The First Steps to an Incredible Hunting Dog: Choosing the Right Breeder

The first step in raising an exceptional hunting dog starts with choosing a responsible breeder. Savvy puppy buyers get this step right, and avoid many of the pitfalls that come with selecting a puppy.

At any given point, the American Kennel Club has thousands of registered litters ready to go. With this many choices, it could be easy to make a mistake when selecting a dog breeder. Not every AKC-registered litter is suitable for your goals, so it's essential to learn how to select the right breeder that is a good fit for you.

How to Choose a Good Breeder

When deciding how to find a reputable dog breeder, consider these essential factors:

• Establish a Budget
• Look Up Reputation/Reviews
• Gauge Responsiveness
• Ask About Facilities
• Get Proof of Health Testing
• Research Bloodlines

Let’s break these down.

1. Establish a Budget

Starting with a budget helps narrow down your options. Hunting dogs' prices vary widely, typically ranging from a few hundred dollars to over $3,000. There are different price ranges, even among breed-specific breeders.

Typically, you get what you pay for. Reputable breeders come with higher prices and big demand. This can mean you may have to get on a waiting list. Typically this means that the breeder is conducting health testing, has established bloodlines, and maintains quality facilities.

Buying a puppy is an investment that is hard to put a number on. A puppy is more than just a dog; it's experiences, memories, and years of companionship you'll enjoy. If necessary, consider saving up to ensure you get the pup that best suits your needs.

So, what should your puppy budget be based on? It depends on your end goal for your individual puppy. If you want the best puppy in a litter now and in the future, don't be afraid to spend more money upfront.

Another thing to consider is that sometimes even with the best breeding practices, there can still be health issues with a pup. If you pick a good breeder, they can usually help you if you have a problem. They typically have more flexibility due to their prices.

This means they can replace the puppy if it comes down to it. I know that sounds harsh, but that's the worst case. Best case, going with a good breeder will mitigate that risk due to good health testing.

2. Look Up Reputation and Reviews

A breeder's reputation is crucial. As you begin your search, create a shortlist of 3-5 breeders you'd like to interview. To make this process easier, we've created a Breeder Checklist & Interview Guide that you can download to help you find the perfect fit.

Reading reviews can give you a general sense of what to expect from a breeder. While reviews aren’t everything, they can offer valuable insights into the breeder's practices and customer satisfaction. If they don't have reviews, that's not a deal killer, but it should mean that spend even more time doing your due diligence.

3. Gauge Responsiveness

How a breeder talks with you speaks volumes about their professionalism. A good breeder will have a clear process, often involving an application or a set of questions to match you with the right puppy. They should be eager to answer your questions and respond promptly. Why? Well, this means they care about you and your potential puppy.

Here are key traits to look for:

• Answers your questions thoughtfully
• Shows interest in your goals
• Educates you on the breed and lineage
• Passes the Breeder Checklist & Interview Guide

Be cautious of breeders who:

• Talk more than listen to your needs
• Are more focused on selling a puppy than ensuring you’re a responsible owner
• Take days to respond
• Don’t pass the Breeder Checklist & Interview Guide

A good breeder might wait to offer you a puppy until they are sure you will take good care of it. That said, don't get too hung up on this. Someone told my friend that he shouldn't have a puppy because of his profession. This was a well-known breeder, but they couldn't have been more wrong.

That's why it is important to find a breeder who is passionate but willing to listen to you. If the breeder had taken the time to understand my friend, he could have given a puppy to a wonderful dog owner. It was that breeder's loss, in my opinion.

Once you get a feel for a breeder you might want to go with, it's important to make sure they have the right facilities.

4. Ask About Facilities

Clean and organized facilities are a must. Just as a dirty restaurant bathroom might make you question the kitchen's cleanliness, a breeder's unkempt facilities can be a red flag for puppies health. While breeders might not allow you to see every part of their operation (to protect the puppies from germs), the areas you do see should reflect a high standard of care.

A clean and orderly environment indicates that the breeder takes excellent care of their dogs, even in unseen areas. Dirty or poorly maintained facilities could lead to health issues for your puppy down the road.

5. Get Proof of Health Testing

As I mentioned earlier, no matter how careful a breeder is, there can still be genetic issues that slip through. That's why health testing is so important. A reputable breeder will uphold a high breed standard. If genetic issues can slip through on diligent breeders, could you imagine what could happen if the breeder didn't take that into consideration?

Health testing is critical to ensuring the long-term health of your dog. While health testing won’t guarantee a perfect dog, it does give you a better chance of avoiding genetic issues. A breeder who does health testing cares about their animals' well-being and breeds responsibly.

Here are some specific tests to look for:

• Annual Eye Certification
• Hips OFA or Equivalent
• Elbows OFA or Equivalent
• EIC (Exercise-Induced Collapse)
• CNM (Centronuclear Myopathy)
• PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy)
• SD2 (Skeletal Dysplasia 2)

By choosing a breeder who prioritizes these tests, you’re not just protecting your investment—you’re also contributing to the future of the sport by supporting responsible breeding.

6. Research Bloodlines

Bloodlines can tell you a lot about what to expect from a puppy. Once you’ve narrowed down your list of breeders, ask them about their future litters and do some research on the bloodlines. Videos of the parents working, if available, can offer valuable insights into the traits your puppy might inherit.

For example, if you see a sire with high energy and drive, it’s likely those traits will be passed on to the puppies. If you’re looking for a more laid-back dog, this might not be the litter for you.

Even if you’re new to this, don’t worry. As you research, you’ll start to recognize the traits you want (and don’t want) in your future hunting partner. If you've followed all the recommendations above, then you will likely have a breeder who can help you with this.

You don't have to be an expert at researching hunting dog bloodlines. Just consider bloodlines and do some research. That said, if you are really picky, and that's ok, you may want to consider bloodlines even before picking a breeder. But, if you aren't sure, then pick the breeder first and let them help you with the bloodlines.

Start Your Search Today

Whether you’re ready to buy a pup now or are planning for the future, the best time to start your search is today. Doing thorough research now will help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Download our Breeder Checklist & Interview Guide and start your search today.

Once you have started your search for a good gundog breeder, you will want to learn about red flags when picking out a puppy. You've got some time considering most puppies go home around seven or eight weeks of age. You can learn more about how to pick a puppy here.

BuildFromHere,

Joshua Parvin

P.S. You can view every post in this series as well as additional puppy tips here.