What is in a Website?
By. Karen Peak, West Wind Dog Training
Will O'Wisp Shelties
Written in 2007
This can be reprinted in total or in part for educational use as long as full credit is given.
The internet has made it very easy for potential dog owners to learn about different
breeds and find breeders. Sadly, it has also made it easier for those with less than
honorable breeding practices to have an outlet for their puppies. It is easy to be
caught up by pictures of adorable puppies and wonderful sounding phrases. For
those who opt not to adopt, it may be difficult to determine the quality of the breeder
when gazing at those daring faces. Before you hit that email button or grab your
phone, stop and look deeper.
When perusing at a breeder's website, there are a few things to look for to help you
determine if this is a breeder truly working for the betterment of the breed or just
trying to sell puppies. Here is a bunch of red flags to look for:
Mini/Toy/Teenies/Teacups/Precious Baby dolls – Know your breeds before you
start looking at websites or calling breeders. For example, some breeds have Mini
and Toy varieties; many do not. There is a Miniature Poodle and a Miniature
Schnauzer. There is no mini Sheltie. Shelties should be between 13 and 16 inches
at the withers. A 13-inch Sheltie is actually quite small when placed next to a 16-inch
dog. No good breeder will intentionally breed undersized dogs. Even in breeds in
the "Toy" group, there is no such thing as a teacup. In actuality, "teacups" may be
more prone to medical issues. Do a search on the health issues associated with
"teacups," it should be more than enough to dissuade you. These dogs are bred to
do nothing but appeal to those following in the steps of some ding-a-ling public figure
or people who think they need something to shove into a purse.
Giant/Enormous/Oversized/Monster – Just as no ethical breeder will intentionally
breed undersized dogs, no breeder will intentionally breed dogs over sized. Sadly,
many phrases used to describe oversized dogs are used in breeds such as American
Pit Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, etc. Again, know the breed
standard. The UKC standard for an American Pit Bull Terrier is males between 35
and 60lbs with weight in proportion to height. Rottweiler males are between 24 to 27
inches at the shoulder and males average about 95 to 135 lbs (in proportion to height
and build). These dogs are often being bred just to make money and appeal to the
macho/tough image of some people just as teacups are often bred to appeal to those
who want a living toy.
Rare Colors/Rare Coats – A breeder intentionally breeding undesired traits is not
breeding ethically. Yes, sometimes breeders will get something not in standard; it
just happens, no matter how well a breeder plans, genetics are genetics recessive
genes can crop up. Fuzzy Mastiffs, black and tan Labradors, dilute Shelties, white
Dobermans, etc can all crop up from time to time. However, a good breeder will not
treat them as something rare and special nor will they ask a significantly more
amount of money for one. If you see catchwords such as "rare" raise that red flag.
We breed only for loving pets – A good breeder breeds for the betterment of the
breed. Along with breeding to the standard and for health and temperament, they
will also be proving their dogs deserve to have their genetics passed on. Since
competition in many sports is costly and time consuming, not all breeders are
involved in all sports; HOWEVER, they should still be producing puppies that CAN
go into other events. In every litter there will be puppies not to the standard and
these will be sold as pets or performance only dogs. Someone breeding solely for
pets is not proving that they are trying to improve a breed. In fact, these breeders are
doing damage to breeds in the end to a greater degree than the "show" breeders are.
If a breeder is only breeding for pets, this does not absolve them of needing to do
health tests and screenings.
We always have cute puppies for you – You cannot always tell a good breeder by
how many litters they produce a year. A good breeder breeds first for their needs
and the puppies they do not keep or place in other show/performance homes go to
carefully chosen pet homes. For some breeders, this may be a litter every two or
three years, for others, they may breed several or litters a year. However, if a
breeder always has young puppies available, then this is a red flag. Even some
breeders who show and test their dogs may breed quantity trying to get quality. Use
your gut here.
What breed do you need? We probably have it or can get it – Most good breeders
limit themselves to a breed or two, or three. The more breeds bred the harder it is
to maintain quality. Some breeders who are also handlers may have quite a few
different breeds on the premises but themselves are only actively breeding their own
dogs. If you see a site with lots of different breeds, this should be a red flag. This
person is probably also a broker. A broker is the intermediary. They either
purchase pups for resale to private homes or stores.
