Why Some Families Should Consider Buying a Purebred Puppy
Why Some Families Should Consider Buying a Purebred Puppy
If you’re interested in buying a puppy but can’t decide whether to go to a shelter/rescue or buy from a breeder, we have some information that might be helpful to you.
Shelters and rescues are wonderful ways to find a dog for your family, and it’s great when dogs that were unloved or mistreated find loving families. It’s important to support local shelters and help abandoned animals find homes. For many families, this is the best option for bringing a new dog home; however, there is also the option to buy a purebred pup.
Perhaps you’re interested in a specific breed or you want to know the genetic history of your puppy beforehand. Most shelter dogs’ medical or genetic history is unknown, which can be a downside of getting a dog there.
We’ll discuss what you’ll need to know when searching for a purebred puppy and a reputable breeder.
What are the Benefits of Buying a Purebred Puppy?
We love all dogs—it doesn’t matter if they are mutts, purebreds, or everything in between. Dogs are our best friends! And there’s no such thing as a purebred being “better” than a mixed breed. With that being said, there are some definite benefits of having a purebred pup. Let’s take a look:
- Medical History
One of the main reasons someone might want to buy a purebred puppy is so that they can know their pup’s exact medical history. A reputable breeder will use pedigrees to look back on their own dog’s medical history before they breed their dog.
Breeders help keep dog breeding-lines free from diseases and known health problems. For example, if a particular German Shepherd is prone to a certain form of eye cancer, a DNA test will determine this. Therefore, this German Shepherd by breeding standards, shouldn’t be breed because there’s a chance the dog could pass on this hereditary gene to a puppy.
There will always be breeds with predisposed conditions or health problems; however, proper breeding helps ensure that you get a healthy puppy that isn’t likely to develop any diseases or genetic illnesses that could’ve been passed down in the bloodline. If a properly bred dog develops health problems, these issues are most likely characteristic to the breed itself, not the dog.
- Seeing Your Puppy’s Parents
Buying from a notable, trusted breeder means you get to see either pictures of your puppy’s parents or you’ll get to meet them. This can be an important step in deciding whether to buy a puppy or not.
Like humans, puppies generally resemble their parents, so if you see the parents, you’ll have a better idea of what your puppy will look like when it grows up.
Personality is also a huge factor. While every breed has their own notable personality traits, every dog has their own unique personality. Puppies often take after their parents in this way as well. Meeting at least one of the parents might help you see what sort of disposition your puppy will have.
- You’ll Receive Guidance from Your Breeder About Your Pup
This benefit is especially helpful for first time breed owners. If you’ve never had a particular breed before, your breeder can provide guidance and advise about your pup. Trustworthy breeders have knowledge about the dogs they breed, and they’ll help you decide if a dog is right for you, what to expect with the breed, and how to best care for them.
- A Purebred Puppy Represents the Breed Well
Many people have a stigma towards purebred pups versus mixed breeds. They might believe that purebred dogs are all about looks. Perhaps they think that breeders are a bit stuck up or that breeders believe mixed breeds are inferior to purebreds.
Again, it’s important to remember that purebred dogs are not so called “better” dogs than mixed breeds. And it’s possible that many breeders do think that mixed breeds are lower grade dogs than purebreds. However, anyone who suggests that you should buy a purebred puppy for the purpose of having an elect dog doesn’t understand the true purpose behind breeding.
Good breeders understand that the purpose of breeding is to ensure that registered breeds stay within good bloodlines so that the breed can continue. Without proper breeding, there would be no “breeds,” only “dogs.”
With this in mind, if you buy a purebred pup, the puppy will be a good representation of the breed. If your breeder has followed the breeding standards, your pup will have the physical characteristics and temperament that the breed was originally bred for. This helps you know that your pup is true to their history.
Finding a Good Breeder
Now, the big question is how to find a good breeder. This is important because you don’t want to buy from just anyone.
There are breeders out there who show some arrogance about purebreds, but there are numerous breeders who are humble and have a good understanding about breeding registered dogs. They want to provide people with puppies that exemplify what a particular breed was bred for.
You will most likely spend a lot of time discussing and being in contact with your breeder, so it really is important that you find one whom you like and trust.
Here are a few tips:
- Research Your Breeder
Choosing a breeder who is registered is a must. If you find a breeder, be sure that you check the AKC website or your state’s local breeding registry to make sure they are members.
- Ask About Genetic Tests and Health History
If you’re buying a purebred pup, you’re paying for a puppy that’s meant to have quality bloodlines. Therefore, be sure that you ask your breeder for proof of genetic tests as well as their health history.
Good breeders will be proactive in this. If they seem hesitant or unprepared, they might not be the best choice to buy from.
They should also be able and willing to provide medical history such as shot records and check-ups.
- Meet the Breeder Before You Decide
It’s not imperative that you meet a breeder or see their facility, but it can’t hurt. In many cases, potential pet owners will back out if they see the breeding facility is not adequate.
You want to buy from someone who takes care of their animals. This means the dogs are in a safe area with food and water, with a comfortable and clean place to sleep, and they are given regular exercise and socialization.
If you ask to meet the breeder and see the puppy’s living conditions but the breeder refuses, this is probably not a good sign. If the puppy is too young, that’s a different story, but if the breeder refuses a visit even after the puppy is of age, you might want to reconsider buying from them.
Good breeders will want to meet you in person if possible and will want you to see the place where the puppy was raised. This will help build their credibility and reputation as well as make you feel more comfortable about buying from them. Open, hospitable breeders are the best.
- Be Sure They Ask You Questions
Part of a breeder’s job is to make sure that a potential owner is ready to take on the responsibility of raising a puppy. You want them to ask you questions and fill out paperwork because that proves they won’t hand a puppy to just anyone.
Also, ask your breeder if they’ve ever turned down a sale. If they say, “yes,” that’s a good sign. If they say, “no,” this might mean they are either unresponsible or inexperience.
Breeders must turn down sales eventually because not everyone who applies to get a puppy is prepared for the challenge or they aren’t an ideal candidate. Breeders should want their pups to go to loving, stable homes; therefore, it is important that they have you go through a screening process and you ask them thorough questions as well.
Bottom Line
Buying a purebred puppy is a great choice for many families. It allows you to know the genetic and medical history of your pup and be very involved with a breeder who’s an expert on the breed. You will also have a healthy puppy that’s a good representation of its breed.
Buying a purebred dog can be more difficult than going to a local shelter or rescue, not to mention more expensive. Finding a reputable breeder also has its challenges, but there are numerous ones out there who would be fabulous choices.
Choosing a breed that has the best personality and characteristics for your family is important. Buying a purebred can help ensure that you get the dog that’s right for you and which was bred with the custom breeding standards of its kind.
We hope that this guide helps you decide whether buying a purebred is for you. If so, do your research and take your time—we hope you find the pup you’re looking for!
- Kirsten Starling