How to Know if a Dog Breeder is Reputable

You Aren’t Allowed to Come to Their Facility – This is a serious red flag that is often the sign of a puppy mill. In many cases, breeders do this because they don’t want you to see the conditions. You should have the chance to meet your puppy and see their home before you adopt. Oftentimes, breeders will insist they ship the puppy to you, even if you live fairly close by – this is a common tactic to keep you away. You should always have the option to pick your dog up in person. Of course, shipping a puppy is a great solution if you live far away – learn more about shipping puppies by air with us!

You Can’t Talk to the Breeder – Being able to have an open conversation is one of the ways to know if a dog breeder is reputable. However, some national puppy sellers go so far as to not let potential customers even talk to the breeders – let alone visit them. If your questions for a knowledgeable breeder are instead fielded by a slick salesman, you aren’t dealing with a transparent organization and you may be better off looking somewhere else.

Dogs Aren’t Clean – Of course, just because the breeder is happy to extend an invitation to see their operation is no guarantee that they are a reputable breeder. When meeting your potential puppy and their litter mates, you can learn a lot about the breeder. If you notice that all of the dogs are either unhealthy or extremely dirty, that is a red flag – and the breeder needs to offer an explanation!

You See Temperament Issues – When visiting your breeder, also pay close attention to the personality you see in the pups. In particular, if you notice that the dogs are skittish around you or seem downright afraid, that’s a sign of a bad dog breeder. At the very best, this means that the puppies have not been well-socialized with people – at the worst, it means they‘ve been mistreated. Learn more about the key signs of puppy health.

Not Knowledgeable about Parent or Puppy –A good breeder is the perfect person to talk to because nobody knows more than them. However, not being knowledgeable about the parent or the puppy is a sign of a bad breeder. If they can’t answer your key questions, that suggests that they either aren’t an expert – or that they are breeding far too many dogs at once provide individualized care.

Missing Health Documents – From a practical standpoint, having health documents that detail the vaccination and de-worming of the puppy is crucial information for you vet. However, it also can tell you a lot about the breeder. If a breeder doesn’t offer you these important documents, it may be that they haven’t protected the dog sufficiently. All of Keystone Puppies’ certified breeders will offer you full vaccination documents – guaranteed.

No Accreditations or Certifications – There is nothing reputable dog breeders dislike more than bad breeders who tarnish the good reputation of breeders overall. That’s why you’ll commonly see top-tier breeders proudly displaying independent certifications and accreditations, which prove their dedication to raising happy and healthy dogs. These certifications often are backed by extended health guarantees to make potential buyers feel even more comfortable. However, if the breeder only offers you state minimum guarantees, you can tell they have no desire to go above and beyond! Learn more about our accredited breeder program!