I'd like to introduce you to Miles Jr., Clicks Dog Training newest Chief Puppy Officer (CPO)! That's right, I have joined the club of pandemic puppy ownership! Miles is a 3 month-old red smooth coat miniature dachshund.
I always knew I wanted another miniature dachshund, I also knew I desired a specific coat (color and length).
I was extremely fortunate to find Miles' breeder in Ohio. She was highly reputable and knowledgeable on the breed of dachshunds as a board member of the National Miniature Dachshund Club and member of the Central Ohio Dachshund Club. The fact that she breeds for the purpose of showing her dogs competitively at AKC conformation events and to the AKC dachshund standard to "better the breed" made it clear to me that she wasn't a puppy mill or backyard breeder.
I appreciated that Miles' breeder had an application online that she used to screen potential buyers. Through an initial conversation, I had a sense for her personality, practices and point of view. She is an expert in the breed and was honest with me about the dogs’ characteristics and why she breeds in the first place. I definitely was lucky in finding Miles quickly and from an amazing home. If you're interested in finding a puppy too, here is how I recommend you look for a responsible dog breeder to make sure your puppy is coming from a legitimate place:
Check out a Dog Show
Well-bred dogs are featured in dog shows so they’re a great place to get referrals to quality breeders.
Request References
A good breeder will have plenty of great references and they won’t mind providing them to you.
Ask a Vet for Referrals
Vets see plenty of purebred dogs come through their practice and they are familiar with their veterinary history.
Contact Local Canine Organizations
Organizations like local hunting dog organizations, breed clubs, agility groups and others will be aware of local legitimate breeders known for producing healthy dogs.
Contact the American Kennel Club (AKC)
The AKC maintains a database of breeders that you can reference. Use caution when consulting this database, however, since any breeder can list with the AKC and checks on facilities are random spot checks, not mandatory.
Ask Others
If you have friends who are familiar with particular breeds or who have a healthy dog of the breed you are looking for, ask them for a referral to their breeder.
Search online (Google, social media)
A reputable breeder will be ranked in search engines in connection with show dogs, working dogs, or dogs that have been recognized in some other way. Check out a potential breeder's social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram) presence as well.
