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HOW CAN I FIND A REPUTABLE BREEDER?
Finding a reputable labradoodle breeder is essential. Spring
Creek was only one of a handful breeders in the U.S. when our
program began in 2000, and we were the first on the west coast
and in Oregon. We have one of the longest histories with
labradoodles in the U.S., which gives us a lot of time with
hands on experience with coat types and general conformation of
the developing breed. It is important to ask questions of
any breeder you may wish to work with, and know what their
history and experience is with the labradoodle. If a breeder or a
website claims that they are listed with specific organizations
as a reputable breeder, please do your homework and make sure
this is true. Anyone can state anything. Check with
the organization, and more importantly, if a breeder claims to
have done specific testing on their dogs, ask for proof.
Some sites claim that testing has been done or is in the process
of being done, but it's up to you to determine if this is the
case. Breeders can pay to be listed on some sites, so
determining the validity of any claims made is up to you, the
consumer. To make your search easier, here are some general
guidelines about things the breeder should offer and questions
you should ask:
- Contracts
A breeder should offer a written health warranty. It should state the breeder's policy regarding
that warranty and refund/return. It should also explain
any other responsibilities of those involved. A two
year health warranty at minimum is highly suggested for your
protection.
- Support
A reputable breeder will offer you lifetime support with your
pet. They should welcome your questions and answer
them thoroughly. They should be available to you
during the adoption process, as well as after the adoption
process.
- Knowledge
A reputable breeder will be knowledgeable about the breed
and the genetic diseases common to the breed. You
should ask direct questions about how long they've been
breeding the labradoodle, how many litters of labradoodles
have their raised, etc. Since this is a breed in
development, it does take hands on experience in order to
grow in the knowledge of the specifics to this breed.
- Cleanliness
The breeder's kennel or home should appear clean and
orderly. They will probably ask you to wash before
handling puppies, maybe even ask for you to remove your
shoes. Disease can be carried in on clothing, tire
tracks, etc. Many breeders will not allow visitors
when young puppies are in their home. They will only
allow visitors once puppies have been vaccinated, and some
do not allow visitors at all to protect their property and
dogs from disease.
Every breeder has their own policy. If you are unable
to visit their home, it is fairly easy to get feedback on
their program from other customers, breeders, or public
forums.
- Screening
A reputable breeder will ask you questions about your life
and home to make
sure that the animal they place with you is a good fit for
you and your family. The breeder should be concerned
for the puppy as well as the family and not simply be
looking to sell their puppies to the first buyer who
inquires.
- Records
The breeder should have extensive breeding records,
pedigrees for the sire and dam, and health records, and be
willing to share this information with you.
A breeder who is unwilling to reveal this information
should be cause for concern. If they state they've
done specific health testing, they should be able to easily
provide you proof of that.
- References
Ask for
the names of other people who have purchased animals from
the breeder. Contact these references, and talk to them at
length about their experience with the breeder, and whether
they are happy with their pet. Remember though, a
breeder will not be using references that are going to give
negative information, so you will have to assess for
yourself what you are being told by those you contact.
There are now many discussion forums where you can post
asking information about a particular breeder. These
may be a more neutral location to gather information about
any breeders you are looking to work with.
WHAT
QUESTIONS SHOULD I ASK THE BREEDER?
- Do
you provide a written contract? What health warranty do
you offer?
- What
health examinations have been performed on the parents of
the animal?
- What
vaccinations and treatments have been given to the animal?
- Are
the animals being raised in a home or kennel?
- How
old is the animal?
- Is
the animal neutered/spayed?
- How
long have you bred labradoodles and how many litters do you
have first-hand experience raising?
SUGGESTIONS
- Buy
a dog for the right reason. Is your purchase realistic or a whim that will fade as
the newness of a puppy wears off?
- Take
a realistic look at your lifestyle. Are you willing to dedicate
yourself to this animal's care for it's lifetime? Do you have adequate
fencing and are you willing to puppy proof your home and
yard? Do you have the
time for training your puppy so that he becomes a valued
member of your family and not a nuisance to you or others?
- Can
you commit to keeping this dog for its lifetime? What does the future hold for you? If there
are many changes taking place in your life or living
situation in the near future, maybe waiting for awhile
before adopting a pet would be best.
- Purchase
your dog from a reputable, caring breeder who is
concerned about the puppies and about you. DO NOT PURCHASE A
PUPPY FROM A PET STORE AND DO NOT SIMPLY PURCHASE THE
QUICKEST PET YOU CAN FIND. When you purchase a dog from a
quality breeder you are getting not only a dog but also the
lifetime caring of its breeder.
- Speak
with several breeders to educate yourself about the breed
and various "looks". Ask questions about
genetic faults, orthopedic
problems, bad bites, and general health.
- When
buying, if you are uncomfortable with anything about the
breeder from whom you are buying, or about the puppy itself,
DO NOT BUY IT !!
