We, at World Anatolian, would like to share our knowledge and
some painful lessons learnt with all of you to avoid pitfalls.
Buying Puppies From
Overseas’ or Local Breeders
Before we highlight some pointers, first and foremost, beware
of internet scams. They are everywhere and all out to cheat your money. The
scammers will hurt the honest breeders' credibility and the buyers’ dream for
having a purebred canine.
Please remember that most scam artists are
accepting payments via Western Union. Responsible breeders and reputable companies should
be able to accept bank wire. A valid
business must have a bank account.
You may also file a complaint at the Internet Fraud Website -
http://www.ic3.gov/ If you have been contacted from
anyone conducting a scam or if you are a victim of a scam.
Remember This: Seriously not all breeders are created equal, and neither are the puppies they
produce. Keep in mind that, by definition, anyone who owns a female dog at the
time she gives birth is a "breeder." It is not always easy to tell
the difference between a good breeder - a responsible hobby breeder, a tender
loving care breeder - from an unknowledgeable "backyard breeder" or a
commercial "puppy mill" breeder.
Think twice before you contact a breeder by email,
and buy the cutest looking puppy shown by him over his website or sent to you
by email! Chances are that the puppy is unwell, not cared for and will die soon
after reaching to your home. Not all breeders are unscrupulous, but there are plenty
that are.
They are many honest reputable and famous breeders
out there for you to choose your preferred breed but do you know how many of
them ARE NOT honouring their words. We called them the “infamous” unscrupulous
breeders. We hate all these so called famous breeders, they are just another
con artist. That’s why in our previous article, we mentioned “What You See Isn't Necessarily What You Get”. They will ship out pups with
physical related issues or illnesses.
How knowledgeable is the breeder about the particular breed you are
interested in? Are they familiar with its historical origins? Can they educate
you about the breed's disadvantages - especially genetic predisposition to
health problems and characteristics like shedding, slobber, dominance,
inter-dog aggression, etc. that may make owning the breed a challenge? Beware
of anyone who sounds like a salesman and tells you that their breed has no
disadvantages! Good breeders will play devil's advocate.
A good breeder will welcome your concern and be
glad to offer whatever requested information - beware of anyone who is
defensive! An excellent breeder will candidly discuss the health of their line
of dogs, including the problems that have cropped up. Even good breeders can
produce unhealthy dogs on occasion. The difference is that the good breeder is
on a mission to find and remove those genetic influences from their breeding
lines. The irresponsible breeder approaches health in a haphazard manner.
You need a breeder who loves the breed to breed, not someone who
loves to breed.
A good responsible breeder may breed one or two
litters from the same bitch, or may not breed at all for a year or more between
litters. More is never better. Anyone who is producing a large number of dogs
is probably doing it at the expense of quality.
Any responsible breeder will want to keep in touch
with you and be informed if your dog develops health problems.
A good breeder will be very interested in who
you are and somewhat choosy about whether you are able to provide an
adequate home for one of their cherished pups. A breeder who wants to see your
home, your kids, your spouse, your other pets, proof of your fencing, or talk
to your veterinarian is simply trying to make sure that you will take good care
of their pup. Do not resent this. Good breeders want to keep in touch with you
after you've purchased a puppy and will be there for you with support and
advice later on. Avoid breeders who take credit card orders over the internet
and ship puppies to anyone who wants them. NO responsible breeder will sell a
puppy to a pet store or other broker for resale.
Good breeders think ahead and make reservations
in advance for the puppies they will produce. You may have to wait for a
puppy, but that's not a bad thing. Beware of someone who first creates puppies
and then worries about how to disperse them.
Do you like the temperaments of the puppies'
parents? Remember, temperament is genetic! Avoid puppies from bitches that
demonstrate any aggression or shyness. Specifically inquire about
possessiveness (food and object guarding), inter-dog aggression, defensiveness
about being handled, etc. Accept no excuses for undesirable behavior. Don't be
afraid to ask the breeder to demonstrate the bitch's good temperament to you.
A good breeder should make the effort the know
other good breeders (especially of their own breed). It is important for a
breeder to strive to improve their knowledge and understanding of their breed
and submit to peer critique, even if it is not necessarily formalized.
Often overlooked, but important - do you like
the breeder? Will you feel comfortable relying on this person as a resource
to help you if you ever run into problems with your pup? If you feel that the
breeder is abrasive, rude, ignorant, or otherwise disagreeable, look elsewhere
to buy your puppy. One of the greatest advantages of buying from a breeder is
the support and assistance they can offer you throughout your dog's life.
Finally, if you have had a bad experience with any
such unscrupulous breeder, make a noise, spread the word of your bad experience
with the particular breeder through the email network, internet blogs so that
others do not fall into the trap.
