A quality breeder …

• Will not deal with you through a middleman, a broker or a pet store.
• Sells directly to you and will not allow for resale through a third party.
• Is happy to show you the mother of the litter. Occasionally, however, a breeder may have a puppy from a bitch that he or she has bred and sold or one from a stud dog he or she owns, in which case the mother may not be present.
• Breeds only the best dogs. This is why most dogs in his or her breeding program are champions. A champion is a dog that has proven itself to be an outstanding specimen of the breed in both temperament and structure thereby worthy of being bred.
• Has their breeding stock certified clear of hip dysplasia prior to breeding. Approved hip evaluation methods are the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) method and the PennHip method. OFA will issue permanent certification for dogs two years or older and preliminary certification for dogs under two years. PennHip can make evaluations as early as 4 months of age. Currently the OFA numbers of sire and dam appear on AKC registration applications.   This breeder will provide copies of their dog’s hip evaluation certificates, if requested.
• Has completed the PLN Variant DNA gene test on the sire and dam or each puppy in the litter and can provide copies of the test results.
• Sire and dam has CAER/OFA eye certification within the last two years.