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1. Do not purchase a dog from a retail pet store or from any one not directly responsible for having bred the dog or whelped the litter. 2. Do not purchase a dog from a puppy mill. The definition of puppy mill is politically sensitive and not universally accepted. This is my opinion as to what a puppy mill is: any person or kennel breeding primarily for profit. Any person or kennel breeding more than 3 litters per year of any particular breed. In Colorado there is an excess of dogs in shelters resulting in an extremely high euthanasia rate. The Mile High Weimaraner Club Rescue has a record high number of dogs to place that have been owner-relinquished, pulled from shelters, or salvaged from puppy mill operations. When the shelters are empty (and not two dogs per cage instead of one) and rescue people can lead normal lives, then we can discuss how many litters should be created by any single breeder. If a Weimaraner breeder in Colorado produces an excess number of litters they will fill the supply and demand available in a given year. The other breeders will have to stop producing litters because homes they require will be gone; the result is that they will be unable to continue with their own breeding programs. 3. Do not purchase a dog from any source not supplying all of the following: at least a three generation pedigree, with each generation having no less than 75% championships (Ch), sire and dam to have AKC registrations, be OFA certified with results of good or excellent, and a spay-neuter contract if the dog is sexually intact. 4. Do not purchase without visiting the kennel area and approving of the conditions. 5. Do not pay money for a dog if its appearance does not closely match the AKC standard or is the product of a mixed breed mating. 6. The Department of Agriculture requires anyone producing more than 24 dogs per year (and no more than 99) to be licensed as a small scale operation dog breeder. Licensing does not indicate ethics in breeding, but it does mean the individual is not actively breaking the law. |