There are two major kennel clubs in the U.S. They are the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC). The AKC is the oldest, largest, best-known (thanks to the Westminster Dog Show) and most rigid, and the UKC is second oldest, second largest and generally considered more accessible to ordinary dog owners.

Both register dogs and both have standards of conduct for breeders. Generally, however, the AKC is more concerned with breeding dogs that meet the physical demands of a breed standard. Sometimes, in my opinion, that has led to unfortunate side effects such as miniaturizing dogs to the point they developed slipped kneecaps and collapsed wind pipes.

The UKC, on the other hand, stresses the whole dog – both looks and temperament. It is well known for its performance events: Coonhound field trials, water races, agility trials and hunting tests for the retriever breeds. Your own interests would determine which kennel club would appeal to you, although you can register in both.

There are other kennel clubs and other “purebred” registries. Be aware that some of these exist only because the breeders can’t meet the standards of the AKC or the UKC. For example, one of the largest alternative kennel clubs was started by a group of Missouri dog breeders who were booted out of the AKC because they violated safety and health standards. When they could no longer advertise their puppies as being AKC-registered, they created a registry of their own.

Another registry was started to handle a franchised chain of pet shops.

It’s easy to tell a true registry from a quick-buck operation. The real kennel clubs require a pedigree and often DNA or genetic testing. The quick-buck ones require you to send a check. Many do not require your dog to be a purebred and one of them even registers wolf/dog crossbreeds.

Many reputable breeders are registered with their breed club as well as the AKC or UKC. Many breed clubs have a stricter code of ethics than either the AKC or UKC. It’s reassuring to only deal with a breeder who dual-registers or only registers with the breed club named in the AKC’s list of breed clubs.

I don’t know why you would ever want to be registered with any kennel club other than UKC or AKC.

Louise Louis is a certified canine specialist and creator of the popular website on small dogs, http://www.ToyBreeds.com

Every aspect of any dog’s physical being began as contributions from its parents’ bodies, carried in their genetic code. As an example, there are certain health conditions in Golden Retrivers, Poodles and Labradors which can be passed from parent to puppy in the genetic material. Hence are found in the hybrids known as Goldendoodles (Golden Retriever/Poodle crosses) and Labradoodles (Labrador Retriver/Poodle crosses). These are called heritable (that is, “able to be inherited”) disorders. In only one case, Von Willebrand’s Disease, do we actually know what gene is responsible. In the case of this disease, a laboratory can examine cells from a dog to see if the gene is present. A dog having the gene would not be bred.

In all other instances we cannot look for a gene to tell us of the presence of a certain disease. We have to look for evidence of the disease itself. In the case of heritable eye diseases in Poodles and Doodles, for example, an exam is conducted by a veterinary opthamologist every year to determine if a disease is developing. Dogs that show symptoms of a heritable eye disease are eliminated from the breeding program. Other examples of heritable diseases tested for by some Doodle breeders include thyroid disease, some forms of heart disease, Addison’s disease, sebaceous adenitis, hip dysplasia and diabetes.

