Finding a Breeder

[Daschy16]

Hello
I am looking to get a daschund puppy but I am struggling to know how to find a reputable breeder. Does anyone have any tips please?
Thanks in advance!

We used Champdogs to find a breeder for our Lab

Never, ever buy a puppy from anyone who advertises them. Reputable breeders never advertise as they'll have waiting lists for puppies.

Go to dog shows. As many as you can. Get a copy of the schedule and look up the KC names of the dogs you like the look of. While you're at shows, talk to people. Owners/handlers. Many of them will be very experienced in the breed and can advise. Visit Discover Dogs at Crufts.

Contact the Kennel Club and the official breed club of the UK. They can provide a list of reputable breeders. Champdogs is OK but used by puppy farmers who sell KC reg puppies.

When you find a breeder you like, make sure that the puppy will come with a contract that includes endorsements and a clause that will allow you to return the dog to the breeder at any stage in its life, if it comes to that. Ensure that both dam and sire have the relevant health tests for the breed, and you see those certificates/scores. Make sure you see the dam with the puppies. You don't need to see the sire usually - many breeders will use a stud from a different kennel if it betters the breed.

Finally, be prepared to wait. Good breeders will have people waiting for puppies. Be wary of anyone who has puppies available immediately. Ask yourself why. I waited five years for one of my current dogs. So worth it.

Oh, and research LOTS. Good breeders will want to know that you are familiar with their breed, know what you're getting into and will usually ask lots of questions.

Champdogs is a reputable site and allows you to see parents health tests etc. KC assured breeders list is another place to look.

Make sure you check the KC breed profile for the compulsory and / or recommended health tests for the breed and ask the breeders you contact about these tests. Anyone not breeding primarily for health should be avoided so that’s a good way to windle them down.

Finding a good breeder can, and should, take months if not years. @SquashedSquid has given good advice.

I’d add two things: don’t take things at face value - Just because a breeder is recommended, doesn’t mean they are a good one - and don’t, for the love of God, go for someone who boasts about having a 5 star licence - it’s the absolute sodding bare minimum a breeder should do. If you actually look at what a breeder needs to get a 5 council licences, it will make you sick.

A few weeks again woman posted having nearly got a Goldie puppy from a puppy farmer - multiple breeding bitches in other people’s homes that she ‘bought in’ to give birth and then returned to their own families again - was registered in the KC website, CD, recommended by the Breed Club AND by the bloody stupid Facebook group where they promise to ‘vet breeders’ for you (absolute travesty of a group and people who boast about using it are thick as mince)

It’s not simple or easy to find a good breeder. If you’re hoping to find one with puppies already you’re out of luck.

We used Champ dogs to find our poodle.

All that @SquashedSquid has said

Make sure you ask LOTS of questions and a good breeder will be asking you questions too. They should be wanting to know you are right for the breed. Dachshund’s seem to be ‘trendy’ at the minute which means lots of people suddenly breeding them.
Visiting Crufts is a good idea (terrier and hound day is the Thursday I think).

And especially do your research on the breed, I have a dachshund, they were bred to work. They need walks, and mental stimulation too. They bark, a lot, they have hound skills such as not listening and rolling in fox poo. They are stubborn and strong willed and like to chew (we’ve not got a single dog bed that hasn’t been sampled by our Dachshund 🤣).

Absolutely do a ton of research on breed and look for a KC breeder and on Champ dogs. Were you looking at Standard or Mini? What coat type? Different breeders are going to specialise in a certain size and a certain coat type (smooth, wire or long hair). You also absolutely need to make sure they've done all the relevant breed tests (not health checks, full tests), this is a must read on Dachshund health: https://www.dachshundhealth.org.uk/health-testing

Dachshunds are a lot of dog in an odd shaped body. Don't underestimate their stubbornness or their will. I once found a Standard Dachshund in my garden - it had chased a cat from 5 doors down, all the gardens had fences, determination on another level!

I used to show & breed for years, only stopped due to increasing arthritis makes it difficult to trot round a ring & only ever bred when I wanted another & to keep my line of my rare breed going, so like many breeders never ever advertised.
The very best way to find a reputable breeder of good puppies is to get the contact number of the breed club secretary ( some breeds often have more than one national breed club, you’ll find them on the Kennel Club website) so if ring them all. Tell them what you are looking for. They’ll know of club members who are expecting, planning or have litters. Ring any one of them. That way you’ll get passed around on the grapevine, regular exhibitor/breeder/club members always know who has or is expecting a litter,or planning one. You could also try ringing, via the same contacts, any one who has a winning dog in case they’ve recently had a bitch for mating. If by chance nobody has a planned litter, unlikely in such a popular/ common breed as dachsies, ask them to keep you in mind should they hear of anything leaving your phone number. All the people who had a puppy from me came by word of mouth from other friends in the breed & I always had a waiting list, never puppies immediately for sale.

🙄

What's the problem?

^^This both my current pedigree dogs were found through the relevant breed club, one was regional, the other, a rare breed, was national. Members are exceedingly dedicated to their chosen breed know it inside out, know about blood lines, required health tests etc. They also have a reputation to maintain amongst their fellow enthusiasts and in the case of both of mine their puppies were cheaper than those available on websites like Pets4homes etc.

I agree with everything @SquashedSquid said. I have pedigree show dogs and it took a long time to get my first one. I called the secretary of the breed society who gave me some contact numbers. I also had to prove that I had experience of the breed I have (my parents also had this specific vulnerable breed) Be prepared to wait and keep in touch with the breeder throughout to build a relationship, there aren't usually pedigree puppies waiting for homes and they will prioritise someone who shows over those seeking a companion pet. My current pups I made enquiries about in March (pre conception) and they came home in December.