What to look for in a Breeder

Now that you know there is a difference in breeders, lets expand our thinking on what we should look for.

1. ALWAYS buy only from breeders who do testing and breed only clear/normal animals.
Any others will only lead many to heartache.
Dogs of various breeds have many known genetic health issues that breeders can now test for and breed away from
such issues. The best breeders now test their breeding dogs and will only breed the best of the best without any
known health issues. Cost of testing is minimal if you think of the cost to puppy buyers who pay outrageous
cost daily for puppies they purchase with health issues that could of easily been avoided.
2. ALWAYS buy only from breeder who have Documented, Pedigreed Breeding Stock.
Question you should ask yourself is "Why would somebody not want their dogs documented?"
Quality breeders breed Registered, Documented and Pedigreed dogs - No exceptions!
Registered - Purebred or Cross - Means they register their dogs through a registry.
Documented - Purebred or Cross - Means they've documented their dogs, ancestors, health and other criteria with a
registry and that registry supplies puppy buyers with the information through Registration and/or Pedigrees.
Pedigreed - Purebred or Cross - Means the dogs has a documented lineage that can be traced. Crosses can be 1st
generation but Purebreds require a 7 generation documentation. Those without 7 generations of documentation are
considered foundation or hardship registered. In today's dog world there is no reason for less than 7 generations
of documentation in Miniature Pinschers, Harlequin Pinschers or Schnauzers.
ALWAYS be sure that the breeder your dealing with HAS the documentation
Don't fool yourself into believing it exist based on somebody's say so.
2B. If your wanting a PUREBRED dog then be sure your getting one.
Never trust a dog to be purebred that has no documentation.
You purchase a dog with less than 7 generations of purebred lineage then you get what you get.
NEVER purchase a dog from hardship registered parents with less than 7 generations documentation as a purebred.
3. ALWAYS purchase a dog registered through a Registry known for it's steadfast Breed Standards.
Do not purchase a dog from a registry whose policies are to allow 'others' to decide their Breed Standards.
The only way any breeder can breed to breed standard is if standards are 'steadfast' and not changeable at the whims of others.
Can a dog be breed standard one day and not the next - The answer is unbelievably 'Yes'.
UKCI has changed their breed standards for the Rat Terrier several times over the years.
AKC allows an ever revolving group of breeders to keep their standards on an ever changing roller coaster.
4. ALWAYS purchase from a breeder who gives a minimum 5-year Health Guarantee
Dogs do have health issues and many of them are genetically based.
A good breeder will give a minimum 5-year Health Guarantee for several reasons.
A. To be fair to their puppy buyer
B. To help assure that a puppy buyer with an issue will contact them so they are made aware of possible
issues in their lines.
C. Most health issues will surface by the age of 2 years.
Those who will not give a minimum 5-year written replacement guarantee on their puppies should be avoided at all cost.
5. Best to purchase from an Established Breeder.
While there are many who will make good breeders it is best to purchase from an established breeder with an
established bloodline and that is known to others. These breeders for the most part have already experienced
the pit-falls of breeding and genetics and will more likely be around for some time to come.
A guarantee from a breeder who is here today and gone tomorrow is useless. The last 5 years has seen mega folks believe they wanted to be a breeder. In those same years I have seen those same
breeders disappear off the face of the earth leaving their puppy buyers with no support.
I have seen breeders change their kennel names multiple times to try to distance themselves from the bad reputations they
have given themselves. A kennel name change is never a good sign.
I have seen bad breeders 'gush' about their beloved dogs then give them away tomorrow to the 1st person who would take them.
6. Always purchase from a breeder who is "proud of their bloodline" and wishes to see it flourish.
Do not purchase from a breeder who uses a check box to regulate/protect their breeding bloodline.
A blackened out box has yet to stop a dog from coming in heat or from the owner intentionally or intentionally breeding it.
A ethical breeder will alter a dog that they do not wish to see bred PRIOR to releasing it and not rely on a piece of
paper to do their work for them. Many now use the "Limited Registration" to make others think they are better breeders
but common sense dictates that any breeder, worth their salt, who has a dog that they do not wish to see bred MUST BE
altered and a blackened out (*check box) can not be relied on to relieve themselves of their moral/ethical obligations.
EVERY breeder is also fully aware that any "Limited Marked Papers" can be submitted to other registries for full registration.
You must ask yourself why a breeder would not want their bloodline reproduced:
1. Do they have health issues that they do not want exposed?
2. Do they have a complex where they feel they are the only person who is smart enough to breed?
3. What are their reasons behind 'Limited Registration'?
4. Are they worried about their dogs flunking DNA? Are the parents they claim to be the parents actually the parents?
Give me any reason they furnish and I can blow a whole in it that makes them look totally foolish.
Their reasons when all said is done that they don't care to use their own money and alter dogs which should not be bred or
they are trying to make themselves appear to be caring responsible dog breeders when that is not the case.
If they are saying they don't want their bloodlines in the hands of others then ALTER the dogs prior to selling them as
checking/blackening out that little box will not stop the dog from being used for breeding.
Whatever reason they give is 100% total, in your face, blowing smoke, bull crap!
Never buy a dog on limited registration - it's the same as buying an unregistered dog.