The heritable disease found in Doodles that most people seem familiar with is Hip Dysplasia (HD). This disease is a sort of Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) , with symptoms similar to arthritis in humans. In dogs though, the heritable form of the disease is not a disease of old age, but can develop while the dog is still quite young and is obvious on X-rays as the hip joint has abnormal features which are present from birth. As with most things, the hip architecture can range from great to horrible, with some hips in between. Two schemes are commonly available in the US for evaluating hips. OFA screening relies on veterinarians reading an x-ray and assigning a rank: ‘Excellent’, ‘Good’, ‘Fair’ ‘Borderline’ or ‘Dysplastic’. Breeders who base decisions about breeding on OFA generally agree that ‘Excellent’ and ‘Good’ rankings are fine to breed, and also agree that ‘Borderline’ or ‘Dysplastic ‘ are not acceptable for breeding. As with all other decisions where there are gray areas, some breeders will breed a dog with a ‘Fair’ rank, and others will not. But this is really a judgement call and not all breeders agree. There is a registry (www.offa.org) that collects and reports hip assessments to assist in recording and tracking these rankings. OFA will not certify a dogs hips until the age of 2 years, however, so some breeders are using a specialized x-ray technique called PennHIP testing, which can be done as young as 4 months of age. This test results in a score for each hip, ranging from .1 to .9, and reflects how tight the hip joint is, and the average score varies by dog breed. Tighter hips, that is lower scores, are less likely to develop DJD and are desirable in any breeding dog. In my opinion, any score under .3 is clearly breedable. Anything over .6 is clearly not breedable. In between .3 and .6 is a gray area. Breeders who utilize this method track the average scores for their breed, and try to breed only dogs with average or better-than-average scores. For example, the average hip score for Standard Poodles is currently .5. If a Poodle were to score .42, in the middle zone, it would be considered breedable by most because it is better than average. However .42 would NOT be considered breedable by most Borzoi breeders because that breed average is .19!

Mini-Labradoodles are at risk for slightly different problems as they are bred from Miniature Poodles instead of Standard Poodles. For example, the incidence of hip dysplasia is so low in the Minis that some breeders choose not to test for it. So breeders may test for some or all of these diseases. Some breeders do not test at all. If testing for heritable diseases is important to you it should be among the questions you ask of prospective breeders.

Another way breeders try to eliminate HD and other heritable diseases from their breeding lines is to examine their dog’s pedigrees carefully. Looking at hip assessments and other health records of relatives (grandparents, siblings, half-siblings, cousins, etc) and choosing breeding stock with the healthiest background possible is all part of the picture.

One of the difficulties in trying to eliminate heritable disorders in dogs is that most of the genes that cause the disorders are what are termed ‘recessive’. This means they are hidden, or masked, by other genes. A parent that does NOT show the disease, but is carrying the gene, can pass that gene carrying the disease to a pup. If BOTH parents happen to be carriers and pass the genes to a pup, the pup can have TWO defective genes and will show the disease. This is similar to 2 brown-eyed parents having a blue eyed child. Blue is recessive, but if both parents are blue carriers, they can have a blue -eyed child. Some heritable diseases are passed in this manner, via a single recessive gene. Complicating this picture in the case of HD is the fact that hip dysplasia appears to be controlled by several genes, so predicting it’s inheritance is even more difficult. It IS possible to have 2 parents with good hip scores, or good hip x-rays, produce a puppy with hip dysplasia.

In addition to testing members of a breeding pair, breeders will gather testing information on relatives of their breeding pair. The scores of parents, grandparents, siblings, siblings of parents, and even puppies produced from previous litters will all be examined. In some cases it is better to breed a dog with slightly below average hips, if the test results for all relatives are excellent, than to breed a dog with good hips who has HD in it’s pedigree. So interpreting test results is no easy task! This is true for the other heritable diseases passed as recessive traits as well.

But Doodle breeders who test their breeding stock do the best they can. They use their dogs test results to help make the best pairings possible in their breeding decisions. The hope is to reduce the number of Doodle pups born with hip dysplasia by removing dogs from the breeding population that have clearly substandard hips, and by following the offspring of dogs with hip scores in the middle ranges to see if their pups remain healthy. We do the same for all diseases that are known or suspected to be heritable in Labradoodles and Goldendoodles.

About the Author

Helene Roussi raises and breeds Labradoodles and Goldendoodles in Columbus, Ohio

Every month I am approached by dog owners of my breed who complain about how poorly behaved, how sickly, how untrainable, and generally undesirable my breed is and how deeply they resented spending money on this breed. I listen patiently, but time taught me not to defend “˜good’ breeders, or explain to the angry owners how their own ignorance caused them to become victimized.

There are many myths that abound in the dog world. Unfortunately, each allows unscrupulous breeders to take advantage of eager, prospective puppy buyers.

