The best way to ensure a long and happy relationship with a purebred dog is to purchase from a responsible breeder. While the AKC does not license, endorse, or recommend breeders, we do provide a step-by-step procedure that will lead you to the breed best suited for you and a breeder in your area.
The AKC is unable to release this information to you, pursuant to the AKC Board of Director’s Disclosure of Information Policy. AKC does not disclose information from its registration records or from its correspondence files without “the express permission of the principals or due process of law.” This would include revealing the names and addresses of the owners of dogs or information on an individuals dogs or litters. The AKC Board of Director’s Disclosure of Information Policy is available for review on the AKC website at /rules/policymanual.cfm. If you are interested in purchasing a dog of a particular breed, the easiest and most convenient way to find the right dog is through the AKC website – www.akc.org. The site offers potential puppy buyers access to a wealth of information on buying a dog, selecting a breeder, and dog care. The best way to ensure a long and happy relationship with a purebred dog is to purchase from a responsible breeder. While the AKC does not license, endorse, or recommend breeders, we do provide a step-by-step procedure that will lead you to the breed of dog best suited for you and a breeder in your area. 1. Are You Ready For a Dog? – /future_dog_owner/ready_for_dog.cfm Remember that owning a dog is a lifelong commitment with a variety of responsibilities. If you cannot meet those responsibilities, neither you nor your dog will be happy. 2. The Right Dog For You – /future_dog_owner/find_breed.cfm You should do some serious and careful research to determine which breed is right for you and your family. 3. Finding Your Dog – /future_dog_owner/find_breeder.cfm Where you go to get your dog is just as important as what kind of dog you get. A responsible breeder is the best source for a well-bred, healthy dog. 4. National Club Breeder Referral – /breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm Each breed’s national club (also known as the Parent Club) will have a listing for a breeder referral person. That person should be able to help find a breeder in your area. If the national breed club has a web site, you will find a link to that web site. Many clubs also offer excellent breed specific information and breeder referral contacts in different states or regions that can help you. 5. AKC Marketplace – https://marketplace.akc.org/ Finding trustworthy dog breeders, groomers, and trainers can be challenging. AKC Marketplace is your trusted resource to help make a lifetime of responsible dog ownership safe, happy, and healthy. Try this new service that helps puppy buyers locate breeders with available AKC-registrable puppies. You can search for AKC-registrable puppies by breed and state OR by breed and zip code radius.
1. Are You Ready For a Dog? – /future_dog_owner/ready_for_dog.cfm Remember that owning a dog is a lifelong commitment with a variety of responsibilities; if you cannot meet those responsibilities, neither you nor your dog will be happy. 2. The Right Dog For You – /future_dog_owner/find_breed.cfm You should do serious and careful research to determine which breed is right for you and your family. 3. Finding Your Dog – /future_dog_owner/find_breeder.cfm Where you go to get your dog is just as important as what kind of dog you get. A responsible breeder is the best source for a well-bred, healthy dog. 4. National Club Breeder Referral – /breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm Each Breed’s National Club (also known as the Parent Club) will have a listing for a breeder referral person. That person should be able to help find a breeder in your area. If the national breed club has a web site, you will find a link to that web site. Many clubs also offer excellent breed specific information and breeder referral contacts in different states or regions that can help you. 5. AKC Marketplace – https://marketplace.akc.org/ Finding trustworthy dog breeders, groomers, and trainers can be challenging. AKC Marketplace is your trusted resource to help make a lifetime of responsible dog ownership safe, happy, and healthy. Try this new service that helps puppy buyers locate breeders with available AKC-registrable puppies. You can search for AKC-registrable puppies by breed and state OR by breed and zip code radius.
We do not have information that matches a breed to a specific lifestyle or individuals. The best thing to do is read about each breed in which you are interested and then contact the breeder referral person for each breed. A listing of the National Clubs, by group, can be found at /clubs/search/index.cfm.
