12/04/2025
Looking to get a puppy in 2026? Read this first š«¶š¼
Most people looking for a puppy have no idea what theyāre supposed to be asking a breeder. Itās not like it comes up in normal conversation and unless youāve fallen down the responsible breeder rabbit hole on the internet (Hellllloooo š) then nobody really teaches this stuff. But since youāre here, letās go over it and maybe you can share with your friends.. hereās a simple breakdown from your dog obsessed internet bestie.
1. āHealth testedā is not the same as āmy vet said theyāre healthy.ā
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 dogās registered name or number because I have recently seen people making AI OFA certificatesā¦ (just message me, I can help!) OFA also has a list for every breed of what ābreed specificā testing you need for a CHIC #. Thatās everything your breeder needs to be doing, itās 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, thatās 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 āwe love the momā āwe wanted to teach our kids about the miracle of birthā āevery dog deserves to be a mama onceā ābecause blue merle frenchies are fireāā¦.. 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 āavailable today.ā
The puppy market is weird right now, and people do back out at the last minute.. having a puppy available after evals isnāt a red flag. However, constantly having puppies available with no wait, and breeding more while struggling the place the last litter? Thatās something to think about.
5. You donāt have to āmeet the parentsā to verify quality.
If you can meet mom ahead of time, thatās always great! Maybe she is showing nearby and you can see her in her element. Once mama has puppies, her hormones arenāt 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 femalesā¦ 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 youāre 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. Itās 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, āBadass Breederā Early Desensitization, Crate Training, Car Exposure etcā¦ If the breeder doesnāt do anything beyond āwe hold them,ā thatās not enough.
7. Ask how they match puppies to homes.
You shouldnāt 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 youāre 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 breederās 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 breederās home will tell you everything you need to know.
9. Price shouldnāt 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 itās hard to not impulse the cheaper puppy but in the long run, itās 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 donāt just get a puppy, you get support. I joke with my puppy people that theyāre my contractual besties.. but for real you get someone to help you with training questions, grooming, feeding, health, and the things you canāt (or maybe just shouldnāt) Google and with me, a best friend. A breeder should care where their puppies end up, not just where the money goes.
If youāre 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. Iām happy to help look over a breeders website and point out questions you should ask!
