04/23/2026
Looking to get a puppy in 2026? Read this first 🫶🏼
Most people looking for a puppy have no idea what they’re supposed to be asking a breeder. It’s not like it comes up in normal conversation and unless you’ve fallen down the responsible breeder rabbit hole on the internet (Hellllloooo 👋) then nobody really teaches this stuff. But since you’re here, let’s go over it and maybe you can share with your friends.. here’s a simple breakdown from your dog obsessed internet bestie.
1. “Health tested” is not the same as “my vet said they’re healthy.”
Real health testing means OFA or equivalent. It means hips, elbows, eyes, and breed specific DNA panels. You need to verify the results on the OFA.org database with the dog’s registered name or number because I have recently seen people making AI OFA certificates… (just message me, I can help!) OFA also has a list for every breed of what “breed specific” testing you need for a CHIC #. That’s everything your breeder needs to be doing, it’s not a quick visit to the vet.
2. Ask about a contract. A good breeder will always have one.
It protects BOTH of you.
It explains health guarantees, spay/neuter terms, the return policy, and what happens if life changes. If a breeder refuses to take a puppy back at any age, that’s not a breeder you should support.. We should all be striving to keep our dogs out of the shelter systems.
3. Ask them why they bred this litter.
If the answer is along the lines of “we love the mom” “we wanted to teach our kids about the miracle of birth” “every dog deserves to be a mama once” “because blue merle frenchies are fire”….. just walk away.
A ethical breeder can tell you what they are trying to improve, what they loved about the pairing, and what they hope to see in structure, temperament, and longevity.
4. Look for a waitlist, not “available today.”
The puppy market is weird right now, and people do back out at the last minute.. having a puppy available after evals isn’t a red flag. However, constantly having puppies available with no wait, and breeding more while struggling the place the last litter? That’s something to think about.
5. You don’t have to “meet the parents” to verify quality.
If you can meet mom ahead of time, that’s always great! Maybe she is showing nearby and you can see her in her element. Once mama has puppies, her hormones aren’t herself and she might be protective or just not into meeting strangers.. not a true representation of her temperament. Also, dad might be across the country. When we pick our studs, we pick the best one for our females… and location has absolutely nothing to do with it.
But you should absolutely look at their titles, health testing, pedigree, and photos. Ask questions about their temperament, what they bring to the program and most importantly if you’re a pet owner, what are they like to live with? That all matters far more than seeing him in person.
6. Ask what they do for early development.
There are so many early curriculums that breeders can be doing with their puppies. It’s a personal choice and every breeder is going to do what they find works best for their program, but they should be doing SOMETHING. Puppy Culture, ENS, ESI, “Badass Breeder” Early Desensitization, Crate Training, Car Exposure etc… If the breeder doesn’t do anything beyond “we hold them,” that’s not enough.
7. Ask how they match puppies to homes.
You shouldn’t pick a puppy based on color or a photo. Ethical breeders evaluate structure and temperament to make sure the right puppy goes to the right family. If you’re set on a specific color, be prepared to wait for the puppy to come along that has the perfect temperament for your family (that is also the perfect color) because temperament should always be your number one priority.
8. Look at the breeder’s adults.
You can tell a lot by looking at the dogs they kept. Are they well structured, stable, healthy, do they have good temperaments? Are they titled, proven, and do they have correct breed type? Overall, do they represent what the breed should be? The dogs living in the breeder’s home will tell you everything you need to know.
9. Price shouldn’t be your deciding factor.
A well bred dog from an ethical breeder is usually going to cost more than a backyard breeder. Save your pennies and wait. I know it’s hard to not impulse the cheaper puppy but in the long run, it’s an investment. Paying more for a well bred health tested dog is cheaper than dealing with lifelong genetic issues, difficult temperaments, or unethical practices.
10. An ethical breeder is a lifetime resource.
You don’t just get a puppy, you get support. I joke with my puppy people that they’re my contractual besties.. but for real you get someone to help you with training questions, grooming, feeding, health, and the things you can’t (or maybe just shouldn’t) Google and with me, a best friend. A breeder should care where their puppies end up, not just where the money goes.
If you’re looking for a puppy in 2026 and you want to do it right, save this list. Share it with your friends whose might be searching too. I’m happy to help look over a breeders website and point out questions you should ask!
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