- Involve
the entire family in training your puppy, and make sure
everyone is using the same techniques. There are many
different styles and method of teaching a dog. You
want your dog to enjoy pleasing you, so be careful in how
you train, or you could inadvertently train your dog to not
obey your commands.
- Do
not allow your dog to roam freely through your neighborhood.
Be responsible. Ensure your yard
is completely safe and that your dog cannot escape.
- If
you can't keep your dog, make every effort to return it to
the breeder or ask their help in finding an appropriate home
for the dog.
Do not buy a dog from a breeder who will not take it back or
work with you to find it a suitable home. Many
reputable breeders will require that a dog be returned to
them if you cannot keep it for any reason.
THE
BREEDER
There
is no license required to breed dogs. Anyone can breed.
Responsible, reputable breeders will be breeding for a purpose,
not just simply for profit. If profit is the primary
motivation, you can more than likely safely assume that corners
will be cut, and your puppy may be the one that deals with the
ramifications of this. There is no fail-proof method of identifying reputable
breeders, but there are some key qualities shared by them.
Reputable breeders are knowledgeable. They know their breed and willingly discuss
everything with potential puppy
buyers. A reputable breeder never tries to push a puppy, but
will share with potential buyers both the positive and negative
about the dogs. They will also help point you in another
direction if they feel they are not the best choice for you to
work with. Someone who is desperately trying to sell you
on their puppies, is cause for concern.
A reputable breeder has done all necessary health checks on both
parents and has done their best to ensure they are not passing
on serious hereditary issues.
Many people breed their dogs for the wrong reasons.
They love their dogs and want to reproduce them, but they have
no knowledge or understanding of genetics or breeding.
They want their children to "experience" the process. They
may see an easy way to make a quick buck.
These people produce
dogs with unsound temperaments and genetic diseases. They do not
practice responsible breeding and it is the buyers who will pay
the price later. There are no guarantees when
buying any dog, but the odds are better when buying them from a
reputable breeder who offers lifetime support.
Do not take offense when a breeder asks you to sign a
contract. Understand and appreciate that this is the
breeders way of attempting to ensure that the puppies they have carefully bred will be cared for by responsible people.
Make sure you understand the agreement before signing it.
What will the breeder do should the puppy prove to have a
genetic problem? Are their expectations of you realistic? Is their health warranty worth anything?
Many breeders state they have a 1 year guarantee. This is
pretty much worthless to a buyer as most genetic issues will not
present itself until after this age.
The guarantee is
probably designed to give you a sense of security, but reality
is it won't do you any good. Be comfortable with the
warranty before signing.
When you buy from a reputable breeder you have bought a lifetime
of support and advice as well as a well bred puppy.
WHAT
A BREEDER SHOULD LOOK FOR IN A BUYER
A responsible breeder is going to screen
any buyer to ensure that the puppy they have worked so hard to
breed and raise goes to a home that is going to love and care
for the puppy as much as they would. The
breeder will also want to contact you from time to time as to
how the puppy is progressing. And, they will look forward to the
buyer sending them pictures and keeping them appraised of the
puppy’s progress. A breeder who truly loves what they
do, will show much interest in the puppies they have bred.
Just because they are now in your home, does not mean the
breeder won't care about their puppies. Be understanding
of the breeders feelings.
A
reputable breeder will be honest with you about the
aspects of their breed. You need to be equally as honest about your needs, expectations,
and experience, as all of these will play a part in choosing the
right puppy for you. The more information you give the
breeder, the more they are able to understand your life, and
find the most suitable puppy for you. A breeder will want
the puppy to be placed for a lifetime, so a responsible breeder
will put much effort into placing puppies. A breeder who
simply places puppies on a "first come, first serve"
basis, is not a breeder who truly cares about putting in the
effort to ensure the most ideal situation for everyone
involved.
Once
you find a breeder with whom you are comfortable, you may have
to wait months or
longer for one of their puppies. Use this time to educate
yourself, purchase the supplies you'll need for a puppy, and
take a good look at your home and yard. You will need to
puppy proof your home, and you will need to check what sorts of
plants are in your yard. Many are poisonous and puppies
like to chew and eat things. Ensure they will be protected
once in your care. This time is much like preparing for a
baby. There is much to do if you really want to be
prepared. Don't let these things wait until your puppy has
arrived or you will be overwhelmed. Your
puppies future begins now, before you have even brought him
home.
BREEDERS -
Please
ask for specific health test information on the parent dogs of
any breeder you are considering purchasing from. It
is not always easy to find someone who puts the effort into
breeding with integrity. Look for a breeder who will
provide you a lifetime of support after you've purchased one of
their dogs. Make sure they are committed to their breed
and are breeding quality,
healthy dogs. It is up to you to ask
the appropriate questions and determine whether or not you would
be comfortable with them and whether or not you feel
they are committed and ethical. Look beyond the marketing
and image portrayed and try and see or hear what is happening
behind the scenes. BREEDERS
BELOW ARE LISTED BY STATE.
Those with a  next to
their name are breeders who have dogs from our program in their
breeding programs.
For
other breeders:
http://www.usalabradoodles.com/
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