Our dogs are the best – A good breeder knows that there will always be dogs of
superior and lesser quality. No breeder has the best dogs out there.
All puppies guaranteed – Sounds great but how long is the guarantee good? Many
health issues can take years to show up so a guarantee of a few days or weeks or even
a year is insufficient. A puppy can contract Parvo Virus before leaving the breeder
and not show symptoms until he has been in the house for up to a couple weeks.
The incubation period is about 4 – 14 days. Other things such as epilepsy may take
three to four years to show up. Good breeders will have well written, guarantees for
many years, even for life, and be very specific about what the parents have been
tested for and what they will do should the offspring inherit an issue. Included in the
guarantee/contract should be what will happen to the dog if for some reason, even
ten years down the road, you must give the dog up.
Oodles of Doodles and Uggles - There are many people breeding what are called
designer dogs. This is a crossbred dog (most often poodle and something else) being
sold as if it were something rare and special. In reality, these are crossbred dogs. A
few of the designer dogs being sold are Labrador/Poodle, Golden/Poodle, Shih
Tzu/Poodle, Chihuahua/Poodle, Pug/Beagle, Bichon/Poodle, etc. There are many
misconceptions regarding crossbred dogs such as they are naturally healthier. A
crossbred can inherit many health issues. These designer dogs are nothing special or
rare; it is a crossbred intentionally bred for the pet/money making trade. Do not be
fooled into thinking such. Why spend sometimes thousands of dollars for a
crossbred when you can go to a rescue? How can you tell if a pup is a legitimate
breed or not? If you are in the US, check the American Kennel Club, United
Kennel Club, American Rare Breed Association, Canadian Kennel Club and
Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) websites. These entities will have the
majority of recognized breeds world wide listed amongst them.
"Cutesy" pictures/Costumed puppy pictures – On far too many sites you can see
pictures of puppies barely five weeks old wearing hats, sitting in flower baskets,
dressed in bows, etc. These pictures are to do nothing but try to get the viewer to
impulse buy. Think of window dressings in department stores or end cap displays at
your grocery. They are designed to help increase impulse buys.
We cater to the stars – The stars go for the newest fad or set that newest fad, often
without proper research. They impulse buy, have a huge staff to care for their crew
and when the fun wears off, the dog is swapped out for a new one. Catering to the
stars is nothing to about. How many stars get their pups from pet shops? Quite a few
when you start checking around.
You found the breeder through a puppy sale/auction site – This may or may not be a
red flag. There are people that troll the internet for breeder sites and link them
without asking permission. There are sites that contact breeders after a link has been
put up and then are slow in taking it down when requested (provided the breeder
does not delete the email as spam). However, some breeders intentionally seek out
these sites as ways to unload animals. You have to add up various factors. The
breeder may not even know someone unethical has added his or her website.
No indication of what the breeder is doing with their dogs – Does the breeder have
lists of titles their dogs have won? Remember, a good breeder is trying to better their
dogs and the breed as a whole. You cannot do that without being able to prove your
dogs are able to perform/work/show successfully. It is not hard to search to find out
if a dog has actually won titles either. If in doubt a small internet search for the dog's
registered name can help.
Registered exclusively with XYZ – In the United States, you want to look for dogs
registered with the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel
Club or American Rare Breed Association. Though no registry is perfect and even
the lowest breeder can register if they make the minimum requirements, there have
been a glut of less than ethical registries cropping up to cater to those who do not
want to meet the requirements, who have lost privileges with other registries, puppy
millers, etc. Make certain if you see just letters, that you verify the registry. Some
less than ethical ones have used names with the same initials as other registries. Is
that A in AKC for American or is it Arthur's Kennel Club?
It is easy to be blinded by flashy sites, claims, cute faces, etc. The internet has made
it very easy for unscrupulous breeders to lure the unsuspecting buyer in. If you
choose the breeder route over rescue, do all you can to ensure the breeder you
choose is not in it for just the money.
Please remember; always consider the rescue option when looking for a companion.
With too many owners willing to give up a dog as opposed to working through
issues, there will always be dogs in need of new homes.