Here are some of the most common myths:

“Registered dogs are good quality.” Wrong. Even puppy mills register their puppies and get the papers.

“If the parents have papers, the puppy is a good one.” Wrong. Actually, if the parent’s papers do not have a blue boarder, then the puppy’s parent is registered as “Not good enough for breeding.” In many cases, these breeders show the parent’s papers to prospective buyers, but explain that the litter is not registered in an attempt to save money. This is a lie. They didn’t register the litter because the puppies are not purebred, and unregisterable. It takes less than $25.00 to register a puppy.

“You don’t need to take breeding stock to “˜dog shows,’ because it is all political.” Sorry, but I hate hearing this one from hobby breeders. I have been in the dog world for more than 20 years and have shown more than 4 breeds. Yes, when it comes to the BIG shows, or the Best In Show wins, there are politics involved. But, when it comes to getting the LOWEST award a dog can get (which is becoming a champion) there is little to prevent any breeder from showing and winning … unless they know their dogs are not good quality. All the title of champion means is that more than one judge considers the dog is good enough for breeding.

Poor quality parents = poor quality puppies. Many people believe they only need two purebred parents to produce good quality puppies. This is not true. Many hereditary diseases, like joint problems, are avoided by good breeders who understand bloodlines and structure. If the breeder thinks they can breed different body types together, and get consistently healthy puppies, they shouldn’t be breeding.

“If both parents are champions, the puppies are good.” Again, buyer beware. It is relatively easy to make a good dog a champion. Hobby and unscrupulous breeders know this, so they finish one or two dogs (not most of them), and then con new buyers into believing that “˜championship’ is the pinnacle of a dog’s career, instead of the lowest award it can achieve.

So, how can you protect yourself? Here are some helpful hints that will help you avoid ending up with a puppy you cannot live with.

• Visit at least 10 breeders, before looking at a puppy.
• Never let a breeder put a puppy in your hands, or tell you it will be gone tomorrow if you don’t buy it now. In fact, most good breeders will not let you have the puppy after a first visit. Most good puppy owners do not take money on the first visit.
• Never take your children when looking at puppies.
• Contact the national breed association and ask questions.
• Make sure the breeder does not consistently use males and females from their own kennel. The males most good kennels use come from top winning stock.
• A health guarantee is only valuable if you, the puppy buyer, is willing to go to court. In many cases, they are not worth the paper they are written on. Instead, ask for the names of 5 … 10 people who ownes one of these dog’s puppies for more than a year.
• Ask the breeder for vet records showing when the breeder had the parents checked for hereditary defects.
• Don’t buy from breeders who always have puppies. Also, when it comes to kennels, bigger is not better. Large operations, even ’show’ ones, are businesses. They are more concerned with income than the relationship between you and your new puppy.
• Don’t buy a cheap puppy. Find the average price of a puppy, and look for puppies in that price range. It is expensive, “˜properly’ raising a litter of puppies. And, it is easy for a good breeder to sell puppies. So, if a breeder is selling bargain puppies, then something is wrong.
• Beware of breeders who breed their female pet. Rarely do they possess the knowledge needed to breed a good litter. More important, I have known about entire networks of people selling puppies, believing they are helping a breeder. Instead, these people are selling puppies for a puppy mill. No one will go to a stinky farm and select their puppy from dozens of litters. No one is that naïve anymore. So, puppy mills have become very savvy, even buying “˜show ribbons’, to make themselves appear more legit.

If you can avoid these mistakes, you will reduce the risk of buying a poor quality puppy.

There are some facts I can give you. All the reputable, concerned breeders I have met have three things in common.

• They love to talk about their breed.
• They are not in any hurry to sell a puppy.
• They only breed 1 … 5 litters a year.