Locating a Reputable Dog Breeder
Community Answer You can look online, as many breeders have reviews posted online. If a breeder does not have any reviews or information available online, you should be careful about adopting from them as they may not be reputable. Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Guidance & Best Practices
Some best practices that all licensed pet dealers should follow include maintaining clean animal housing; providing food and water; monitoring housing temperature; maintaining required vaccinations; obtaining appropriate health certificates; monitoring animal health; adhering to isolation and biosecurity guidance; documenting sales; handling medication appropriately; and protecting consumers. Learn more below.
How To Find A Breeder In Your Area – TIPS TO AVOID SCAMMERS
So you’ve decided to get a dog. What next? First, you have to decide on the kind of breed that will best suit you. Then you have to decide where to get your dog. If adoption is not right for you (which, if that’s the case, we strongly encourage you to give it a second thought), there are other means of getting a dog. Buying from out of state breeders or over the Internet, however, is not a good idea. It is best to buy locally, but first you will need to do some research to find the best dog breeder in your area.
Start your search by talking to certified dog trainers and veterinarians in your area. They are the experts when it comes to dog breeds and some of them may even breed dogs that you can buy. You can also make inquiries at the local dog breed clubs or from the American Kennel Club (AKC). If you tell them the breed of dog you want, they will provide you with the contact information for your local dog breeders that raise that specific breed.
Once you have the list of recommended dog breeders in your area, do not just pick one randomly. Take the time to find out more information about each breeder and visit each breeder personally. This will give you a better picture of what the dogs are like and how they are raised. If possible, visit several breeders so that you have a wide range of choices.
When visiting a dog breeder, always ask permission before handling or petting the puppies. Some of the puppies may not be vaccinated yet and dog breeders are cautious about disease transmission. You can tell if a puppy is healthy without touching it by its eyes, hair-coat and behavior. A healthy puppy is generally very eager to socialize and is very energetic. (Some puppies are naturally shy and reserved, but that is often only characteristic of certain breeds.)
Aside from checking out the dogs at the kennel, it is crucial you check out the condition of the kennel. A dirty kennel usually means unhealthy dogs. Puppies are susceptible to a variety of viruses and diseases such as canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine distemper virus (CDV), which are known to flourish in unclean environments. A dirty kennel can also affect a puppy’s behavior later in life.
Depending on the breed, you should expect ethical breeders to have certificates from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. OFA will provide certifications for breeding dogs that pass specifications, and will also give medical examinations to determine if a dog has a genetic or crippling disease. (This is particularly true for the German Shepherd and Golden Retriever breeds, amongst others.) A breeder who belongs to a breeder’s club often means that she or he is serious about responsible dog breeding. Another big plus is when a breeder has a history of entering dogs into some form of competition.
Before making your purchase from the breeder you have chosen, it is also wise to inquire about their return policy. You must be able to return the puppy within two days from date of purchase if there is something wrong with it. And a breeder should accept returns within a year from purchase if the puppy is discovered to have a genetically bad disposition or a crippling disease such as hip dysplasia.
The responsible breeder will not sell you a puppy right away just because you want one. A reliable breeder is well informed about the process of pairing a puppy with its future owner and will take the time to ask a few questions from you to decide if you will be as suitable for the breed as it will be for you. As a client, you will be required to fill out a form. The breeder will then use the information you have given to choose the puppy that best suits you. (And why not begin your search on petMDs Breedopedia?)
The decision on which puppy will be ideal for you is best left to the breeder because she or he has more knowledge of the puppy’s character and will be able to make a more objective decision than you might. For the most part, people are full of excitement about the prospect of bringing home a puppy and will pick out the cutest puppy they see. This is not the best basis for choosing the ideal puppy. A responsible breeder is well aware of this and will base the decision on the information that was gathered from you earlier.
Owning a puppy is a big responsibility. It can also be very life-changing. Bringing a puppy home is a long term commitment, perhaps twenty years or more, so it helps to act wisely while making your decisions in connection with finding a puppy. Do your research diligently and you will find success in your search for the perfect canine companion. 🙂
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