15/01/2024
Sharing this post, as it is great information to read and HEED! I would hope it is preaching to the choir and all our HKC members are doing health testing already.
I see a lot of people on here talking about a reputable breeder, and how they will always take a dog back for you. And while this is true, nobody defines how you can tell a breeder is reputable.
Reputable breeders prove their dogs. Proving a dog is worthy of breeding. This happens before the dog is ever bred. Things like Conformation Shows (like the ones you see on television) prove that the dog competing is a structurally sound and correct example of the breed. A basic Conformation title will be a CH in front of the dogs registered name.
Performance Events prove a dogs workability, and proves that they can still do the job that they were originally used for. In Dalmatians, things like Road Trials, Barn Hunt, Rally and Obedience.
Reputable breeders health test their dogs. Each breed club works with CHIC and OFA to recommend specific testing be done prior to a dog being bred, in an effort to decrease health issues that can be prominent in the breed. For Dalmatians, these tests are screening for Hip Dysplasia (OFA Radiographic Hip Screening or PennHIP Evaluation), Congenital Deafness (BAER Hearing Test), and either Autoimmune Thyroiditis (Thyroid Lab Results) or ACVO Eye Examination.
These tests are not completed at a "vet visit" and a healthy exam at a vet does not mean a dog is a healthy breeding candidate. If a breeder you are looking at does not do these health tests, they are not a reputable breeder. They should also be more than happy to show you the results of these tests.
A reputable breeder doesn't only pair two dogs together because they both happen to be Dalmatians. You should be able to ask a breeder why exactly they paired these two dogs together, you should be able to ask about the dogs in the pedigree that are long gone, and your breeder should have basic information on these dogs and what they could bring to the table in terms of how your puppy may act. Breeders that get a "breeding pair" or tell you the reason why they paired these two dogs together is to create specific colors or coat length, are not reputable breeders.
Reputable Breeders will help you pick the best puppy for your family. These people have raised your puppy from birth. They know more about them than you will by just seeing pictures/descriptions/visiting the puppies. You should be able to tell your breeder the exact reason you are wanting a dog for, and they will be able to tell you which of their puppies would be the best fit. If a breeder is going off of a "pick" system, and when you place a deposit tells you that you have "fourth pick", that is not a reputable breeder.
Reputable breeders will have you sign a contract. A contract looks different for everyone, but the contract protects the buyer, the breeder, and the puppy. A contract will state that if anything were to happen, the breeder will take the dog back. It usually talks about when the dog is to get fixed, if the dog is ever to be bred, and verifies the dog will be living in a safe household.
Reputable breeders send puppies home well socialized and ready to spend their lives with you. These puppies will be happy go lucky, healthy, and have the best chance at being a temperamentally sound adult that will bring you a lifetime of happiness. There are many other ways to figure out if someone is or is not a reputable breeder, however if you find a breeder that does all of the above, you can have a good indication that the breeder you’re looking at, is a reputable breeder.
