Whats makes a perfect MN Dog Breeder?

[PollyRoulson]

Just that really. What is the MN criteria for the perfect dog breeder?

When we bought our dog 7 years ago we went by:
Kennel Club approved
Parents tested
All inoculations done
Also personal recommendation where possible.
We did spend a fair time finding our puppy as we were on a waiting list but it was worth the wait. She has no sign of any of the illnesses this breed can be notorious for and is still jumping around like a puppy.

Someone who is interested in breeding puppies which are better than the parents - either for working purposes, show, or temperament. Who understands that breeding isn't a case of getting pups that are the average of their parents. Where both parents are chosen to breed for a reason - for instance the sires blood line has a particularly strong top line where the dams bloodline is very unrelated and could be stronger in that. Where all health tests, DNA tests are done. Where the breeder has the time, knowledge, and commitment to raising a good litter and looking after the dam, and is prepared for the very hard decisions that sometimes come with that. And most of all, where the dogs (sire, dam and pups) welfare is absolutely top of the agenda in all of this

Pretty much was @CMOTDibbler said but also a breeder who will offer lifetime support and mean it.

Our youngest is nearly 6 and we have regular contact with his breeder. She’s a genuinely lovely lady who adores her dog.

I think @CMOTDibbler covers most of it.

I'd also say that there are 'perfect' breeders and 'good enough' breeders. A 'good enough' breeder is usually aiming to produce more of the same, where 'the same' is conformationally and temperamentally sound. They will ensure that either sire or dam have been tested for recessive genetic illnesses, that sire and dam are not too closely related, and that if they lack experience, they have a mentor who can help and advise from choice of stud onwards. They'll have enough cash in the bank to cover unexpected emergency costs, and will have long discussions with potential purchasers. We were home-checked by a breeder who would not have scored the full sweep of MN perfect points, but my God, did he care where his puppies ended up (still in contact, four years later).

Any decent breeder will sell using a contract, and either be willing to take the puppy back or (at absolute minimum) assist with rehoming through responsible channels.

These things are important to me:

KC registered and actively showing.
Retired (from breeding/showing) dogs are kept in the family home, not sold on.
Dogs are loved pets first and foremost.
Breed appropriate health tests. Hip scored.
Knows why they have selected that particular sire for that particular dam.
Wants to ask me a million questions, and is totally happy for me to ask them a million back.
Offers support for life.
Has a clear socialisation plan for the first 8 weeks of life.
Pups brought up in the home.

Most important, though, is the temperament of the dam, as a significant component of the temperament of the pups is genetic.

I reckon if you pick a pup from a dam with the right temperament, with breed-appropriate health tests, with the first 8 weeks done right, then you've done everything you can to ensure you get a first rate friend for life.

I agree with all of the above and also a breeder who truly understands their breed, strengths and weaknesses and makes sure that you do too. We had to drive 3 hours to meet our breeder before we were even allowed on her waiting list. We spoke for ages about the breed and what truly understanding, nurturing and doing the breed justice entails. I really appreciated that and still do as we wanted to make sure we can give pup the best life for her as an individual, as her breed, to understand how to nurture her instincts and keep her fulfilled whilst being a very active and loved member of our family.

I can tell you about me - infrequent litters 3 in 12 years from 2 different bitches . KC reg and both sires owned by my friend so knew temperament dams have been our family dogs
Good set up indoors and puppies handled regularly by many children and adults and also met cats and chickens. All have been fantastic temperament. We have had vet checks all puppies both at birth and at first immunisation
Puppies and bitch wormed to vet instructions
Not health tested but not really developed in breed at last litter but will do in future
I question all buyers in detail and say no if I am not happy. Have made a conscious decision to not bread during lockdown as don’t want one of my puppies suddenly without homes

@CMOTDibbler

Someone who is interested in breeding puppies which are better than the parents - either for working purposes, show, or temperament. Who understands that breeding isn't a case of getting pups that are the average of their parents. Where both parents are chosen to breed for a reason - for instance the sires blood line has a particularly strong top line where the dams bloodline is very unrelated and could be stronger in that. Where all health tests, DNA tests are done. Where the breeder has the time, knowledge, and commitment to raising a good litter and looking after the dam, and is prepared for the very hard decisions that sometimes come with that. And most of all, where the dogs (sire, dam and pups) welfare is absolutely top of the agenda in all of this

This. I was grilled / vetted, the breeder insisted we become FB friends so she could check out my life with the dogs. I waited a year until she was breeding from her bitch in order to get a puppy for herself (working gundog). She got all the pups together at a year old for a party and training session in a hired field, we are still FB friends.

Someone who knows what they are doing and who breeds to get a good dog for themselves is the gold standard for me.

Our puppy came from a ‘Licensed’ breeder, where the local authority award it. I’m not going to lie, I don’t think he deserved his 3 stars , was clearly debunking the inspections and he was only interested in money and I should have walked away. Didn’t see puppy in their home ‘due to covid’ but in his nearby stable complex. The mum was allegedly his granddaughter’s dog but again I think that was a complete lie. Saw him selling a 3 year old bitch another time. All photos/videos were staged and always took ages to send them and realised that this was because they were clearly kept in barns. (I google mapped his address and looked on satellite mode.) When I called once their son picked up and there was loads of barking too, like a dog rescue place. I saw later saw other puppies advertised with same staged photos.
I’d go for a private breeder where you can see them in actual homes where they are part of the family. They still have to do the health checks, insurance, vaccinations before you take them.

Don’t believe everything’s you read or what they say. They just want your money and will say what you want to hear. It a minefield!

My dog is a vulnerable native breed, who came from a breed enthusiast who is also someone I know extremely well (decades) and who has had a total of 3 litters from two bitches - essentially breeding her replacement dogs. Maternal line has the most lovely temperament. Stud dogs carefully selected for COI and health

It’s a breed which has small litters (2-4) and the pups had loads of attention and excellent early socialisation. Stayed with their dam until 12 weeks.

KC registered, sold with contract, lifelong returns (I was told that there were only two places the dog would ever live, with me or back with her) and of course, lifelong telephone support. Plus an offer that we could use them for holiday boarding