What Is A Good Breeder?

Many first-time dog owners are unaware of the fact that buying a puppy or an adult dog from a reputable breeder is usually the safest method of acquiring a new pet or show animal.

A reputable breeder truly loves the type of dog he (or she) has chosen to breed. He breeds his dog with one thought uppermost in his mind — to help improve the overall quality of the breed. Often a responsible breeder has a litter of puppies only because he plans to keep one or more of the best puppies of the litter to improve his breeding program.

PROFILE OF A
RESPONSIBLE BREEDER

A responsible breeder knows that it is unusual to make large amounts of money from breeding dogs — if it is done properly. Both the sire (male dog) and the dam (female dog) have to be in peak condition in order to produce healthy puppies. Both parents need to have their shots up-to-date, be x-rayed for soundness hips and elbows and tested for the presence of various other congenital conditions. Their bloodlines are checked and rechecked in an effort to ensure that they will be structurally and genetically compatible. The sire and dam also should receive the best possible nutrition, and their living quarters should be well constructed and kept clean at all times. All of these things take time and money to accomplish.

THE PUPPY MILL CREED

Unfortunately, there is another type of breeder, who seems to care little for the health and well-being of his animals, nor does he appreciate the importance of keeping a breed's gene pool strong. This breeder has only one prime objective for breeding animals — PROFIT. Breeding kennels that adopt this haphazard, unresponsible type of breeding program are commonly known as puppy mills . Puppy mills flourish in every breed of dog, and may be found in every state in the country. The Humane Society of the United States has identified the Midwestern states of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma, as well as the state of Pennsylvania as the primary puppy mill states and has called for a boycott of pet store dogs bred in these states.

Puppy mill owners are notorious for keeping their animals in overcrowded and/or unsanitary conditions. They often underfeed their animals in an effort to cut costs and spend very little money on veterinary care. Many times the animals they breed have never been vaccinated or tested for any congenital (hereditary) defects.

Many of these unfortunate puppies end up in local pet shops. Should you decide to purchase a dog from a pet shop, you should request the shop owner to provide you with a complete three- generation pedigree, listing the puppies parents, grandparents and great-grand parents. You should also ask for a copy of his registration papers before you buy the puppy. If the dealer is a reputable one, he will not hesitate to comply with your requests. If he or she proves uncooperative, let the buyer beware!

..... Another common practice among puppy mill owners is called indiscriminate breeding. This means that they often breed any fertile female (who may or may not be physically mature or in good condition) every time she comes into season to any fertile male who is willing and able to do the job. Not only does this practice shorten their bitches' life spans, it also does great disservice to potential puppy owners in two ways:

Indiscriminate breeding weakens the breed as a whole by increasing the number of genetically and/or physically impaired animals; and
It is not uncommon for new owners to be sold sickly and/or unsound puppies, whose illnesses and/or genetic deficiencies may result in excessive veterinary expenses. In the very worst cases, an animal must be put to sleep because of some painful or incurable structural or mental defect.

In an effort to make their dogs seem more valuable and to justify charging high prices for their animals, some puppy millers will sell puppies with fake or stolen pedigrees to unsuspecting buyers. This type of breeder is not really concerned about putting their puppies into good homes. They care only that their potential victims' checks don't bounce!

BREEDING TO PRESERVE &
IMPROVE THE BREED

So then, what makes a good breeder? A good breeder does a number of things for his animals in order to improve the breed and keep it as healthy as possible.

CANINE HIP DYSPLASIA (CHD)

A responsible breeder will have his breeding stock's hips x-rayed for soundness of hip sockets and joints. Any unsoundness (i.e., shallow hip sockets and ill-fitting ball joints) is called canine hip dysplasia.

.....Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic problem in many dog breeds, including the Samoyed. A dog with severe forms of this condition will suffer great pain and may eventually lose the ability to walk. Dysplastic hips may sometimes be surgically repaired, but in many cases, the dog must be put to sleep.

.....A conscientious breeder will send his dog's hip x-rays to an organization called the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), which is a group of veterinary bone and joint specialists, who will grade the x-rays for soundness. If a dog's hips pass the doctor's inspection, the OFA issues an OFA number for that animal, which becomes a permanent part of its record. If a dog's x-rays show that it is indeed dysplastic, a responsible breeder will neuter or spay the animal — even if the dog is a champion or is showing promise in the conformation ring — so that the animal cannot be used for breeding and thereby weaken the breed's gene pool. Hip x-rays are usually done after a dog is two years old, as his skeletal structure is usually not mature until then. Also, the OFA will not issue numbers to animals under two years of age.

A conscientious breeder x-rays each dog that he plans to use in his breeding program. He often asks people who buy his pet-quality animals (dogs and puppies that have some usually minor structural defect that would make them unsuccessful in the conformation show ring) to have them x-rayed, too, as further proof the sire and dam are genetically compatible. A good breeder will usually wait until a dog or bitch they wish to breed is at least two years old before it is bred in a concentrated effort to minimize the number of dysplastic puppies born.