About the Author

Suzanne James is instructor of the online course “Pick the right dog for you” at http://www.universalclass.com. She ran a dog training school, and has shown and bred 4 breeds of dogs. Currently she breeds Chinese Crested dogs under the name Orchid Kennels http://www.inspiredauthor.com/ ChineseCresteds

Truth be told, puppy mills are largely responsible for even harsher statistic: as many as 25 percent of all purebred pups suffer from genetic difficulties because of bad breeding. And as knowledgeable as you think you are about buying a dog, you could come across one of these poor pups and not even know it.

That could mean that you spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on a pet, only to have it succumb to a birth defect and maybe even die at an early age. Even if this worst-case scenario doesn’t occur, buying from the wrong breeder can also land you an animal that picked up diseases because of the intolerable conditions at the breeder. That could lead to additional thousands spent on vet bills.

Why leash yourself to such heartache? There’s no need when there are so many great and trustworthy breeders out there, who can pair you with a loving new puppy.

To find the right breeder for you, start local. Your best bet is to find breeders within driving distance. That way, you can visit the actual breeding facilities. And while there, be sure to scout out for the following characteristics that all best-of-show breeders possess:

“¢ A litter of dogs that play, smile, and show all the other signs of being happy and healthy. Take notice, too, that the pups are sociable to the breeder, you, and their brothers and sisters.

“¢ More demand for their dogs than they can handle. Usually a long buyers’ waiting list at a breeder is like a wagging tail on a puppy””a good sign.

“¢ A discerning eye for customers. Good breeders should ask you as many questions as you ask them, on topics such as your reasons for wanting their dog, your past pet experience, whether you have enough space at home, and who in your family will be responsible for daily puppy care.

“¢ The willingness to show you the puppy’s parents during your visit if you provide the right answers to the above questions.

“¢ A wealth of knowledge on the dogs that they breed, including specific advice on the breed’s standard and temperament, to satisfy all of your questions and concerns.

“¢ A health guarantee in writing that shows exactly what vaccinations the pup has had.

“¢ The friendly advice about what future vaccinations you should give, along with the best ways to train and care for the puppy.

“¢ A guarantee, again in writing, this one stating that the breeder would be willing to take back the dog if you cannot keep it at any time.

“¢ The care and thoughtfulness to keep in touch for some time after your purchase, to check on the dog and offer further advice when needed.

If you keep your eyes peeled and your ears perked for these signs of a good breeder, you won’t have to rely on luck or a good reference in finding the right puppy (though those don’t hurt either). You’ll learn soon after you bring your new pal home that you made the right choice, and over time, your family and pet bond. Your pet will live a long, healthy life as part of your family.

About the Author

Donald Lee is the public relations manager for Buysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides free classified listing services. Buy, Sell and trade: auto, computers, household items, real estate, pets and much more. For national and localized classifieds, please visit http://www.buysellcommunity.com – Free Buy & Sell Classifieds

A dog with health problems can lead to heartache as easily as it leads to empty checking accounts. But a good dog breeder will stand behind health guarantees and do everything possible to set things right if you end up with a dog that has a serious health defect.

There are several types of dog breeders. The first type is a person who shows dogs and works hard to maintain the breed standard. The puppies this breeder produces will often be more expensive than other puppies, but there are several advantages to buying one. For one, these breeders test their dogs for common genetic diseases and only breed their best dogs, because they are breeding dogs to develop a new generation of champions. This means that the resulting puppies that aren’t show quality are usually still quite nice.

The second type of dog breeder is usually called a “backyard breeder.” These breeders rarely show dogs, and often have a litter of puppies just because they want other people to have a dog just like theirs. Unfortunately, few backyard breeders test for diseases or know how to look for traits that match or further the breed standard.

The final type of dog breeder is often called a “puppy mill” breeder. These breeders have many different breeds of dogs, and often breed their females until the dogs become run down and die. Puppies are frequently very poor examples of the breed, and may have genetic health problems as well as easily preventable diseases such as Kennel Cough.