By. Karen Peak, West Wind Dog Training
Will O'Wisp Shelties
Written in 2007
This can be reprinted in total or in part for educational use as long as full credit is given.
The internet has made it very easy for potential dog owners to learn about different
breeds and find breeders. Sadly, it has also made it easier for those with less than
honorable breeding practices to have an outlet for their puppies. It is easy to be
caught up by pictures of adorable puppies and wonderful sounding phrases. For
those who opt not to adopt, it may be difficult to determine the quality of the breeder
when gazing at those daring faces. Before you hit that email button or grab your
phone, stop and look deeper.
When perusing at a breeder's website, there are a few things to look for to help you
determine if this is a breeder truly working for the betterment of the breed or just
trying to sell puppies. Here is a bunch of red flags to look for:
Mini/Toy/Teenies/Teacups/Precious Baby dolls – Know your breeds before you
start looking at websites or calling breeders. For example, some breeds have Mini
and Toy varieties; many do not. There is a Miniature Poodle and a Miniature
Schnauzer. There is no mini Sheltie. Shelties should be between 13 and 16 inches
at the withers. A 13-inch Sheltie is actually quite small when placed next to a 16-inch
dog. No good breeder will intentionally breed undersized dogs. Even in breeds in
the "Toy" group, there is no such thing as a teacup. In actuality, "teacups" may be
more prone to medical issues. Do a search on the health issues associated with
"teacups," it should be more than enough to dissuade you. These dogs are bred to
do nothing but appeal to those following in the steps of some ding-a-ling public figure
or people who think they need something to shove into a purse.
Giant/Enormous/Oversized/Monster – Just as no ethical breeder will intentionally
breed undersized dogs, no breeder will intentionally breed dogs over sized. Sadly,
many phrases used to describe oversized dogs are used in breeds such as American
Pit Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, etc. Again, know the breed
standard. The UKC standard for an American Pit Bull Terrier is males between 35
and 60lbs with weight in proportion to height. Rottweiler males are between 24 to 27
inches at the shoulder and males average about 95 to 135 lbs (in proportion to height
and build). These dogs are often being bred just to make money and appeal to the
macho/tough image of some people just as teacups are often bred to appeal to those
who want a living toy.
Rare Colors/Rare Coats – A breeder intentionally breeding undesired traits is not
breeding ethically. Yes, sometimes breeders will get something not in standard; it
just happens, no matter how well a breeder plans, genetics are genetics recessive
genes can crop up. Fuzzy Mastiffs, black and tan Labradors, dilute Shelties, white
Dobermans, etc can all crop up from time to time. However, a good breeder will not
treat them as something rare and special nor will they ask a significantly more
amount of money for one. If you see catchwords such as "rare" raise that red flag.
We breed only for loving pets – A good breeder breeds for the betterment of the
breed. Along with breeding to the standard and for health and temperament, they
will also be proving their dogs deserve to have their genetics passed on. Since
competition in many sports is costly and time consuming, not all breeders are
involved in all sports; HOWEVER, they should still be producing puppies that CAN
go into other events. In every litter there will be puppies not to the standard and
these will be sold as pets or performance only dogs. Someone breeding solely for
pets is not proving that they are trying to improve a breed. In fact, these breeders are
doing damage to breeds in the end to a greater degree than the "show" breeders are.
If a breeder is only breeding for pets, this does not absolve them of needing to do
health tests and screenings.
We always have cute puppies for you – You cannot always tell a good breeder by
how many litters they produce a year. A good breeder breeds first for their needs
and the puppies they do not keep or place in other show/performance homes go to
carefully chosen pet homes. For some breeders, this may be a litter every two or
three years, for others, they may breed several or litters a year. However, if a
breeder always has young puppies available, then this is a red flag. Even some
breeders who show and test their dogs may breed quantity trying to get quality. Use
your gut here.
What breed do you need? We probably have it or can get it – Most good breeders
limit themselves to a breed or two, or three. The more breeds bred the harder it is
to maintain quality. Some breeders who are also handlers may have quite a few
different breeds on the premises but themselves are only actively breeding their own
dogs. If you see a site with lots of different breeds, this should be a red flag. This
person is probably also a broker. A broker is the intermediary. They either
purchase pups for resale to private homes or stores.
