Ailea's Place - Finding the Right Responsible Breeder

~ Finding The Right Responsible Breeder ~

The information contained here is lengthy, for which I apologize, but all of it is important in the process of acquiring your sheltie. Please do not let my verbosity interfere with reading what I have to say about responsible breeding. The more information you have, the better armed you are against the uncaring, unknowledgeable, ignorant breeders who wish only to take your money.

While finding a responsible breeder may not always be easy, it need not be an involved, harrowing experience for anyone, and will be your best time investment in acquiring your puppy. Once you have decided that the sheltie is the right breed for you, read up on shelties as much as you can. The internet has a wide open door full of information on any breed you wish to discover, so lack of information is not an issue. You can find some great links to different sheltie sites - with much varied information - by visiting my own Links pages.

At this point in the process of your search for a sheltie you must have already acquired a working knowledge of shelties including type (how they look), temperament, health and behavioral tendencies. This information will assist you in separating the breeders who don't really know what they are doing, from the great, responsible breeders you need to meet.

First, and most importantly of all, do NOT turn to a pet store for purchase of a puppy. A store selling lives is only interested in the bottom line of profit at the end of the day; does not have the time necessary to devote to socializing and properly caring for the many animals housed; cannot give you adequate health or temperament information or guarantees; do not care if the puppies they sell go into good homes; will not replace or refund your purchase price if a puppy sickens or dies from a genetic or preventable disease; does not know or care about the quality of the puppies sold; does not tell you the puppies are raised in deplorable conditions by people who could not care less for creature comforts. A purchase from a pet store will simply make room for the pet store to buy another puppy to replace it. For more information regarding pet stores, please visit my Rescue pages.

Now that you have armed yourself with a basic knowledge of shelties and where NOT to find one, you are ready to find a breeder. There are many ways to go about locating a responsible sheltie breeder, within a reasonable distance from your home:

National Contact: The best place to start is the American Shetland Sheepdog Association (ASSA). ASSA's Breeder Referral chairperson will be happy to provide you with contact information on breeders in your relative local area. Please note, a breeder referral from ASSA is not an endorsement of the breeder's level of responsibility or quality. You may visit the ASSA's national Breeder Network.

Local Contact: Other good places to check are kennel clubs, obedience and/or agility training centers or clubs, veterinarians, groomers, boarding kennels, or pet supply stores. Stop by or give them a call and inquire. I have received many referrals from my veterinarian, so it CAN happen!

Newspaper Classifieds: Many people turn to the classified ads when looking to buy a puppy. While it is possible for you to locate an excellent, responsible breeder in this way (a very few of them do advertise in the papers), you are less likely to find one in the classifieds. Why? Because many times your responsible breeder will have a list of persons waiting for puppies before they are even born, and have no problems placing them in good homes. As a result, most newspaper advertisements are amateurs (what is known as 'backyard breeders'), with little to no real knowledge or information about their breed. I believe, for the most part, these people mean well, but their ignorance is like a loaded gun, and is a disservice to the breed and the pet-buying public as a whole.

You are welcome to visit my Breeder's Questions page, where you may review some suggested questions you should want to ask of the Breeder before you decide where to do business.

BUYER BEWARE!!
and
BUYER BE AWARE!!

When you decide you are ready for a new puppy or dog, please spend at least as much time shopping for your puppy as you would for a new car, a particularly special dress or suit of clothes. A puppy is a life, and is a long-term investment and commitment. Hopefully this puppy will be with you for 12-15 years or more, so you want the best puppy - and breeder - you can get for your money. And make sure you get answers to your questions BEFORE you take the puppy home!

Please also visit my Adoption Questions page, where you may review some questions that may be asked of you by the Breeder before the Breeder agrees to do business with you.

I cannot possibly have touched on all aspects, problems and questions associated with finding a good, responsible breeder, but hopefully I have given you a good idea of what a responsible breeder is, and how to find one. Next step is choosing your puppy!

Choosing Your Sheltie