Choosing a Good Dog Breeder: What to Look For and Red Flags to Avoid

I recently had someone ask me whether getting a dog from a particular breeder was worth the money. I looked at the breeder, their dogs, their health testing, and how they were raising their puppies. My answer was pretty simple:

Getting a dog from a good breeder can absolutely be worth the money. This breeder was not a good one.

This is one of the reasons I wish more people knew what to look for when choosing a breeder.

A well-bred puppy is not expensive simply because someone decided to put a high price tag on it. Responsible breeding involves health testing, carefully choosing breeding dogs, raising puppies thoughtfully, and taking responsibility for the dogs produced for the rest of their lives.

But a high price does not automatically mean a breeder is doing those things.

So how do you tell the difference?

Why Choose a Breeder Instead of a Shelter?

Before we get into what makes a good breeder, I want to address something important.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue. There are wonderful dogs looking for homes, and adopting can be an amazing experience.

But there are also legitimate reasons someone might choose to get a puppy from a responsible breeder.

For some people, predictability matters. They may have specific needs related to size, energy level, temperament, coat, or the type of activities they want to do with their dog. This can be particularly important for people looking for dogs to do specific jobs, such as service work, hunting, herding, sports, or other performance activities.

A responsible breeder is intentionally selecting dogs based on health, temperament, structure, and the characteristics that make sense for that breed and purpose. They can also give you information about the puppy's parents, relatives, and previous generations that you simply may not have with a shelter dog.

That doesn't mean a breeder can guarantee exactly what your puppy will grow into. They can't. Genetics are complicated, and every dog is an individual. What a responsible breeder can do is stack the deck in your favor by making thoughtful breeding decisions and giving puppies a strong start.

A Good Breeder Is More Than Someone With Cute Puppies

It is very easy to find a breeder with a beautiful website, adorable puppies, professional-looking photos, and glowing testimonials. None of those things tell you whether they are breeding responsibly.

When I'm evaluating a breeder, I want to know what is happening before the puppies are born, while they are growing up, and after they go home.

That means looking at the adults being bred, their health testing, their temperament, how puppies are raised, and what kind of support the breeder provides to puppy owners.

Let's break that down.

1. Look at How Many Breeds They Are Breeding

One of the first things that would make me pause is a breeder who regularly breeds more than 2 breeds.

This isn't an absolute rule. There are exceptions, and having more than one breed does not automatically make someone a bad breeder.

But breeding dogs well requires a significant amount of knowledge.

A good breeder should know their breed inside and out. They should understand the breed's health concerns, temperament, structure, history, and what they are trying to preserve or improve.

If someone is breeding a huge variety of breeds, it is reasonable to ask:

• How much do they actually know about each breed?

• Why do they choose to breed multiple breeds?

• What are their goals for each breed?

• Are they involved with the breed community?

• Who is mentoring them?

A breeder doesn't have to breed only one breed, but I want to see depth rather than a puppy menu.

2. Look for Actual Health Testing

This is one of the biggest areas where puppy buyers can get misled.

A breeder might tell you:

"Our dogs are genetically tested."

That sounds great. But genetic testing and health testing are not the same thing. Genetic tests look for specific genetic variants associated with particular diseases or conditions. Those tests can be incredibly useful, but they are only one piece of evaluating breeding dogs.

Depending on the breed, responsible breeding may also involve things like hip and elbow evaluations, eye examinations, cardiac evaluations, patellar evaluations, thyroid testing, or other breed-specific screening. The appropriate tests depend on the breed.

The American Kennel Club's breed-specific health recommendations are based on recommendations from each breed's national parent club, and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) provide databases where many of these results can be documented.

So don't just ask:

"Are your dogs health tested?"

Ask:

"What health testing do you complete on your breeding dogs, and can I see the results?"

A good breeder should be comfortable answering that question.

Genetic Testing Is Still Important

I don't want this to sound like genetic testing doesn't matter. It absolutely does.

Genetic testing can help breeders identify whether dogs carry specific inherited conditions and make informed breeding decisions. But it shouldn't be used as a substitute for the other health screenings recommended for the breed.

Think of it as part of the picture, not the entire picture. And ideally, you should be able to look at the health history of more than just the puppy's parents. A breeder should be thinking about the health of the larger pedigree, too. And you should be able to see all of those results.

3. Ask Why These Two Dogs Were Bred Together

This is a question I wish more puppy buyers asked.

Don't just ask whether the parents are healthy.

Ask: "Why did you choose this particular pairing?"

A responsible breeder should have an answer.

Maybe they are hoping to improve a particular trait. Maybe they are looking for a specific combination of temperament, structure, working ability, or genetic diversity. Maybe they have been watching a particular line for years.

You don't have to understand every detail of their answer.

What matters is that there is an intentional reason behind the breeding.

"These two dogs are beautiful and we wanted puppies" isn't much of a breeding program.

4. Pay Attention to How the Puppies Are Raised

Once you know the parents are being thoughtfully selected, look at what happens to the puppies. The first eight weeks of a puppy's life are a big deal.

A good breeder should be doing more than feeding puppies, cleaning up after them, and sending them home at eight weeks. Puppies should have opportunities to experience different surfaces, sounds, people, handling, environments, enrichment, and appropriate challenges.

But good socialization isn't about throwing puppies into every possible situation.

It should be thoughtful and age-appropriate, with the puppy's behavior guiding how much they are exposed to.

Ask About Puppy Culture or Avidog

Two names you may come across when researching breeders are Puppy Culture and Avidog.

Puppy Culture is a structured puppy-raising and socialization program designed to provide age-appropriate experiences during early development. Its philosophy emphasizes observing the puppy and providing experiences appropriate for where that puppy is developmentally.