Our dogs are the best – A good breeder knows that there will always be dogs of
superior and lesser quality. No breeder has the best dogs out there.
All puppies guaranteed – Sounds great but how long is the guarantee good? Many
health issues can take years to show up so a guarantee of a few days or weeks or even
a year is insufficient. A puppy can contract Parvo Virus before leaving the breeder
and not show symptoms until he has been in the house for up to a couple weeks.
The incubation period is about 4 – 14 days. Other things such as epilepsy may take
three to four years to show up. Good breeders will have well written, guarantees for
many years, even for life, and be very specific about what the parents have been
tested for and what they will do should the offspring inherit an issue. Included in the
guarantee/contract should be what will happen to the dog if for some reason, even
ten years down the road, you must give the dog up.
Oodles of Doodles and Uggles - There are many people breeding what are called
designer dogs. This is a crossbred dog (most often poodle and something else) being
sold as if it were something rare and special. In reality, these are crossbred dogs. A
few of the designer dogs being sold are Labrador/Poodle, Golden/Poodle, Shih
Tzu/Poodle, Chihuahua/Poodle, Pug/Beagle, Bichon/Poodle, etc. There are many
misconceptions regarding crossbred dogs such as they are naturally healthier. A
crossbred can inherit many health issues. These designer dogs are nothing special or
rare; it is a crossbred intentionally bred for the pet/money making trade. Do not be
fooled into thinking such. Why spend sometimes thousands of dollars for a
crossbred when you can go to a rescue? How can you tell if a pup is a legitimate
breed or not? If you are in the US, check the American Kennel Club, United
Kennel Club, American Rare Breed Association, Canadian Kennel Club and
Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) websites. These entities will have the
majority of recognized breeds world wide listed amongst them.
"Cutesy" pictures/Costumed puppy pictures – On far too many sites you can see
pictures of puppies barely five weeks old wearing hats, sitting in flower baskets,
dressed in bows, etc. These pictures are to do nothing but try to get the viewer to
impulse buy. Think of window dressings in department stores or end cap displays at
your grocery. They are designed to help increase impulse buys.
We cater to the stars – The stars go for the newest fad or set that newest fad, often
without proper research. They impulse buy, have a huge staff to care for their crew
and when the fun wears off, the dog is swapped out for a new one. Catering to the
stars is nothing to about. How many stars get their pups from pet shops? Quite a few
when you start checking around.
You found the breeder through a puppy sale/auction site – This may or may not be a
red flag. There are people that troll the internet for breeder sites and link them
without asking permission. There are sites that contact breeders after a link has been
put up and then are slow in taking it down when requested (provided the breeder
does not delete the email as spam). However, some breeders intentionally seek out
these sites as ways to unload animals. You have to add up various factors. The
breeder may not even know someone unethical has added his or her website.
No indication of what the breeder is doing with their dogs – Does the breeder have
lists of titles their dogs have won? Remember, a good breeder is trying to better their
dogs and the breed as a whole. You cannot do that without being able to prove your
dogs are able to perform/work/show successfully. It is not hard to search to find out
if a dog has actually won titles either. If in doubt a small internet search for the dog's
registered name can help.
Registered exclusively with XYZ – In the United States, you want to look for dogs
registered with the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel
Club or American Rare Breed Association. Though no registry is perfect and even
the lowest breeder can register if they make the minimum requirements, there have
been a glut of less than ethical registries cropping up to cater to those who do not
want to meet the requirements, who have lost privileges with other registries, puppy
millers, etc. Make certain if you see just letters, that you verify the registry. Some
less than ethical ones have used names with the same initials as other registries. Is
that A in AKC for American or is it Arthur's Kennel Club?
It is easy to be blinded by flashy sites, claims, cute faces, etc. The internet has made
it very easy for unscrupulous breeders to lure the unsuspecting buyer in. If you
choose the breeder route over rescue, do all you can to ensure the breeder you
choose is not in it for just the money.
Please remember; always consider the rescue option when looking for a companion.
With too many owners willing to give up a dog as opposed to working through
issues, there will always be dogs in need of new homes.
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