What is a Good Breeder?

Perhaps as important as selecting a breed and a puppy from stock one finds suitable to one's taste, is an open and good rapport with the pup's breeder. Breeders should be willing to advise buyers about diet, obedience training, exercise management, and general breed information.

A breeder who is conscientious about developing a line of hearty dogs and happy owners of their happy puppies should be interested in the following:

• Helping buyers ascertain whether the Samoyed is the best choice for them and their circumstances
• Interviewing buyers about the potential home environment, including the number of family members and ages, daily family schedule, quarters for a medium-sized/active dog, and the buyer's willingness to cooperate with a recommended dietary, exercise and training program
• Gauging the buyer's knowledge of dogs to assess where the breeder should begin educating and continue to educate
• Obtaining the buyer's pledge to cooperate in progeny testing (assessing hip status and other traits as puppies mature), certifications, and record-keeping
• Evaluating individual puppies for placement in optimal family situations

Check these SCA Publications out as they may be useful in making your selection.

Visit SCA's On-Line Breeder Referral page.

Questions to Ask the Breeder

The following are a just few good questions to ask a breeder when thinking about purchasing a puppy. There are no perfect answers and listening to the breeders answers may reveal information useful in your search. The information you need may not be volunteered but may be readily shared if you ask.

• Is the breeder's dog a housedog? If a kenneled dog, how does the breeder provide the personal interaction Samoyeds need? Do they show their own dogs?
• Has the breeder trained any of his dogs for obedience work, herding, obedience, etc.? Does the breeder attend obedience classes, matches, shows etc. with his dogs?
• How does the breeder socialize puppies? Are they raised outside or in the house? What household noises and activities are the puppies exposed to? What type of testing and assessing of puppies does the breeder do?
• Does the breeder evaluate the puppies' aptitudes and temperaments? Methods used to evaluate temperament may vary between breeders, but these evaluations can be helpful in assessing which puppy is most suitable for a particular home. One pup may be too much (mischievous, impetuous) for a very soft owner and just the challenge the person looking for a dog for tracking/obedience work needs.
• Can the breeder refer buyers to individuals who have bought their puppies--preferably from similar lines to puppies they have now or are expecting?
• Can buyers meet the prospective or current dam of a litter? The sire? Can the breeder send photos/videotape of the sire/dam/pups?
• Are you a subscriber and supporter of the SCA Code of Ethics? Are you a member of the SCA?

Guarantees and Contracts

Guarantees vary significantly from breeder to breeder. Some offer none. Others may offer full satisfaction or refunds. Typically, initial health guarantees cover a minimal 48-hour period in which a new owner can have the pup examined by a licensed veterinarian and extend through 24+ months for OFA/CERF certifications. Some breeders offer replacements or partial refunds if "show" puppies develop certain faults. Those promises should be spelled out clearly , in writing, and understood fully by all parties prior to the sale.

The same applies to contracts. If an item in a contract seems unclear, it may well need to be rewritten. All contracts should be written and include names and addresses of parties involved, the consideration (price), the terms and breeders support, the date of the transaction, and signatures of buyer, seller and witnesses if required by state law.