Obviously, you want to find a good dog breeder. However, knowing the importance of finding a good dog breeder doesn’t always make it easy to locate one. Fortunately, if you look for signs of a good breeder and ask the breeder the right questions, you should be able to tell if you’ve found a good breeder.

First, take a look at how the breeder is advertising. Breeders who advertise in newspapers are not necessarily unethical. Some of them love their dog breed, but do not care for the show world. However, be wary of an advertisement that lists puppies from five different dog breeds and a few poodle mixes thrown in for good measure.

Next, ask the breeder to allow you to stop in and look at the puppies. If the breeder refuses and offers to deliver the puppy or meets you outside with a portable pen full of puppies, it may very well be because of safety concerns. However, it could also mean that the breeder’s kennel is dirty and the dogs are not cared for properly.

Once you’ve seen those adorable puppies, do not pull out your check book. Instead, ask the breeder whether they’ve been to a vet and ask about a health guarantee. Some breeders vaccinate the puppies themselves, but there is a chance they did not give the vaccinations correctly and that the puppies are still vulnerable to disease. Also, the puppies could have serious hereditary defects, such as a severe heart murmur, that a preliminary health exam would have uncovered.

Finally, ask for references from previous owners and get the name and phone number of the breeder’s veterinarian. Then, go home and call the references and ask them about their experience with the breeder and ask how their puppies turned out. If you are satisfied with the response of the references, call the veterinarian to verify that the breeder really did bring the puppies in.

Now, you can finally buy your new puppy. Of course, first you will have to decide which of those little balls of fluff is the right dog for you!

To be a dog breeder, all you need to do is own an un-neutered female dog or two. In most states, you do not need to even register your kennel if you only have two or three adult dogs. However, being a good dog breeder is more complicated.

First, a good dog breeder will not want to use dogs with major flaws. The breeder may show the dogs to try to obtain a championship before breeding them. This raises the value of the dog’s future puppies, but it also enables the breeder to network with the people who know the most about the breed. Even if your dog does not get a championship, a few wins will make dog exhibitors take you more seriously. This is important because if one of these exhibitors has a dog that has traits that would balance out any of your dogs flaws, you have a good chance of breeding the two dogs to make show quality puppies.

If you’re going to breed dogs for many years to come, now’s the time to choose a kennel name. You should register your kennel name with the American Kennel Club. Most breeders with a kennel name require any of the puppies they produce to carry this kennel name, since this is an excellent form of promotion and advertising for that kennel.

Even if your state does not require it for one or two dogs, you may also want to get a kennel permit. After all, you’ll want to keep a few puppies to continue your bloodline, and will eventually need a permit. It’s better to get the permit before you become attached to your puppies than to try to get one after you have more dogs, since neighbor’s objections can cause the state to refuse you.

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When you breed your dog for the first time, look for a male dog that belongs to an experienced breeder. Not all dogs fall in love at first sight, and you only have a few days to successfully breed a dog before it goes out of heat. An experienced breeder knows how to introduce the dogs to each other and how to help them breed successfully.

Once your dog has been bred, you will need to take her to the veterinarian for at least one pre-natal visit. Your vet will let you know if you need to come more often. If you want to know how many puppies to expect, the vet can make a guess by feeling your dog’s belly, or you can find out exactly how many puppies there are with an x-ray. Be sure to ask your vet ahead of time about the birthing process and how you should prepare. Some dog breeds must deliver by C-section, while others rarely have problems. Don’t forget to ask for pre-natal vitamins to keep your dog healthy.

As the delivery day grows near, prepare a quiet spot for your dog to deliver. You’ll want a whelping box, clean rags, a heating pad and the vet’s emergency number on hand. You can buy a whelping box, but it is easy to make your own. The important thing is to be sure to build a ledge into the box, all the way around and a few inches from the bottom, to avoid a situation where your dog accidentally crushes the babies between her body and the box sides.

