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How to
find a reputable breeder
We
are happy that your search for a quality bred Maltese has brought
you to our site. The tips below may help people looking for other
breeds as well, but some breeds may have special needs or
requirements that we are unaware of. Please check with your breed’s
National Club or registry service like the AKC to supplement this
information.
1.
Meeting a breeder
2.
Sales and marketing pitfalls
3.
Right breed/Right time for you
4.
Kennels & environment
5.
Happy & healthy pups
6.
Accepted breeding practices
7.
Dedication to the breed
8.
Breed standard
9.
Pedigree and health
10.
Veterinarian checks
11.
References
12.
Training
13.
Contracts
14.
Relationships
- 1.)
It is advised that buyers meet personally with the breeder at
the breeder’s home so that all aspects of the adoption can be
discussed, it is a two way street and both parties are sure to
have lots of questions. The buyer can see the environment the
puppies have come from and the breeder can get to know the new
family. Some breeders will ship their puppies to new homes due
to their geographic locations; this is a personal choice and one
to be considered completely before entering into any
arrangement. In the event you are unable or unwilling to
personally travel to the breeder’s home, you will have to rely
on your personal feeling about the breeder and their experience
through phone calls or emails to make your decision. Before
having a puppy shipped, ask for updated photos so that you can
be sure the puppy will be everything you would want it to be
(often health certificates are required by the airlines and are
sent with the dog). Internet sites, pet stores, or
farm/livestock shows that offer puppies directly for sale are
not recommended because of the very high likelihood the origins
of the puppies would be from puppy mills. By purchasing from
puppy mills you are adding to, and perpetuating, the horrific
suffering that is all too common place in those environments.
- 2.)
Use great caution if a breeder you contact uses pressuring sales
tactics to get you to buy their puppy. Additionally, if they use
words to describe their dogs which are not related to the
description of their breed, you should avoid dealing with them
entirely as this is an indication that they are only looking to
make a sale and not acting in the best interest of the puppy or
yourself. Teacup is a commonly used marketing term to describe
extraordinarily small dogs. In the world of reputable breeders
the word teacup is greatly looked down upon because of the
stigma attached to the term and the fact that it very often will
refer to a dog which is not within the standard (much smaller
than desired) and possibly prone to health issues due its
diminutive size. A Maltese is a toy breed dog, period. There are
no “Teacup Maltese”, “Standard Maltese”, or “Miniature Maltese”.
Some dogs do have official alternate standards to describe the
breed such as the Poodle which has three variations, Toy,
Miniature, and Standard, so please check for the proper
terminology to describe your breed as part of your search.
- 3.)
You should not be upset if your request or application for a
puppy from a reputable breeder is declined, ultimately it is
probably a benefit to you in the long run. Not all breeds are
right for all families at all times. The Maltese is a toy breed
dog, small in stature, and not greatly suited for families with
young children or quite elderly members, nor should they be left
at home alone while all family members go to work or school 12+
hours a day. Similarly, Labradors are great dogs, but not
necessarily well suited to apartment living. Take advice from
your breeder to ensure the best possible fit for your family.
- 4.)
Many breeders have kennels in which they keep their dogs, but
this is not necessarily a bad thing. If a breeder has their dogs
in their own home, there is a better chance that they will be
well socialized and more balanced. If you are able to tour the
kennel, or dog’s room, take the opportunity, but be respectful
if some breeders prefer to restrict full access in order to
protect the well-being of their dogs. A decision should be able
to be made without a full tour, but don’t do anything you feel
uncomfortable with. Also, keep in mind that adult dogs,
especially long coated breeds, are often kept shaved for
cleanliness when not being shown and not everyone takes the
extra time to make the cut look cute, it is usually a balance
between form and function.
- 5.)
The behavior of the adults and puppies should be outgoing and
happy. Sometimes puppies may be a little shy if they have not
met new people before, but this initial shyness might only take
a few minutes to overcome; usually you will get lots of licks
and tail wags! You can certainly ask to see, and interact with,
the sire and dam of your puppy. Try to remember though, dogs
being actively bred may exhibit behaviors which are a bit
different from dogs kept exclusively as pets (ie. males may mark
everything in sight and females may be very possessive of their
pups or even mark places themselves). Often breeders may
exchange sires to promote variation in the breed so if the sire
is not present, feel free to inquire as to the reason. There
should never be any signs of neglect evident on any of their
dogs.
- 6.)
Reputable breeders will adhere to the generally accepted
practices with regard to the raising of dogs set forth by their
respective National Clubs. Among other things, The American
Maltese Association (AMA) suggests Maltese puppies not be placed
before twelve weeks of age. This guideline is a general practice
to help avoid certain issues young puppies may be susceptible to
such as hypoglycemia, a condition where low blood glucose levels
may throw the pup into shock with the possibility of death.
Often good breeders may withhold the placement of a puppy even
longer than twelve weeks if they are considering the puppy for a
show career or waiting for the puppy to reach a certain
developmental stage. Additionally, while it is not expressly
stated, dams should not be continuously bred, as this may
eventually lead to health issues for the dam or puppies.
- 7.)
