This week, I talk to Michelle Klump from Out West Bassets in the mountains of Southern Arizona. We discuss what an ethical breeder looks like and how to choose the right breed for your family. Michelle talks about why Basset Hounds make good family pets and red flags to look for when trying to decide where to get your next dog.
Resources
It helps to be honest about the right dog that fits your lifestyle. You can take an assessment here and get tips for how to look for the right characteristics for your specific family.
Good questions to ask potential breeders
- How long have you been breeding this variety of dog?
- Is the breeder open to you visiting?
- If you visit, note if multiple dogs are out together or if only one dog is out at a time (this may indicate how social the dogs are and if they are prone to getting along with other family pets)
- How do you determine which dogs to mate together – what type of criteria (such as health, genetics, temperament) do you consider?
- Who picks the puppy – the breeder or the client?
- Health clearances on parents (related to genetic or physical conditions common to the breed, including hips, knees, eyes, etc)
- Can you meet the parents? look for temperament / size / sociability
- How do you socialize the puppies? what kinds of sounds, textures, toys, scents have the pups been exposed to? have the dogs been exposed to other dogs? other breeds? varying ages? Have the pups met people of different ages, sizes, ethnicities etc?
- Do you have a contract? difference between limited and full papers – pet/show quality; Ask to see the registration papers or online listings for the parents
- Is there a health guarantee, will the breeder take the dog back for any reason
- When will client be able to take pup home (8-12 weeks is the norm)
- What vaccines have been given, and at what ages? Ask see the vaccination records!
- What requirements do you have for potential puppy homes?Ask for references from the owners of previous litters
Safety Note
Dogs are not meant to be the caretakers of our children – that’s the job for an adult. Most kids don’t make appropriate choices around dogs and need parental guidance so that they don’t accidentally hurt our dogs, tease them, or cause the dogs any discomfort. Parents need to be present to supervise kids and dogs most of the time. There are instances, however, when dogs can have a task of protecting the family and warning them when strangers or predators approach. In a case like this, the dog is not directly interacting with the children, but is acting in a working capacity in the vicinity.
