RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS...
...have made a wholehearted commitment to the well-being and improvement of their breed of dogs. They make the health and temperament of their dogs their first priority in breeding.
...have studied and researched their breed and know, intimately, its history and Standard, its strong points and drawbacks.
...continually strive to learn more about their breed and to get to know many different bloodlines in an effort to improve their own.
...spend time, effort, and money researching and proving the qualities and health of their potential breeding stock. Those that do not prove out are not bred. Dogs are not bred until they have proven their worthiness in health and structure (this means at least two years old, when the dog is fully mature and eligible for all health clearances).
...consider their dogs' health and well-being above all else. They do not perpetuate genetic defects OF ANY KIND; all of their potential breeding stock is proven and, if possible, certified clear of hereditary defects & disorders.
...plan a litter only with the goal of puppies better than the parents, in an effort to improve what they have. Responsible breeders have a waiting list of potential buyers before they ever breed a litter.
...honestly and objectively evaluate their litters, and have others they respect do the same for them. They make every effort to match puppy to buyer in temperament, attitude and energy level as well as physical qualities.
sell
only to responsible, loving homes. While some exceptional pups
may be saved for special competition homes, the responsible breeder
realizes that not every puppy in ever litter is "competition quality"
and welcomes responsible pet homes.
...sell their non-competition stock on Limited Registration
backed up by a spay/neuter agreement, in order to discourage breeding
of anything but the few exceptional puppies in their litters.
...assume responsibility for the lives they create, carefully
screening buyers, helping find new homes, making a comfortable life
for their older, retired dogs, and, yes, being able to make the
decision to euthanize when a dog with a serious defect has no chance
for a quality life.
...do not have so many dogs that they have little time for individual attention, play, training, and upkeep of grooming. They place any dogs that need more work or attention than they can give.
...build a good reputation slowly based on dedication and consistent quality, not on volume, advertising, or from haphazard breeding to make or break records or to satisfy their ego.
...go further and assume some responsibility for the problems of their breed as a whole. They are active in an organization for the breed, they continue to read about new developments, and they work to help reduce the number of their breed that are carelessly bred, ill cared for, and discarded.
...can look at a bigger picture than wins or puppy sales, keeping in mind that the dogs' well-being is what is most important - and contributing in some way to the betterment of dogs as a whole.