Just because someone puts an ad in the paper to sell your breed of choice or
supposedly has "bred for years" doesn't mean that person is a good or reputable
breeder; Caveat Emptor!!
Some Red flags for what may be a Backyard Breeder:
Someone who bred their dog because the dog was "so good looking."
Someone who was trying to replicate the personality of their dog
Someone who shows you a Champion filled pedigree but doesn't really know about genetics or the breed standard
Someone who appears to cut corners on proper Vet care and proper nutrition
Someone who can't produce vaccination records
Someone who refuses to let you come to their property and has to meet you somewhere to show you the pup that is "just right for you"
Someone who had to breed little Roxie just one time before being spayed
Someone who just wants their kids to see the miracle of birth
Someone who lets a very young dog breed
Someone who's bitch seems to be a puppy machine
Someone who sells puppies to any pet store
Someone who is breeding a purebred dog in the U.S. but cannot produce AKC papers and assures you the pup’s parents have their pedigree
Someone who seems to be more interested in ribbons than the quality of the dog's genetics, health, stability or temperament
Someone who appears to rely on breeding dogs to make a living
Someone who doesn't ask a battery of questions about you, your lifestyle, your family, or your experience with dogs
Someone who shows you the litter, but keeps you away from the bitch
Someone whose kennel area is unclean
Someone whose dogs look unhealthy, listless, poor coat, not sound
Someone who is pressuring you into buying the dog today
Someone who lets you or insists the dog go home with you before 7 weeks of age
Someone who raises the litter away from the house. The pups are in a garage, barn, outbuilding
Someone who has more than a couple litters available at once with seemingly little help. This situation is usually found in the smaller breeds or the newer designer breeds
Sometimes you can get lucky when choosing a puppy from the above situations.
But if you want to put the percentages of getting a good, sound, healthy puppy
in your favor and you encounter a majority of the above: