3 Steps to Buying Your Next Dog or Cat from Pet Breeders.

Buying a pet dog or cat is a big step, and one we trust you have given a great deal of thought. During the process, you may have looked at adopting a pet, or you may be wanting to buy a specific breed of puppy or kitten instead that are not available at adoption centres.

There has been much attention drawn towards people who breed animals for pets in recent years, with puppy farms coming under scrutiny because of their practices. Changes to laws and new state by state regulations have brought ethical practices to the fore, leaving the disreputable farms to be shut down.

This article looks at 3 steps to consider when buying your next cat or dog from ethical pet breeders including some tips to help you decide what breed and breeder best suits your circumstances.

Choosing A Specific Breed of Pet

Deciding on whether to buy a dog or a cat is a personal choice and we’re going to assume that choice has already been made. A question that needs to also be covered initially is, what is the primary purpose for wanting to have a pet in the first place. Is it for showing or as a companion?

The choice of breed, again is personal, but also requires more thought with regards to your circumstances. The ages and number of people in the household, allergies, size of the dwelling plus backyard space and budget constraints should all be considered when choosing a breed, especially with regards to buying a puppy, because they do grow up and fast.

Researching different breeds is a good place to start, taking note of their adult size, temperament, food requirements along with where the pet will be living and sleeping are aspects of the breed you should be considering before finalising your decision.

For most people, the choice comes from previous experiences and bias. Growing up with, knowing friends who have and interacting with the breed often play a significant part on the final choice.

Finding Breeders (That Have the Breed You’re After for Sale)

Today, there are again typically 3 ways to go about finding your ‘paw-fect’ pet.

• Word of Mouth

  As mentioned above, talking to friends or work colleagues who have the breed you’re interested in can result in a recommendation of the breeder they got their cat or dog from. You’ll also get a valuable insight into the behaviour and any health issues that can exist to watch out for. Although you’ll obviously get more pros than cons, you have the benefit of seeing and interacting with their pet, helping you make more of an informed decision.

• Feline & Canine Breed Associations

  There is an association for just about all the breeds available for sale across Australia. You will also notice some of the most popular breeds have multiple associations across the same state. Personalities and differences of opinion often causes off-shoots and new groups of likeminded people being formed. Typically, this competition is good for the breed and fosters a spirit of improvement to be recognised or to just survive within the sector.

• Advertised Online

  Major associations, along with many breed specific pet breeders can be found online, such as those listed on Pet Directory, Australia’s largest pet related directory. Here you will not only find registered cat and dog associations across Australia, but individual breeders of the pet you’re after in your state with contact phone numbers and their website which often displays litters available or coming soon.

Choosing A Breeder

Lastly, choosing to buy your pet from a specific breeder is very much like choosing the pet itself. Always remember you do have choices and displaying patience can help you make the best decision for you and your new ‘furry friend’.

The following is a checklist of what you can note of when meeting the breeder and the parents at least of the litter you’ll be selecting from, if the pups or kittens have not been born yet.

• Personal Qualities:
  Are the people caring, likeable people? Do they care where their litter of kittens or puppies go? Sometimes, the more questions they ask about you, the better!
• Reason for Breeding:
  Are the breeders breeding for their own show ring success, or are they enthusiasts? Sometimes one does come with the other, and just because they are selecting one for themselves, doesn’t mean what’s left won’t make them your perfect pet.
• Condition of Their Set-Up:
  How clean and appointed, plus the overall condition of the parents should be something you take notice of. The best guide to your pet’s future health and look can be ascertained by looking at the parents and their living conditions. Ensure you can see the parents, no but’s!
• Requirements Should Be a Given, But Check:
  All puppies should be vaccinated, wormed, vet checked and only sold after 8 weeks of age. See the paperwork prior to making a decision. If they are being sold as ‘pedigree’ or ‘pure’, make sure you see that paperwork too. Do the breeders screen for the genetic diseases expected for that breed?
• Have Patience:
  Sometimes ‘litters coming soon’, or ‘available for picking up in 4 weeks’ is advertised. Have patience and wait if you believe you’ve found the right breeder you’d like to buy from. Many breeders not only allow but encourage visits before you eventually take your pet home with you.

Summary of Find Pet Breeders Across Australia

Finding breeders for a specific breed of pet is not a difficult process, but often does require patience while you wait for the right breeder to have the perfect pet for you to become their new parents. In the meantime, you can get yourself and house prepared, ready to welcome your newest family member into their forever home.

Have some questions? You can ask them below or add some comments about your experience in finding your breeder or pet. You may also like to recommend yourself as a breeder.

Oliver (Senior Dog Reporter)

Hi to all my fellow canines, I’m Oliver, the Senior Dog News Reporter here at PetsBook.
I will endeavour to bring to dog owners’ informative and educational articles to help make the bond between you and them even stronger.