Avidog has also provided extensive education and resources for breeders around puppy development, health, temperament, and puppy raising.

If a breeder tells you they use Puppy Culture or Avidog, that's a good opportunity to ask follow-up questions.

Don't stop at the name.

Ask:

• What parts of the program do you use?

• What does that actually look like with your puppies?

• What kinds of experiences do the puppies have?

• How do you decide when a puppy is ready for something new?

• Do you have videos or photos of your puppy-raising practices?

Interestingly, Puppy Culture itself recommends that puppy buyers ask breeders what they actually do from the program rather than simply taking the label at face value. And that's a good rule in general. A program name isn't nearly as important as what the breeder is actually doing.

5. You Should Be Able to Meet the Dogs

A responsible breeder should be willing to let you see where the puppies are raised and meet at least the puppy's mother when possible.

Pay attention to the adult dogs.

• Are they healthy?

• Do they seem comfortable around the breeder?

• What are their temperaments like?

• Are they living as members of the family, or are they spending their lives in kennels with little interaction?

You should also be able to ask questions about the puppy's father. Sometimes the sire doesn't live with the breeder, which is completely normal. But the breeder should still be able to tell you who he is, why he was selected, and provide health information.

A clean environment is important, but don't confuse a spotless room with a good breeding program. I'm much more interested in the quality of care, health, temperament, and experiences the dogs are receiving.

6. A Good Breeder Should Ask You Questions, Too

This one can surprise people. You are interviewing the breeder. But the breeder should also be interviewing you. A responsible breeder cares where their puppies end up. They should want to know about your lifestyle, experience with dogs, activity level, other pets, children, work schedule, and what you're hoping to do with your puppy.

They may ask you questions that feel intrusive or even tell you that one of their puppies isn't the right fit for your family. That's a good thing.

A breeder who will sell a puppy to absolutely anyone as long as they have the money is giving me more reason to pause than a breeder who is selective about their homes.

7. Be Wary of Breeders Who Always Have Puppies Available

Responsible breeding generally involves planning.

That doesn't mean a responsible breeder can never have puppies available. But if you find a website with multiple litters, multiple breeds, or puppies available all year long, it's worth asking some questions.

• How many litters are they producing?

• How often are their females bred?

• How many breeding dogs do they have?

• Where do all of these puppies go?

• What happens to retired breeding dogs?

And perhaps most importantly:

Is this a breeding program, or is this a puppy production business?

Those aren't the same thing.

8. Look at the Contract and Lifetime Support

A good breeder should care about the puppy after the check clears.

Ask what happens if something goes wrong.

• What if you can no longer keep the dog?

• What if a serious health issue develops?

• Does the breeder have a return-to-breeder clause?

• Will they help you if you are struggling with the puppy?

• Will they answer questions as your dog grows?

Responsible breeders often consider themselves a lifelong resource for the families who purchase their puppies. They will also always take their puppies back.

What About AKC Registration?

This one is worth mentioning because it is often misunderstood.

AKC registration does not automatically mean you are buying a puppy from a responsible breeder.

A dog being registered does not tell you everything you need to know about the breeder's health testing, breeding practices, puppy raising, or long-term responsibility. And unfortunately, being listed on the AKC Marketplace does not mean they are a responsible breeder.

Don't Be Afraid to Walk Away

This might be the most important advice I can give you.

• You do not have to buy a puppy just because you've already joined a waitlist.

• You don't have to buy a puppy because you drove three hours to meet the breeder.

• You don't have to buy a puppy because you already paid a deposit.

• And you definitely don't have to buy a puppy because you're afraid you'll never find another one.

There will be other puppies.

A good breeder may actually make you wait. You may spend months researching breeders before finding one you feel comfortable with. You may wait another year for the right litter.

That's okay. The goal should not be to find the puppy who is available right now. The goal is to find a breeder whose goals and practices make sense for you and who is producing puppies thoughtfully.

So, Is a Dog From a Good Breeder Worth the Money?

Sometimes people look at a $2,000, $3,000, or $4,000 puppy and think:

"Why would I pay that much when I can get a dog from another breeder for a few hundred dollars?"

That's a completely reasonable question. But the purchase price isn't the only thing you're paying for.

When you work with a responsible breeder, you're potentially paying for years of health screening and veterinary care for the breeding dogs, carefully planned pairings, appropriate puppy raising, socialization and enrichment, breeder education, and continued support after the puppy comes home.

That doesn't guarantee you'll have a perfectly healthy or perfectly behaved dog. There are no guarantees when it comes to living animals. But responsible breeding is about doing what we can to stack the deck in favor of healthy, stable, well-adjusted dogs. And that is very different from simply producing puppies.

A Simple Checklist for Your Breeder Search

Before putting down a deposit, ask:

Health

• What health testing is recommended for this breed?

• Have both parents completed those tests?

• Can I see the results?

• Are there health concerns in previous generations?

Breeding

• Why were these two dogs bred together?

• What are the breeder's goals for the litter?

• How many breeds does the breeder work with?

• How often does the breeder produce litters?

Puppy raising

• How are the puppies socialized?

• What experiences do they have before going home?

• Do they use Puppy Culture, Avidog, or another structured puppy-raising program?

• Can they show you what that looks like?

The breeder

• Can I meet the mother?

• Can I see where the puppies are raised?

• Does the breeder ask me questions?

• Will they be available to support me after I bring my puppy home?

• What happens if I can no longer keep the dog?

And finally:

Do I feel comfortable with this person being part of my dog's life for the next 10+ years?

Because that's really what you're choosing. You're not just choosing a puppy, but the person who made that puppy possible.