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PAWS & PIXELS: How to find ethical breeders in the AI Era
I must say I can't believe this is something we have to be aware of, but sadly it is and it's very important to ask the right questions! We have been hearing of more and more scams people have been victims of that are very intelligent and believable. Aside from scams, AI can often make the most unexperienced breeders appear more credible and reliable. Thankfully there are a few things that AI just can't fake, and we are going to walk you through the questions to ask when seeking out a responsible, real breeder.
What to ask your perspective breeder,
1.) Can we facetime or video chat with the puppies and/or the moms?
This is the most telling question of them all. There is no reason that a real, responsible breeder would not be willing to video chat aside from the fact that they are not real, or they are ashamed of the condition of their dogs/faculties. Either way, you don't want to move forward there.
2.) Can you provide references from past Puppy Buyers?
If they are a legit breeder who have treated their puppies and customers right, they should absolutely be able to provide you at least one reference. I do understand there are families that want their privacy, but we have found that if you provide a good experience, most people are happy to be contacted as a reference. If they are not willing to offer this, it is a red flag.
3.) Do you offer health guarantees/ genetic testing on your puppies and parents?
This is another big one! Genetic testing is not a hard thing to attain these reports. There is really no reason that a breeder that takes things seriously would not have at least some form of genetic testing done. This is totally something you can ask for from your breeder!
Health Guarantees are another sign of a good breeder. They can vary in what they cover but most of the time that we (or whoever your breeder is) will cover the cost of any genetic issues up to the price of the puppy. Feel free to ask specifics if you are confused or need clarification.
4.) Would you take the puppy back if needed?
This is not so much an ai problem, but this is a very telling question. We always say that good breeders are actually preventing dogs from ending up in shelters because we understand that we are responsible for them even after they are in their new homes. Thankfully this is very rare, but it has to be something your breeder is willing to do and something we have had to do ourselves.
5.) What vaccinations, deworming, and vet care does my puppy receive before going home?
Your puppy will need several different vaccinations and de wormers before they come home to you. This is something that should absolutely be done by your breeder or their vet before they send the puppy home to you. They cannot be fully vaccinated yet if they come home around 10 weeks, but the first round of things should be done. As well as that your puppy should be checked by a vet, and you should be given a written and signed report of their health. The vet will check for things like hip mobility, heart murmurs, teeth placement, ear infections, etc. That being said, it is of course possible for the vet to miss things, but this is a vital step that you need to make sure is part of your breeder's routine.
Overall, we still like to think people are good, but we have heard some wild stories so it's so important to be aware and to be asking the right questions. If you do this, you will be able to sniff out the bad eggs pretty quickly and maybe even report them. Good luck!















