What Does It Mean to Be An Ethical Dog Breeder?

Many people these days are vehement supporters of the "adopt, don't shop" movement, and we're 100% behind giving dogs that need homes a place to call their own. 

However, there are some people who, usually for the love of a particular dog breed but sometimes for other reasons, choose to buy a puppy from a dog breeder instead. If you're looking for one of those kinds of puppies, it's important that you understand the difference between an ethical dog breeder and a puppy farmer. Let's take a closer look. 

1. They're Always Pedigreed Puppies

The only real ethical breeders out there are breeders who love a particular breed of dog and are interested in breeding the best possible puppies. They usually also show their dogs in breed shows, and they're all about preserving and improving bloodlines. 

The only way to do all of that is to register your dogs and their litters with a kennel club or association, like the American Kennel Club or one of the many other kennel clubs around the world. That means that the only truly ethical dog breeders are the ones that are breeding pedigreed puppies - dogs that have papers and can trace their lineage back generations. 

That also means that most "designer mix breeds" breeders like Maltipoo, Goldendoodles, and others that aren't recognized by kennel clubs don't fall into the category of ethical breeders. Eventually, the kennel clubs might recognize them, and that could change, but for now, the people producing those kinds of puppies don't fall into the category of ethical dog breeders, even if they might not be running puppy mills! 

2. They Do a Lot of Health Checks Before Breeding

One of the problems with the dog breeds we have today is that many are prone to specific diseases and disorders. 

That's not to say that mixed breeds don't have health problems either; it's just that we can track them better when we know what the exact breed is. 

That also means that responsible, ethical dog breeders can do specialized health checks before they choose to breed a particular dog. Some of those tests might include genetic testing for certain conditions or hip X-rays to detect signs of hip dysplasia. 

3. They Keep Puppies Longer

Most ethical dog breeders won't allow their puppies to go to new homes until they are 8 to 10 weeks old or until they've had at least their first round of vaccinations. 

Anyone who offers to let you take a puppy home at 5, 6, or 7 weeks old is probably not an ethical breeder. That doesn't mean those puppies don't need homes, but it's usually people who are looking to make a buck off their puppies rather than being invested in the breed that will do that kind of thing because raising puppies is expensive. 

4. They Have a Kennel Name

Have you ever watched a dog show and seen a dog's name that looks like "Sir Snuffles of Damp Creek Valley?" The "of Damp Creek Valley" part of the name is their kennel name, and only breeders who are registered with the kennel club in your area will have one of those. 

5. They Have Waiting Lists

Good, reputable, ethical dog breeders who produce a small number of healthy, well-bred puppies a few times a year will have a long waitlist for their puppies. Most don't need to advertise at all, and the local kennel club will refer people to them when they're looking for a particular breed of puppy. 

If you run across ads trying to sell puppies on classified sites or social media, they're either scammers or they're not ethical breeders. 

6. They Offer Guarantees

Ethical dog breeders aren't just breeding puppies to sell them. They're breeding dogs that they hope will one day become a breed show champion, and that means that they select their breeding dogs very carefully, and they expect to have puppies that at least meet minimum breed standards. 

Sometimes, that doesn't happen. Puppies could be born with visible differences like colors that don't match the breed standard, or they might develop something later on - like many long-coat German Shepherds. 

Good, ethical dog breeders will usually offer guarantees and refunds if you buy a puppy that doesn't grow up to meet breed standards. That usually doesn't mean that you have to give them back, but that they will refund all or some of the money you spent on them. 

7. And Require Contracts

Many ethical dog breeders also won't allow you to take a puppy home without a contract stating that if you ever need to rehome them, you will return them to the breeder to make arrangements. 

Good, ethical dog breeders do a lot of research to make sure that the people taking their puppies home are responsible owners who will provide the best possible care for their litter. That usually means for the duration of the dog's life, so if your breeder asks you to sign a contract, take that as a good sign! 

8. They Limit How Many Times Each Dog Has a Litter

Ethical dog breeders do not allow their dogs to have a litter every time they come into oestrus. 

Instead, they'll usually give their dogs a year break between litters, so that they can rest, recuperate and heal from their previous litter. 

NOT Puppy Farmers or Puppy Mills

As you can see from this list of must-haves to be an ethical dog breeder, it's very clear that this is not the way puppy farmers and puppy mills conduct their businesses. 

Puppy farmers and puppy mills are always a bad thing, but ethical breeders who breed their dogs for the love of a particular breed aren't, and for people who have always dreamed of owning a particular dog, and especially if they want to enter breed shows, they're the only viable option.