Whomever you decide to purchase your dog or puppy from, the Heart of America Samoyed Club recommends that you ask if the puppy's sire and dam have valid OFA and CERF numbers. The numbers are usually recorded on a dog's three- or five- generation pedigree.

PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY (PRA)

Another thing a good breeder will check his animals for is the presence of Progressive Retinal Atrophy or PRA. This is a condition that is found in all dog breeds and for which there is no known cure. PRA occurs either when, for some reason, healthy retinal tissue in the eye begins to die (degenerative PRA), or when the retinal tissue develops abnormally at birth. Both types of PRA result in severe impairment of sight and eventual total blindness in the affected eye(s). Sometimes the disease is complicated when cataracts form over the damaged part of the eye.

In Samoyeds, onset of PRA can occur after three years of age, although it sometimes happens earlier. After a dog turns one year old, a conscientious breeder will begin taking it to a certified veterinary ophthalmologist for annual eye exams if he plans to breed the dog. If the dog passes the examination, he is issued a CERF number to certify that his eyes are disease free. You can find out more about this examination at the CERF web site.

Again, if an animal is found to be afflicted, a responsible, caring breeder will neuter or spay the animal and remove it from his/her breeding program — even if the dog is a champion or is showing promise in the conformation ring — so this disease will not be passed on to its offspring. It is better to sacrifice one dog's breeding abilities than to increase the number of afflicted animals in the gene pool simply because the breeder "just loves puppies," or because the affected dog "has such good temperament."

The WRITTEN CONTRACT

Another thing a conscientious breeder will offer his or her buyers is a written contract. If your puppy should die or have to be put down from a genetically-transmitted condition such as canine hip dysplasia, a responsible breeder will, at his or her discretion, offer to refund all or part of your purchase price, or will agree to send you a replacement puppy. Responsible breeders will be able to offer you a complete record of all vaccinations their dogs and puppies have received and will be happy to advise you about keeping your puppy's shots up to date. Your puppy should also have a health guarantee, allowing you to return the puppy within 48 to 72 hours if your veterinarian determines your new puppy arrived in less than optimal condition.

A good breeder will also be available to answer any "dumb" questions a buyer might have. Should the owner of one of his or her puppies not be able to keep the dog due to divorce, sickness or some other unfortunate occurrence, good breeders often try to assist the owner place the puppy or dog in another home. In short, a good breeder cares about his/her dogs AND his/her puppy buyers. When you buy from a good breeder, you don't just buy a dog or a puppy — you join a family!

WHERE ARE THE GOOD BREEDERS?

There are many reputable Samoyed breeders all over the United States. If you decide to buy a dog from another state, you can usually make arrangements to ship him in by air, which costs around $80 to $100+ for a puppy, or $150 and up for an adult dog. If it's not too far away, you can drive to the breeder's home to pick up your new friend. Visiting the breeder at his/her home gives you an excellent opportunity to meet one or both of the puppy's or dog's parents. It's also a good opportunity to ask your breeder any questions you may have.

Don't pass up an opportunity to own an older dog just because you think you want a puppy! Some breeders may have retired show dogs and older pet animals (10-12 months of age and older) that need homes also. Owning an older dog has many advantages, especially if you have a busy lifestyle. With an older dog, you usually miss a lot of the chewing and teething that puppies go through (although most Sams enjoy a good Nyla-Bone or chewstick for entertainment!). You can also avoid the housebreaking hassle and having to teach the dog good house manners.

Expect to pay between $400 and $800 for pet Samoyeds, and from $900+ for show prospects. While this may be more than the average "backyard breeder" charges for his or her animals, the benefits of having a healthy animal and the support of a knowledgeable, caring breeder are well worth the price!

THE SAMOYED CLUB OF AMERICA

Another good source of information is the Samoyed Club of America (SCA). Chartered on February 14, 1923 and accepted for AKC membership on May 15, 1923, the SCA is made up of Samoyed owners, exhibitors and breeders who are dedicated to the preservation, promotion and protection of the Samoyed breed. All of the HOASC's current Officers and many HOASC Club Members are also members of the SCA.

The SCA publishes a magazine five times a year called the SCA Bulletin, which features informative articles, Board of Governor meeting minutes and breed advertising. The SCA Bulletin is available on a subscription basis to members of the SCA. Non-members may purchase individual issues (when available) for $20 each. To buy single issues, please contact the current Editor of the SCA Bulletin, whose name and address are posted on the SCA web site.

Questions about the Samoyed breed and the SCA may be directed to the current SCA Corresponding Secretary. He or She can tell you how to obtain any of the SCA's educational publications, and can also send you a list of SCA breeders in your area. A current address for the SCA Corresponding Secretary is always available from the Club Relations Department of the American Kennel Club, 5580 Centerview Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606.3390. If you prefer to contact the AKC by telephone, they may be reached between 8:30am and 4:15pm Eastern Standard Time at 919.854.0179. Their fax number is 919.854.0151. E mail: ceg@akc.org.

Best of luck with your Sammy hunt!

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