How do I know if the breeder I have chosen is a good breeder? If she is ethical? Is she is a "for profit" breeder or a puppy miller?

 

Does she have a website? Do you see words like "TEA CUP", "DOLL FACED", "BABY FACED TINIES" These are words used to pump up the price of the puppy.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A TEA CUP DOG OF ANY BREED !!
If you see these words being used, do not buy from these unethical breeders. No ethical breeder tries to create a tiny version of their breed. It is unhealthy for the pup, and the smaller dogs usually have a multitude of health problems. The celebrities who carry around the very small dogs are helping to create a demand for smaller versions of the toy breeds. Popularity is not a good reason to want a tiny dog. Sometimes good breeders do get a tiny dog in a litter, but it is an accident, not something you try to breed for.

Does she advertise in the newspaper? This is a sign of a "Back Yard Breeder" or a "for profit" breeder. They do not care about you, or the pup after the sale, it is all about the money with this kind of person. A good breeder tries to better the breed, not just make some quick cash. They usually do not advertise for buyers, they have a long waiting list from referrals of satisfied buyers.

 
Does she test for liver shunt? other hereditary diseases? A liver shunt blood test is a MUST for yorkies. it should be done at the age of 10 weeks. You MUST INSIST on the vets results from your puppy before buying the pup. The cost of liver shunt repair surgery is in the thousands of dollars. Most people can't afford the surgery, so their dog will be put to sleep, or given up to a shelter or a rescue group. It is a very unhappy ending for the dog and the owner. Liver shunt disease usually shows up between 1 and 2 years on average. A good breeder will help you with the cost of the surgery, but the ones who sell on the web or from a newspaper ad will not even return your calls.
 
Is there a written health guarantee? One that refunds your money up to the purchase price if there is any hereditary problem in the dog found with the first 12 months? Not just a "puppy replacement"...as most unethical breeders use this as a "health guarantee", knowing full well that the pup will not be returned to them because the new owners already love it, and will pay for the medical problems Vs. having the breeder put it to sleep.
 
Puppy shots started?
 
Parasite (worm) tested and treated?
 
Does she take back her pups if you can't keep them for any reason? at any age?
 
Does she keep the pups for at least 12 weeks?
 
Does she sell with a spay/neuter contract?
 
Are both sire and dam AKC registered? Most back yard breeders and puppy millers have "other" registration papers (Continental Kennel Club, Universal Kennel Club, these are just two paper registries that would make me think she is a BYB or puppy miller...commonly used by these unethical breeders)
 
If the answer is "no" to any of the above...I would buy elsewhere.
 
Does she have several breeds? Most bad breeders do. 3 breeds or more is a pretty good indication, (but that in itself is not a reason to label someone a bad breeder)
 
It is just a guess on your part if you cannot see the home in person. A good breeder will be happy to show you her home and kennel runs. there should be nothing to hide. The home and kennel run should be clean and smell fresh.
 
Lots of people want a puppy so bad that they buy from these types of breeders anyhow, or make believe that all is on the up and up, till they encounter a puppy problem.

Finding a good or ethical breeder is very difficult. I would suggest that you attend a local AKC dog show. Most people who show their dogs belong to a breed club. These breed clubs have a strict "Code of Conduct" for their members. They must abide by the rules for breeding, and caring for their dogs. Not all of these people are automatically good breeders, you still have to do some research, and see their homes, and their dogs.
Then you can make an educated decision, and find the right puppy for you and your family.

 

Many people who buy puppies from pet stores believe what the pet store employees tell them, or after searching for breeders on the internet are sucked into a beautiful website showing a cute little white house with a white picket fence saying all the "right" things. They will even see beautiful pictures of puppies for sale and their parents. What they do not see on the websites are the horrendous kennels the rest of the breeders live in day after day, pumping out litter after litter. They do not understand the pet stores and commercial breeders are interested only in the sale and will say and do whatever it takes to keep the money rolling in.
 
Many people who purchase their puppies from pet stores and commercial breeders misunderstand the goals of the rescue community. They believe we are "down" on them (and even their puppies) when we state why purchasing a puppy from a pet store or any breeder for profit directly supports the horrors going on every day of every year in commercial breeding facilities all over the country! That cute little puppy may show no initial signs of neglect/abuse, but the owners of that new puppy can be absolutely certain the parents of the sweet little puppy is living a life of unimaginable neglect/abuse until the day they die or are lucky enough to be rescued!
 
As you know, many of the cute little puppies purchased in pet stores or from commerical breeders end up becoming very sick or require expensive surgery to correct genetic defects...some even die because of irresponsible breeding! Many people believe if both parents of the puppy are healthy and exactly fit the breed standard, then it is a sure bet the puppy will be perfect in every way. But commercial breeders do not care about defective recessive genes, so even if the parents are perfect in every way, they may be passing on defective genes to the puppies that are purchased.
 
In addition, commercial breeders routinely take the puppies away from their mothers at 5-6 weeks of age. They are then sold to a broker (such as the Hunte Corporation in Missouri), who then rushes to "process" the puppies, then ships them to pet stores all over the country by the age of 8-9 weeks of age. Many of these puppies develope life-long socialization problems because they lost very important time with their mother and litter mates to become properly socialized. Rescue groups see and deal with these socialization problems day in and day out. Some dogs eventually recover...some never do! In comparison, reputable breeders will keep puppies with their mothers until 10-12 weeks of age..sometimes much longer before they are sold or adopted out!
 
Some breeders are very anti-rescue because they believe rescue groups want all breeding banned! They believe the pending breeding legislation many rescue groups support will mean the end of purebred puppies being available in the future. Nothing could be further from the truth! Rescue groups simply want to make it more difficult for those only interested in breeding for profit. If commercial breeders are unable to supply the pet stores/sell puppies on the internet and make big profits, then the puppy mill business and the despicable tortures the parent dogs must live daily will begin to decline!