I never realized how much there was to it. I figured if they're not a puppy mill, they can't be too awful. Shows how much I know. I was considering looking into a blue merle sheltie that was going for $400 by a breeder in PA, and Beanie did some research and helped me realize it's not that simple. I don't want to support a breeder that's not any good.
So how DO you find a good breeder? It makes me feel tired to THINK about all the research you must have to do. I guess you would have to know everything about the breed that you want, what kind of health testing is required and how often, etc. Is it possible to tell a good breeder just from a website?
Take this one for instance.
Belmark Shelties - breeder of sheltie puppies, adults for sale. Champion stud service.
I think it sounds great. The dogs are really cute and they have show dogs available, or companion dogs for a little cheaper. It has the contracts on there that require your companion dog to be spayed or neutered. It does seem like maybe there's a lot of dogs listed for one little family farm, and from what I've read on here that could be bad.
If you can't tell a good breeder just by having your good friends on Chaz check out the website, then what do you do? Call the breeder and ask them questions? What are you supposed to ask them? Is it better to go to the breeder's place and check out the actual conditions? What would you look for if you do that? I mean, obviously if I see a bunch of pregnant dogs locked up in kennels, I'll run like hell, but is it always that obvious?
If there's a previous thread that goes over all that, feel free to direct me towards it. Sometimes it's just so much easier to start a new thread and ask.
All I really want is a confident smart healthy dog, and Justin seems to want a sheltie. I told him they bark a lot but that's still what he wants, lol.
So how DO you find a good breeder? It makes me feel tired to THINK about all the research you must have to do. I guess you would have to know everything about the breed that you want, what kind of health testing is required and how often, etc. Is it possible to tell a good breeder just from a website?
Take this one for instance.
Belmark Shelties - breeder of sheltie puppies, adults for sale. Champion stud service.
I think it sounds great. The dogs are really cute and they have show dogs available, or companion dogs for a little cheaper. It has the contracts on there that require your companion dog to be spayed or neutered. It does seem like maybe there's a lot of dogs listed for one little family farm, and from what I've read on here that could be bad.
If you can't tell a good breeder just by having your good friends on Chaz check out the website, then what do you do? Call the breeder and ask them questions? What are you supposed to ask them? Is it better to go to the breeder's place and check out the actual conditions? What would you look for if you do that? I mean, obviously if I see a bunch of pregnant dogs locked up in kennels, I'll run like hell, but is it always that obvious?
If there's a previous thread that goes over all that, feel free to direct me towards it. Sometimes it's just so much easier to start a new thread and ask.
All I really want is a confident smart healthy dog, and Justin seems to want a sheltie. I told him they bark a lot but that's still what he wants, lol.