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What to Expect from a Responsible Breeder

©Tina Kocab

Purchasing from a responsible breeder will likely be the start of a lifelong friendship with them rather than a one-time casual exchange of payment for a puppy. A responsible breeder deeply cares about the health, safety and well-being of every dog they produce for the lifetime of those dogs. They therefore stringently health test the parent Salukis and can show you evidence of this.

Don’t be in a hurry, do plenty of research.

The AKC also offers information on the Saluki here –  AKC Saluki Info

Read the following guidelines carefully. Does the breeder you are talking to meet most of these criteria? If the answer is Yes, then they are probably a responsible breeder.

Basics – Does the Breeder:

• Encourage you to visit with their Salukis, to get to know their temperaments and personalities?
• Own Salukis that are reasonably social, with stable dispositions? Typical Saluki personalities vary from reserved or a little shy to openly friendly. They may be a little wary of strangers but should never be hostile, aggressive, or panic stricken.
• Invite you to see their home and their facilities? Are both the home and Saluki quarters reasonably clean? Do they provide the space to allow the Salukis to get quality exercise daily?
• Connect you with people with whom they have placed puppies? They should be willing to offer references, just as you may need to supply them references that you can provide a good home for a puppy with access to quality food and vet care.

• Require a contract with the new owners? Such a contract should include a provision for a) the return of the dog to the breeder if the buyer is, for any reason, unable or unwilling to keep him/her, or b) for the breeder to have the option of either taking back the dog or approving placement in a new home.
• Show you the sire and dam of the puppies? Beware if they do not have either the hounds themselves or at least photos of them, on hand.
• Give you a three generation pedigree and answer your questions about the pedigree before you make a commitment?
• Inform you of any health concerns that have been demonstrated in their dogs’ lineage? (Occasional issues can crop up in any line)
• Tell you how often they breed from each female in their breeding practice? The average for this breed is probably once or twice. Many Saluki bitches are never bred from, and some are bred several times, but few produce more than four litters.
• Stay in touch with the homes they sell dogs to? Does the breeder feel this is important? How do they go about doing this?
• Give assurance they are willing to assist you by answering questions throughout the dog’s life?
• Have books on the Saluki breed and canine genetics in their library. No breeder can be a responsible if they do not understand their breed and genetics. Responsible breeders are lifelong students of their breed and operate from a solid base of knowledge and experience.

Warning Flags & Things to Avoid:

• A “No Contract” Breeder – Breeders who don’t require contracts are unlikely to care about their dogs’ long-term welfare or their responsibility to buyers. A breeder should at least provide a bill of sale stating that they will take back your dog at any time, and that you agree to contact them if the need arises. The contract should also include a clause that if the puppy dies from a hereditary or congenital defect within its first year of life that you will receive a refund on the dog, once conclusive veterinary diagnosis has been provided.
• Breeding Lots of Breeds – Breeders who raise and breed several breeds, three or more, may be stretching themselves too thin. It is time consuming to be a responsible breeder of even just one breed. Also, be careful of large, multi-breeding facilities as they may be puppy mills.
• Puppies and More Puppies – Beware of breeders who usually have puppies available or on the way. A responsible breeder dedicates time, research, screens homes, etc. before breeding each litter.
• Cheap Puppies – They might be cheap because the breeder cut corners but there could be a legitimate reason. Check with other breeders to confirm that this person is considered a reputable, respected breeder amongst their colleagues.
• You Must Become a Breeder Too – Breeders who sell with the firm requirement that you must breed your dog should be avoided.
• Multiple Sales – Breeders who try to talk you into two puppies from the same litter.
• Don’t Visit Me – Breeders who want you to see the puppies at places other than their homes, or who prevent you from visiting their premises.
• Breed Standard – Breeders who don’t speak well of the AKC Saluki Standard or who don’t know the standard.
• Lack of Education – Breeders who do not belong to breed organizations and/or have little for you to see in the way of educational materials, including:
–Saluki books and magazines
–Saluki organization publications
–Dog genetics, structure, and movement research – books & publications
–Saluki and dog health related materials

• Breeding any dog without, at the very least, a solid understanding of the breed’s history, the dog’s bloodlines and other major bloodlines, awareness of possible health problems and their implications, and a firm grasp of basic genetics, is not in the best interest of the breed. Ignorance and carelessness, as well as unscrupulousness in breeding programs have created severe health and structural problems and ruined many breeds.

The Breeder, Before Agreeing to Sell you a Dog, Should:

• Discuss the pros and cons of owning a Saluki. They should explain why the Saluki is an uncommon breed and has remained so for generations, and the range of personality in the breed. They should make sure you are well informed about the breed before you make your final decision and share their own knowledge about the breed, as well as directing you to other information sources.
• Ask questions about you, your family, and your pets. They will want to know where and how your Salukis will live. They might wish to see your home, have someone they know see your home, or have photos shared. They may ask questions about the care of dogs you’ve owned in the past, and about the plans for your new dog. They may ask for references. All of these are responsible research efforts to be sure you are a correct home for this dog.
• Encourage responsible dog ownership.
• Provide you all contract information up front, including pricing and bill of sale details.
• Explain the placement of the puppies. Some breeders let the new owners choose their puppies and many breeders select the puppies for the owners, to match up the puppy to the type of home it will be living. For example, the most outgoing puppy will probably not be the right home for a quiet, older couple.

After You Have Decided to Buy, the Breeder Should:

©Lauren Westover

• Discuss the age at which you will receive your puppy. Puppies are rarely placed before eight weeks of age and more usually when a little older. There may be a good reason for a breeder to place a younger puppy, but it shouldn’t be to avoid the additional expense of vaccinations and keeping up the litter. A puppy learns many crucial lessons in life during its first weeks from its littermates and dam — it is an extremely important time for socialization. There needs to be a very good reason for placement prior to eight weeks — and occasionally there is. The breeder will be able to tell you why.