I personally hope that the Run-N-Ridge bloodline lives on many generations after I am only a memory. I love my dogs,
they have been a major part of my life and I hope that many families in the future continue to cherish what I have begun.
My dogs are healthy, sound and tested so why would I not want those genes to be part of the Rat Terrier now and for years to come?

7. Do not fall for the "Home Raised" or "No Kennels Here" hype.
While there are many good breeders who do raise a 'few' litters in their house there are far too many more who basically
live in their kennel rather than have 'home raised' puppies.
Here are some things to watch for on which one you are dealing with:
A. More than 1 male - It is virtually impossible to have more than 1 male in a household and not have oops breedings,
especially if they have 'No Kennels' as they say. Would you prefer a dog be able to run outside or be cooped up in a kennel
crate with little to no room to even turn around?
B. More than 1 breed - Again, virtually impossible to have more than 1 breed, if they have males of several breeds and not
end up with oops breedings. We're back to that little crate in the corner - but hey they are 'Home Raised'.
C. Multiple Dogs - How many dogs would you consider appropriate to live in your own house? 2-3-4? Would you purchase
from somebody who has 20 dogs living in their house with 5 or 6 litters of puppies at a time? Do you have any idea how much
poop a litter of puppies deposits where ever they happen to be in a single day? Do you think puppy poop is odor-less?
Use your imagination - Did you mentally go "Ugh"?
I've seen it far too many times where 'home raised' meant a dilapidated stinky old house that was far past needing to be condemned.
These types don't even realize, or maybe just don't care that they have become what they actually have the gall to accuse others of
being - "bad breeders".
D. Testing - Do these 'home breeders' test or do they feel just having puppies raised in their home is sufficient?
E. Are these 'home breeders' educated in their breed(s)? Do they know the history of the breed? Do they have pedigrees on their
dogs? Do they know about genetics? Do they use 1 male for every/multiple females or do they search for a male that
compliments their females thus breeding for quality puppies and not just a 'cash crop'?

Me, personally, - give me a puppy from parents who aren't stuck in a kennel crate and aren't raised in unsanitary odor-filled
house. I want to buy from a breeder who not only loves their dogs but raises them out of a love for the breed while still exhibiting
common sense and some resemblance of self worth and dignity.
F. Dogs barking - A barking dog usually means they are excited over something. A dog running amuck in a house seldom has a
need to excessively bark. A dog in a kennel crate however will almost always be begging to be released. A house with an
excessive amount of dogs also becomes chaos thus causing the dogs to become easily excitable. What do you hear when your
talking with somebody about a dog? I know my dogs in the kennel will bark when they see me but the dogs running loose
do not. I know the dogs loose in my office do not bark but put one in a kennel crate and the barking commences.

8. Breed Involvement - Are they involved in even the smallest way in their breed? Do they show? Do they sit on the
board of a Breed Club or Registry? Are they a member of any dog venues?

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There are many good breeders with an equal amount
of bad breeders in the dog world today.
Please buy from only those who truly care about the
dog and not the money they make from it.