Becoming an expert in a breed is often a long, time consuming,
process which actually never ends. There is always something new
to be learned. Most breeders that have multiple breeds might
have their priorities split in too many ways to ever be looked
at as being truly in the best interest of their breeds. Anyone
mixing purebred dogs to create “designer dogs” should be avoided
completely. When two different breeds are mixed there is no
guarantee of what traits will be passed to the pups. In fact,
local shelters and rescue agencies are now finding great
increases in “designer dogs” with various issues being brought
to them because the owners didn’t know what they were getting
into, it’s very sad. Reputable breeders will maintain a
dedication to their breed in many aspects of their life and
should be able to give you lots of important information about
the breed and how to best care for your puppy. Electing to show
or exhibit their dogs is a great way of having their dogs’
characteristics, traits or abilities, measured against the
standard for the breed and only adds to their overall
commitment.
- 8.)
It is advisable to explore the written standard for your breed,
as set forth by the breed’s National Club or registry agency, as
one of the first steps in your search. Understanding what traits
your puppy should exemplify will help when searching for the
right puppy for you. For example, the Maltese standard includes
such things as the dog should be white with black points
(referring to coat color and pigment on paw pads, eye rims,
nose, etc.), have a single, long, straight and silky coat, and
weigh less than seven pounds with four to six pounds preferred.
If your dog does not fall within the accepted standard it does
not mean your dog isn’t a great dog, just that some of its
traits have come out of range. Reputable breeders will always
try to produce dogs which meet the standard and reach as close
to perfection as possible, often with the hope of having the dog
shown in conformation or agility trials to become a champion.
- 9.)
A pedigree is like a family tree for purebred dogs; it shows the
ancestors of the dog. Unfortunately, at this time there is no
information contained in pedigrees which indicates anything
about the health, structure, or quality of the dogs in the
background. In a pedigree, if you see “Ch.” preceding the name
of a dog this indicates the dog had been shown and accumulated
enough competition points in order to be considered a champion.
No matter how many champions are listed in the three or five
generation pedigree, the only true assurance you will have
regarding the health of your puppy will come from the vet’s
findings upon examination and blood test results. Always refer
to the health guarantee offered by your breeder if any
unforeseen issues arise. There are many great publications
available which contain information about each breed, from
grooming needs to training and general health concerns.
Prospective families are suggested to take the time to read and
learn about the breed they are looking to adopt.
- 10.)
Any puppy should be checked by a vet before being sold. Vets
will check the puppy’s overall health condition often including
listening to the heart for murmurs, ears for mites or infection,
eyes for clarity or defects, the decent of the testicles in
males, knee caps, hernias, and jaw alignment. Additionally, some
breeders will elect to have blood work drawn to check for kidney
and liver function as well as other blood issues; these tests
may include a CBC Panel and/or a Chem Panel. If you don’t have a
vet that you already use, take the time to find one you are
comfortable with. Once your puppy is home, make an appointment
for a visit so they can see the puppy and start a file on
him/her. Many breeders administer puppy shots themselves, as
well as de-worming treatments, but will provide you the
information and dates to be sent to your vet and added to the
puppy’s file. Due to certain risks, young puppies may not have
received a rabies shot or heartworm preventative, so this would
be the responsibility of the new owner and must be done by or in
consultation of their vet.
- 11.)
Asking for vet or customer references is perfectly acceptable.
Please be aware, however, a vet might tell you the breeder is a
customer of their practice, but generally will not be able to
give any explicit information about the breeder or their dogs
because of confidentiality laws. Individual customers should
have no issues with providing a reference, but as a general
rule, inquiries should be kept brief and only to the scope of
their experiences with their dog and never to any personal
information about the client. It can be a tricky scenario, but
by all means feel free to ask, many people love to talk about
their great dogs.
- 12.)
If your puppy has already been started on potty training, good
for you (and your carpets!). Maltese do very well with wee-pads
or outside training, but wee-pads offer the great benefit of not
having to walk your dog in the cold, heat, rain, or snow; they
don’t love extreme weather. If training has not yet been
started, ask your breeder for tips and follow up by taking a
puppy class at a local Kennel Club, training facility, or with a
private trainer. Courses are usually just an hour a day, once a
week, for several weeks and they can help with many things new
puppy owners may face, plus it’s a great bonding experience and
extra doggie socializing for them. Always make sure your puppy
is up to date with their shots BEFORE visiting dog parks, supply
stores, or puppy classes and use caution when walking them
outside as germs are everywhere.
- 13.)
Your adoption contract and health guarantee should always be in
writing. Ask about any clauses you may not fully understand
before signing or completing the adoption. Most contracts will
have provisions for spay/neuter, return of the puppy if it is
unable to be kept for any reason, what health conditions are or
are not covered, duration of the agreement, required care
guidelines, and conditions regarding the exhibition of the dog
if it is to be shown, to name a few possibilities. These
documents should be kept in a file with your puppy’s health
records and any other pertinent documents.
- 14.)
Good breeders will never have to use sales tactics to coerce you
to buy their puppy, and usually in fact have a waiting list
which could be many months long. Also, a reputable breeder knows
that any puppy adopted out is not just a sale, but rather the
beginning of a long term relationship with the new family.
Nothing pleases a good breeder more than receiving updates and
photos, or even social visits when possible. Breeders should be
more than willing to give any advice possible throughout the
life of the dog. If the offer to personally groom or board your
puppy is made, you should take advantage of it, there’s no place
like home!
If you
have found this information useful, please let us know. Should there
be something you feel may have been inadvertently left out and feel
the general public would benefit from the addition, please contact
us; we’re always willing to learn and add to this great article.
This piece took a long time to author, please do not copy or
disseminate the information contained herein without express written
permission; instead, refer them here to read it themselves. Thank
you for taking the time to read this, we hope it will help you in
your search and wish you the best of luck.
This
article is written by and copyright of Kandi Maltese. Do not use without sole
permission from site owner.
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