Dear Weary: I’m glad to hear that you have a personal recommendation from someone about a pure-bred dog breeder. That alone puts you light years ahead of the average puppy buyer who bases their decision on selecting a breeder solely on the slickness of a website.

There are three types of “breeders” and all can utilize websites. There are the reputable breeders who devote a lifetime to improving their breed taking great care to place every puppy in a suitable home with a lifetime return policy. There are those that sell to pet stores, known as commercial, wholesale or even livestock breeders.

And then there is the pet owner breeder, who usually has one litter with the cute dog down the street of the same breed. Here are a few quick checks to help you weed out the pack.

Reputable Breeders

Many of the reputable breeders have not yet joined the Internet marketplace. But those who have will have a multitude of clues to let you know who they are. Look for long-time membership in the American Kennel Club “parent club.” Each AKC-recognized breed has designated one club to represent the breed in America. A breeder/member will most likely have signed a Code of Ethics, register their puppies with the AKC and been inducted into the membership through sponsorship by other reputable breeders. 

Look for health certifications from outside organizations on breeding stock. Depending on the breed (you can visit the parent club websites – find them through the AKC website www.akc.org – to learn about breed-specific health concerns) they may be tested for hip displaysia or inherited eye diseases. Letters like OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) and CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation) among others indicate the breeder took the time to test the parents’ health before breeding a litter.

In pedigrees, look for initials at the beginning and end of a dog’s name. AKC titles include; CH for Champion or OTCH for Obedience Title Champion at the beginning or CD, UD, JH or SC at the end which indicates a variety of obedience and performance event titles. Having dogs like this in a pedigree proves the breeding stock can maintain its original function. A poor quality dog will lack the genetic instinct, structural soundness or suitable temperament to obtain any of these titles. In short, your pet may not look, act or perform like the breed you selected. 

Backyard Breeders

Stay away from any website which lists a USDA registration number for a breeder. This means the kennel was licensed by the federal United States Department of Agriculture as a livestock breeder. Puppies are not livestock; they are dogs. This is the moniker of a breeder who sells for profit to pet stores, wholesale dealers or even directly to the public. They are all about profit and not about improving the breed. In fact, most USDA breeders breed multiple breeds. In most cases, if a breeder lists more than three breeds, stay clear.

Backyard breeders tend to advertise in the newspaper classifieds. If you find a website listed there, don’t even bother.     

Lisa’s Pick of the Litter

While surfing the Internet recently I came across a website with a new invention that will be hitting the pet hotel industry soon. America’s growing obsession with their pets has prompted Pet Paradise Resort & Spa in St. Augustine, Florida to, “test a pet cam (www.petparadiseresort.com/camera_one.htm3) so that owners can log onto the Web and catch a glimpse of their cat or dog at play.”

And if “seeing isn’t believing” then how about hearing, I recently read in the Wall Street Journal about a place called PetsHotel, which sets up “bone booths,” so owners can call and talk to their pets while they’re away. I don’t know about you but when I go on vacation I like to “get away” from it all, including my dogs!

Okay, I do miss them and when I come home they are the first ones to get a big kiss. 

Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. For comments or questions contact Lisa at ask@lisa-peterson.com or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.