"2007 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.
1. Labrador Retriever
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. German Shepherd Dog
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Boxer
7. Dachshund
8. Poodle
9. Shih Tzu
10. Bulldog"
It used to be that the AKC checked out breeder, but it seems these days that the AKC has taken the stance that it is not a "police" organization and they will do nothing until people report problems.
This means that it is up to the consumer to check things out. Being an AKC breeder once meant that you had a set of standards that you had to maintain, certain rules that you had to follow,etc. Now-a-days all you need are two registered dogs that you can put down on the certificate...and that's about it.
Yes the AKC is allowing some breeders to offer 'limited' registry-which is what our Addy has-which would prevent puppies made from the dog in question NOT get an AKC reg. number; well that's not exactly true either...owners would have to apply for an ILP number which will keep these dogs out of the show ring and will keep their off-spring from getting an AKC number also.
However...it has to be plenty severe for the AKC to actually pull a breeders registry capability. But usually it has to deal with fraudulent registry of a dog.
Say a breeder knew that their female had bred with both a dog of her own breed and one of a different but close breed (such as a Mastiff & Bull Mastiff, close enough to fool the uninformed public; or a collie & sheltie-I could happen) yet registered all the pups to get a purebred number.
Or if they were found to be so abusive/neglectful to the dogs as to cause harm to the AKC name. But even then, my folks knew people who were only banned from selling a particular breed...but not from selling all together.
A good breeder should do as much to interview you as you do them. They should not be allowing their females to have more than one breeding a year. Check out where the dogs are kept, how they live. See both parents if possible. Stay away from pet shops--yes you will pay less....yes the pups are just as 'good' as a breeders dog...BUT there is a lot to be said about knowing the history of the dog & its ancestors.
YES--a bit stickler for me--the breeder should be able to list at least three generations of your dog! And they should be able to show you the lineage of the dog they own...so you can check for excessive inbreeding (some is okay, a lot is bad).
Which brings us back to the top 10 list and my original point.
Many of the breeders are beginning to find issues with many of the dogs they see out in the world due to in-breeding. Breeders want money quick so they will throw two dogs together to get a litter...and usually this means that they have taken a brother&sister, father&daughter,mother&son combination...I've seen a few grandfather&granddaughter matchups but not quite as many...great-grand matchings are even rarer.
So breeds like the Lab are having more issues with bleeding, Yorkies are having more internal organ issues, German Sheps are having an increase again of hip dysplasia (the breeders are trying to take out that lope that they had bred in), and Goldens are having higher rates of seizures.
People need to really do their research on a breed, not just what cute things they do and what kind of care they need--they need to get the full story of what is bad with the breed.
Take huskies (a personal fav)...there was an increase of people buying the breed after such movies as "Snow Dogs" & "8 Below" thinking 'oh they are such cute dogs' or 'look how they just like to lie around'....NO WAY. They didn't bother to find out that the breed needs a LOT of exersize, that they love to roam so a fenced in yard is a necessity, they are very smart and will figure out how to get themselves out of your yard--chipping is a NECESSITY; they love to dig...in fact they love to make 'wallows' all over the yard, they are NOT watch dogs, etc. etc.
If you go to the Siberian Husky Club of America you will, in fact, find a special page just on the BAD points of the breed.
When we got Addy...actually when we and the breeder where both doing our interviews...it was made very clear about their drool issues. I had asked about the frills and if her parents & grandparents had 'tight' lips--the breeder knew exactly what I was talking about and made it very clear that no matter how tight the lips were Newfies are droolers, not like drip-drip, like the worse noseblow you have ever had....coming from their lips...all the time...and they like to shake. (as a point of reference you should really check out "Turner & Hooch" starring Tom Hanks and Hooch...he's not a Newf, but you will get a really good idea when Hanks pours the drool out of his shoe).
It is these little things that people don't bother to check out that puts the dogs in the dog shelters....hoping and praying for someone to rescue them.
P.S.if you go to buy a Husky be sure to ask if they shed a lot...you should get an answer along the lines of "no huskies do not shed much, but they do 'blow' their coats. Its like molting and it last about 8 months out of every year; it begins just before Spring and will end just after Winter starts...daily brushing is needed!" If you get a straight "yes" or "no" answer I'd look for another dog.
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