one is due to have her last ( third litter) the other is due her first litter. Next year is a rare year for this breeder with two litters, usually they only have one.

A friend’s recommendation.

Breed society - spoke to several breeders and then one put me in touch with a show breeder who had a litter. Got a brilliant, healthy puppy.

If she's anything like the people I know she'll get bored waiting and go with a pets4homes purchase.

Excellent breeders have such long waiting lists (rightly so) that many people just get tired of waiting as they're ready now.

I got pissed off waiting for rescue centres to return phone calls etc and I said to my DH that this is why people just go and buy one.

We didn't btw - we've had successful rescues worth the wait.

Contacted all three clubs, puppy co ordinator put us in touch with a now life long friend who sold us our dog. Very professional dog came with a return ticket, holiday accommodation and ongoing support even showed us how to do basic grooming.
Good breeders do exist

Breed website. Phone a few breeders, some will recommend other breeders. I went to a dog show (I'm after showing mine too) and met a really nice breeder and their lovely 6 month old pup who I liked the temperament of.