| Now that you have decided on the breed of dog | | | | breeders who are striving to improve the breed, and |
| you want, how do you go about finding a reputable | | | | to breed healthy, happy puppies belong to breed |
| breeder? If possible, it is ideal to find a good breeder | | | | clubs to continue to learn from other breeders. |
| within driving distance so that you can meet the | | | | 7. Do you exhibit your dogs in conformation or |
| breeder, ask lots of questions, see the parents of | | | | performance events? Does the breeder compete |
| the puppy you will buy and be close enough that the | | | | with other breeders and owners, to see how his/her |
| breeder can mentor you as you raise and train your | | | | dogs compare to other dogs as far as "how they |
| puppy. You can check the local breed clubs, the | | | | conform to the breed standard" and how they |
| American Kennel Club web site, or the Canadian | | | | "follow commands from the owner" in performance |
| Kennel web site to see if there are breeders near | | | | events. |
| you. If not, you may have to start your internet | | | | 8. Are your dogs good with children and the elderly? |
| search to find a few breeders that you can | | | | 9. Do your puppies have a health check with a |
| interview. Remember, getting a puppy means adding | | | | veterinarian, their first puppy vaccinations, and a |
| a family member for 10 to 15 years, or even longer. | | | | tattoo or microchip, before leaving your premises? All |
| You want this dog to have a great temperament, | | | | puppies should have some form of identification so |
| and hopefully no health issues. | | | | that if they should ever get lost, they can be traced |
| What kind of questions should you ask your | | | | back to the owner. The Canadian Kennel Club |
| prospective breeders? | | | | requires this identification for all puppies that are |
| 1. How long have you been breeding pugs? (lets | | | | registered with them. |
| pretend that is your chosen breed!!) It is helpful to | | | | 10. What type of support do you give your puppy |
| find a breeder who has been raising pugs for at least | | | | purchasers after they take the puppy home? The |
| a few years, and who will be very familiar with the | | | | least you should expect from the breeder is that |
| breed's temperament, health issues and who will have | | | | they will be available for phone consultations but |
| a reputation that you can check out with previous | | | | preferable they will be willing to show you how to |
| buyers. | | | | groom your puppy, how to cut the puppies nails and |
| 2. Why did you choose pugs for your breeding | | | | help you with any training issues. |
| program? The breeders should be able to tell you | | | | 11. What type of guarantee do I get when I buy a |
| what attracted them to this breed (not just because | | | | puppy? A reputable breeder should offer to replace |
| they are popular and sell quickly) and it is usually | | | | any puppy that turns up with a hereditary defect. |
| because of special characteristics of the breed such | | | | Even reputable breeders who test for defects can |
| as size, temperament, good with children, the way | | | | produce a puppy with a health problem, but you |
| they look, etc. | | | | should expect that they have some form of |
| 3. Are your dogs registered, and with which | | | | guarantee. |
| registering body? If you want to show your dog, | | | | 12. What is the price of a puppy? Remember that |
| you will want the puppy to be registered with either | | | | the lowest price may not be the best buy - a higher |
| the Canadian Kennel Club or the American Kennel | | | | price may be an indicator that the breeder spends |
| Club. | | | | more on their dogs, in showing them, in health |
| 4. Can I meet the parents of the puppies - and if | | | | checks, in their care, etc. |
| not, why not? Often the sire (father) of the puppies | | | | Spend time with the various pugs ( okay - you may |
| will not live at the same place as the dam (mother) | | | | not want a pug so whatever breed it is!!) that the |
| of the puppies, but you should be able to meet the | | | | breeder owns, see if you like how they look, how |
| mother and see what her temperament is like. | | | | they relate to you and your children, if you have |
| 5. What health problems do pugs have? The breeder | | | | children. Temperament is very important. You want a |
| should be able to tell you what health issues are in | | | | sociable, happy pet and if the parents do not have |
| the breed. (You should have done your research first | | | | this temperament, chances are, neither will the |
| on the internet to see what the health issues are in | | | | puppies. Remember, each breed has a different |
| your chosen breed - most breed clubs have a web | | | | temperament, and some breeds are more aloof - so |
| page with this information) You are really checking to | | | | do your research to see what temperament you |
| see if the breeder is aware of health issues and if | | | | should expect in your chosen breed. In the not too |
| they test their breeding stock for these health | | | | distant future, I will do a post on choosing a puppy |
| concerns. | | | | from a litter. |
| 6. What breed clubs do you belong to? Most serious | | | | |