Where do you find reputable breeders?

[MsAwesomeDragon]

We're planning on getting a dog. We're not having any luck finding a rescue dog near us, having been looking for a few months. None of the dogs available near us are advised for children and we have a 10yo dd. We will keep looking, but it's not looking promising at the minute.

So we think we'll end up getting a puppy. But we want to make sure we don't accidentally find that it's come from a puppy farm. How do you go about finding a good breeder? Looking online, they all look lovely, because I don't really know what to look out for. What should I be looking out for? Where should I be looking?

Btw, dh has had dogs before but I've never had one. Dh always got his from friends/local farmers who had a runt, but that's not something we can do now.

Kennel club maybe

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/find-an-assured-breeder/

I was a kennel club accredited breeder in the 2000s, with an affix and everything.

I had 2 pet pug bitches that I bred once each. Zero experience. Zero health tests. Zero clue.

But I paid for the accolade and that was enough for them. Never once had any contact from the kennel club apart from to take payment.

I wouldn't say being a KC registered breeder makes you a good one. I know I was not.
I cared and wasn't in it for the money, only had 1 litter each and most pup went to family (both small litters)

We have bought puppies as we have cats and kids.
Start with the breed you want. Contact the breed club. Do your research about the health issues of the breed and what specialist health tests the parents should have before breeding. Be prepared to wait and travel. Good luck!

Kennel Club website has find a puppy, and an assured breeder scheme for some puppies
Champ Dogs is another marketplace.
Often you can learn a lot from talking to the owners of puppies /young dogs out and about in wet muddy parks! Friendly kind dog owners are a valuable source of information.

Can you dog sit for a few hours a week for a friend? Honestly, you learn so much about with life with a dog and the sort of dog that will fit in with your family and your DD. And the mud factor, cold wet walks etc. I did it for quite a few occasions before acquiring a dog. Puppies are much much harder than adult dogs imho

The breed club for the breed you want... and most of those have Facebook groups as well.

Remember KC simply means pedigree. They really don’t police good breeders.
It’s buyer beware unfortunately.

Thanks. We're getting some experience by borrowing a dog from one of dh's friends. He's here this weekend and he's gorgeous. He's a cocker spaniel, about 18 months old and very cuddly. Dd adores him.

I'd like a dog just like him, but I'm not sure if we could definitely provide enough exercise/simulation for a cocker during the week.
We are prepared for how much work a puppy is. We'll be sharing responsibility for training, exercising, etc between us, and even once dh goes back to the office (not for a while yet) he can take the dog to work with him.

All sounds positive! There are breed selector quizzes to help. Definitely worth considering the least you can offer. It’s no good thinking I can spend all weekend with a dog but only manage 20 mins walk in the week!
Also consider grooming. How much could you do? Would you mind a dog that needed professional grooming?
I know I don’t have spaniel levels of energy! I like lazy hounds.

Oh if you’re doing breed selector quizzes btw - I find the kennel club one... odd, like it gives me none of the breeds I know suit me well because I’ve owned them and instead ones that I’m really not convinced are my cup of tea.

Random ones on google seem better, weirdly, lol

Champdogs for us. Met breeders in person to chat. Only to meet adult dogs to begin with. No puppies at this point. Lots of conversation down the phone too. We were vetted. Rightly so. Aftercare has been great with our puppy. We all keep in touch. Ultimately that's how you know you have hit the jackpot. They care about where the puppies go, not just in it for profit.

It does depend a bit on how you define 'reputable' but ChampDogs and breed FB pages are good places to start. Decide what health tests you feel are critical, and look for the rapport between breeder and dogs when you visit.

Oh if you’re doing breed selector quizzes btw - I find the kennel club one... odd, like it gives me none of the breeds I know suit me well
Ditto. The KC one never brings up any of the breeds in the category I've owned for well over a decade. I think we have the wrong size garden or something.

@tabulahrasa me too re KC breed selector.
As and when and if you’re not in a rush Discover Dogs is brilliant!

It all sounds positive. You have the right set up to bring a dog into your life.
Good advice already. The breed clubs are definitely the way to go, get onto their grapevines, speak to breeders. It’s a great pity that all the shows have stopped as that’s a great way to meet lots of good breeders in one place & see their dogs. But hey ho, that’s how it is now.

"She has no need to advertise."

That was my experience too.

I’ve never, ever advertised in over 40 years.

Definitely look at the kennel club. Please also read the page on their website about the breed you’re interested in. They also have a very good page about buying puppies

Next stop is looking at the breed clubs and contacting their secretary for breeders

Know that all reputable breeders have waiting lists now.

Know that all reputable breeders have waiting lists now. Yes I realise that, and am prepared for a wait.

Dh seems to think it'll be the same as when he was a child, where they decided to get a new dog and could collect one a couple of weeks later. It's been about 30 years since he last bought a puppy, so he's a bit out of the loop

There are assured breeders on KC with current litters, just probably not the breed you are after. Often with just one puppy left. Unusual breeds are less likely to be puppy farmed..am I right in thinking that?