There are many people who breed dogs in this country. Unfortunately, many of them are not responsible or ethical in their treatment of their animals. They rely on their customers being ignorant of what constitutes 'responsible breeding' in order to keep their businesses running. Their dogs usually have health or temperament problems as a result. Educating yourself is the first step in making sure you don't get ripped off.

A responsible dog breeder does these main things:

1. Ensures their dogs are good examples of their breed, and are in good mental and physical health.

2. Tests their dogs for any common genetic defects in their breed (Knees, Eyes, etc) before breeding.

3. Socializes and trains their pups and dogs properly.

4. WON'T sell a puppy before it is 8 weeks old.

5. Requires a buyer to sign a contract that protects BOTH the dog's and buyer's best interests.

6. Will NOT constantly have new puppies for sale. They breed for quality, not quantity.

7. WILL ask you lots of questions to be sure the breed you want is a good fit for your lifestyle.

8. WILL be willing to answer any questions you may have about the breed, and will be honest about any drawbacks or special needs.

9. WILL help you if you ever need to rehome the dog. An ethical breeder accepts responsibility for the lives they've created and won't allow their dogs to end up in a shelter or unwanted.

The main thing to understand is that 'AKC/CKC/UKC REGISTERED' and 'HAVING PAPERS' means nothing in terms of the quality or health of a dog. Too many people think a dog with papers is 'special' or 'more valuable', but this is NOT TRUE. All it means when a dog is 'registered', is that the dog's parents have their names written in a book that tracks individual members of that breed back to the beginning of the breed itself.

Because 'papers' do NOT mean a dog is healthy, or even a good example of it's breed, be sure to do your research and visit the home of the breeder to see how their dogs live, and ask to see copies of all health test results.

Additionally, all puppies you find for sale in pet stores are Puppy Mill-bred dogs. Puppy Mills are USDA- approved mass-breeding facilities (similar to factory farms) where dogs are kept in tiny cages like livestock and are often sickly, poorly bred, or mentally damaged as a result. The best place to get ANY pet is from a breeder who raises their dogs as a part of their family.