See those adorable puppies crawling around? Congratulations. Now you’ll realize that the hard part is still to come. After all, soon you’re going to have to send most or all of those little fuzzballs off to new homes.

But consider yourself warned — purchasing a puppy from any old breeder can be fraught with risks.

As in any business, some breeders are genuine. These breeders care deeply for their animals and the health of the breed as a whole, and their reputation is important to them. Others, known as backyard breeders, know little about improving the breed and are primarily interested in making a fast buck. It is now up to you to find a honest and reliable breeder, and taking any shortcuts here will cost you dearly — though sometimes, not until years down the road.

Do some research before you contact any breeders. A good place to start is by contacting the kennel club of the breeds you’re interested in, and requesting a list of breeders. The Internet can also be a good source to find and research breeding kennels. If you have friends who have dogs of that breed, ask them where they purchased from and if they’re happy with their chosen dog.

Dog shows are another terrific place to meet breeders and see their animals, both in a show environment and in kennels before and after the show. Reputable breeders show their dogs often to ensure their conformation and temperaments are correct, while backyard breeders typically stay far away. Just remember this is a busy time for the breeder, and they may not have a lot of time to chat. Get their contact information, check out their animals and call them later when things settle down.

Before you set out to choose a puppy, make a preliminary trip to the breeder’s. Your mission — to see how well the animals are cared for. As tempting as it might be to hold out against plump wriggling bodies and soft puppy breath, don’t just buy the first puppy you see.

A good breeder will want to make sure you’re a suitable owner just as badly as you’ll want to ensure they breed quality animals. Look for clean facilities with healthy, clean dogs that are alert, curious, and hopefully parasite-free. The dogs should behave in a manner you’d want for your future dog. For example, if most of the dogs appear to be timid and afraid, it’s a safe bet your pup will be similar.

When you’re there to scope out the facilities, ask the breeder:

- How long have they been breeding dogs?
- What’s the pedigree of the animal you’re considering purchasing, and have their parents placed in competitions?
- Are both parents at the kennel?
- Are there veterinary certificates available for both parents and offspring?
- What screening has been done for the common health issues affecting that the particular breed (there will always be issues)?
- What guarantees will they offer if the pup proves to have any major health issues within a short time of purchase?

The breeder should also ask you a number of questions in return:

- Do you have a house/yard suitable for the animal? Fencing?
- Will the animal stay inside, or be chained outdoors?
- Do you have the time to care for it?
- Are you fully aware of what is required to care for the animal?
- Are you able to handle basic dog training and deal with common behavioral issues?
- Will the dog be a pet, or do you plan to breed it or show it?
- Do you have children, and what are their ages?

With a reputable breeder, you may be questioned so closely that you feel a little “put on the spot.” This is a great sign! Breeders are well within their rights to refuse to sell a pup to anyone they feel might make a less-than-ideal owner to one of their dogs.

Now that you’ve found a good breeder, and the breeder’s found you to be a good owner, it’s time to find the perfect pup — and then for both parties to sign a sales agreement outlining the obligations of both purchaser and seller.

At this point, the breeder will probably offer you advice on feeding, grooming, health care and equipment you may need as well as a schedule for all necessary immunizations and offer you the opportunity to call with any questions down the road.

A reputable breeder will also ensure you don’t take your puppy home too early, so it can enjoy its share of early socialization with its siblings. A puppy removed from its litter too early may fear other dogs for the rest of its life. While six weeks is the time when many puppies are taken to new homes, many breeders prefer to keep the pup until they’re around nine weeks old — a great idea for all concerned that won’t interfere with (and will probably improve) your new puppy’s bond with you.

Once you’ve collected your puppy, be sure to keep in touch with the breeder as they will be a fountain of knowledge for you regarding your new dog, and usually love to keep tabs on their animals.

If you do all your homework and purchase from a reputable breeder, you’ll have a healthy dog with a sweet temperament that will be a wonderful addition to your family for the next 12 to 15 years. Enjoy!