What makes a great breeder?  I’ve been mulling this topic over for a few weeks.  Traditionally we like to educate and encourage people to find a breeder who health test their dogs, treats the animals well, and shows the dogs in some sport.  Those things are important and an excellent starting point.  Most breeders who do those three things are extremely good breeders, but honestly I think the most vital things, the traits that keeps people coming back is empathy and integrity.

Let’s be honest.  No breeder can tell if a puppy will be healthy after it leaves their home.  Breeders can do their best to reduce the chance of sickness by staying on top of the latest research, but in the end there will always be dogs who have issues.  Look at your own family.  How many people in your immediate family have health concerns?  I’m hoping your mother didn’t marry her cousin, so genetically your family should be pretty diverse.  Almost every single person in my human family have some sort of problem!  I have asthma and allergies, my sister has an auto immune disease, my dad had cancer, and my mother in law is having her hip and knee replaced soon.  In dogs we have a closed stud book with little ability to increase our genetic diversity.  Is it any wonder dogs have things like cancer, auto immune diseases, joint issues, or allergies?

As far as how the dogs are treated, well that is easy to verify by a simple trip to the breeders home.  I’ve said this many times and I will continue to preach: “Visiting the breeders is the single most important thing you can do when purchasing a new dog”.  When I say shop local, I mean it!  You can get an idea of how the dogs are treated, how many dogs the person has in their home, and know if the breeder has more dogs than they can care for effectively.  Yes, seeing where your new puppy was raised is extremely important, but it will not tell you if the breeder will support you long term.

Showing elevates things yet more.  If a new puppies parents have titles it is a good indicator of a mentally stable parent.  Even a simple conformation title lets us know the sire or dam was able to stand still on a table while a total stranger examined them from head to toe.  The dog was able to walk on a leash in a controlled manner in a highly distracting and frightening environment.  If a dog has a performance titled parent we can infer it was able to maintain focus and complete task in a specific order while under stress.  That sort of confidence will be passed on to the next generation.  If the breeder was the handler of a performance dog, new owners will have their knowledge to draw upon if any issues arise.  I was once a painfully shy person, unable to talk to anyone I didn’t know well.  Dogs and the idea of showing was so important to me I stepped far out of my comfort zone when I was 12 years old.  I began training my dogs.  Training later lead to teaching.  Teaching requires good communication skills.  I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it were not for the desire to bond and work my dogs.  In my opinion a breeder who shows is far better than one who doesn’t… but even showing will not make them a great breeder.

When a new owner brings that wonderful sweet puppy home, it will become part of their family.  There will be stories to share, funny things will happen, and possibly even problems which will need solving.  The breeder should be the first person to contact.  Maybe the breeder will have some suggestions when issues crop up, but maybe they won’t, and you know what?  That is OK!  As long as the breeder shows empathy, the puppy owner will continue to respect and admire them.  Let’s say something tragic happens.  Your regal 10 year old Standard Poodle bloats.  The emergency vet saves the dog, because you were educated on what to look for and rushed the dog in as soon as it happened.  The next day you decide to contact the breeder to let them know.  Stress and the fear have been washing over you for hours when you drop the breeder an email or phone message.  After waiting a week you have not heard from the breeder.  How would you feel?  Hurt?  Abandoned?  Sure your dog was saved… but where was the breeder when you needed emotional support?  Would you feel the breeder is no longer interested in your dog?  I would.  I would be disappointed and probably unwilling to go back to that breeder in the future.  What I would want is someone to recognize the situation.  To understand I almost lost a beloved family member.  To share in my relief that my dog survived!  So many breeders feel situations like this are something to hide from or ignore.  Why??  I can’t wrap my brain around not supporting and embracing anything that comes our way.  These are living creatures who become cherished pets.  They are not a piece of furniture.

I had a fabulous couple contact me and share some of their stories.  Sadly, they experienced a breeder who wasn’t there for them.  They felt abandoned, adrift in dealing with health issues which would affect their dogs for life.  These fine folks asked if I could share a few of my owners.  They wanted to speak to people who had both healthy and unhealthy Poodles.  They wanted to hear from both sides, to see if I would stick with them during the bad times, and not simply the good.  I have to say I have some pretty amazing owners.  I asked for some help on Facebook, and the hands were tossed up in the air!!  I had far more volunteers than I needed, and it made my heart sing.  Breeding is never easy.  I can honestly say I have considered tossing in the towel so many times.  When a health issue comes up.  When I funnel so much money towards a breeding only to never see it happen.  When I purchase so many dogs who never make the cut due to health or temperament issues.  Why do I bother??  Why keep going??  You people.  YOU are why I keep doing this insane thing called breeding.  So many of my colleagues dislike dealing with the puppy buyers, but to me it is my favorite part.  I’ve made so many new friends, and some of you are practically family now.  If I wasn’t a breeder I wouldn’t know you.  I wouldn’t have a string of wonderful people cuddling my dogs all over the country.

If you are a breeder, please remember your first job is to be a shoulder to cry on during times of need.  No one is expecting a perfect puppy, but they fully expect a breeder who cares about the health, welfare, and safety of their pups.

If you are an owner please contact your breeder when things are good, not just with shocking bad news.  If we breeders only hear the negatives why would we continue to breed?  Give us hope!  Let us know how much you love your dog.  Keep breeders motivated.  Purebred breeders are on a steep downward trend.  If you love your puppy let that breeder know.  Otherwise you might find yourself searching in vain, because there are no people left willing to put in the time, dedication, and money to produce outstanding puppies.

Becky Baxter