Finding a Responsible Dog Breeder

Code of Virginia Table of Contents » Title 3.2. Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food » Chapter 65. Comprehensive Animal Care » § 3.2-6510. Sale of unweaned or certain immature animals prohibited, vaccinations required for dogs and cats; §

3.2-6510. Sale of unweaned or certain immature animals prohibited, vaccinations required for dogs and cats; penalty.A. No person shall sell, raffle, give away, or offer for sale as pets or novelties, or offer or give as a prize, premium, or advertising device any living chicks, ducklings, or other fowl under two months old in quantities of less than six or any unweaned mammalian companion animal or any dog or cat under the age of seven weeks without its dam or queen. Dealers may offer immature fowl, unweaned mammalian companion animals, dogs or cats under the age of seven weeks for sale as pets or novelties with the requirement that prospective owners take possession of the animals only after fowl have reached two months of age, mammalian companion animals have been weaned, and dogs and cats are at least seven weeks of age. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the sale, gift, or transfer of an unweaned animal: (i) as food for other animals; (ii) with the lactating dam or queen or a lactating surrogate dam or queen that has accepted the animal; (iii) due to a concern for the health or safety of the unweaned animal; or (iv) to animal control, a public or private animal shelter, or a veterinarian.

B. Dealers shall provide all dogs and cats with current vaccinations against contagious and infectious diseases, as recommended in writing and considered appropriate for the animal's age and breed by a licensed veterinarian, or pursuant to written recommendations provided by the manufacturer of such vaccines at least five days before any new owner takes possession of the animal. For dogs, the vaccinations required by this subsection shall include at a minimum canine distemper, adenovirus type II parainfluenza, and parvovirus. For cats, the vaccinations required by this subsection shall include at a minimum rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. Dealers shall provide the new owner with the dog's or cat's immunization history.

C. A violation of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

1984, c. 492, § 29-213.40; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.70; 1993, c. 174; 1995, c. 625; 2006, c. 503; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 148.

If you have decided to buy a dog from a breeder, you will want to pick one who is a responsible breeder.  Responsible breeders give careful consideration to health issues, temperament, genetic screening as well as to the individual care and placement of puppies in responsible homes.  A responsible breeder will never sell dogs through a pet store or in any other way that does not allow them to meet with and thoroughly interview you to ensure that the puppy is a good match for your family and that you will provide a responsible, lifelong home.
Get a Referral

You can find responsible breeders by asking for referrals from your veterinarian, trusted friends, local breed clubs, or visiting professional dog shows.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) also provides a Breeder Referral Search.

What to Look For

Look for a breeder who, at a minimum, does the following:

• • Keeps dogs in the home as part of the family, not outside in kennel runs.
  • Has adult dogs who appear happy and healthy, are excited to meet new people, and do not shy away from visitors.
  • Shows you where the dogs spend most of their time, which should be a clean, well-maintained area.
  • Encourages you to spend time with the puppy’s parents (at a minimum, the puppy’s mother) when you visit.
  • Does not allow the puppy to leave its mother or the litter before a minimum of 8 weeks, preferably 12 weeks.By VA law, animals cannot be sold under 7 weeks.

                    Code of Virginia Table of Contents » Title 3.2. Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food » Chapter 65.
                    Comprehensive  Animal Care » § 3.2-6510. Sale of unweaned or certain immature animals prohibited,
                    vaccinations required for dogs and cats;

                    § 3.2-6510. Sale of unweaned or certain immature animals prohibited, vaccinations required for dogs and cats;                     penalty.A. No person shall sell, raffle, give away, or offer for sale as pets or novelties, or offer or give as a prize,                     premium, or advertising device any living chicks, ducklings, or other fowl under two months old in quantities                         of less than six or any unweaned mammalian companion animal or any dog or cat under the age of seven                             weeks without its dam or queen. Dealers may offer immature fowl, unweaned mammalian companion animals,                     dogs or cats under the age of seven weeks for sale as pets or novelties with the requirement that prospective
                    owners take possession of the animals only after fowl have reached two months of age, mammalian
                    companion animals have been weaned, and dogs and cats are at least seven weeks of age. Nothing in this
                    section shall prohibit the sale, gift, or transfer of an unweaned animal: (i) as food for other animals; (ii) with the
                    lactating dam or queen or a lactating surrogate dam or queen that has accepted the animal; (iii) due to a                             concern for the health or safety of the unweaned animal; or (iv) to animal control, a public or private animal  
                   shelter, or a veterinarian.

                    B. Dealers shall provide all dogs and cats with current vaccinations against contagious and infectious
                    diseases, as recommended in writing and considered appropriate for the animal's age and breed by a licensed
                    veterinarian, or pursuant to written recommendations provided by the manufacturer of such vaccines at least
                    five days before any new owner takes possession of the animal. For dogs, the vaccinations required by this
                    subsection shall include at a minimum canine distemper, adenovirus type II parainfluenza, and parvovirus. For
                    cats, the vaccinations required by this subsection shall include at a minimum rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and
                    panleukopenia. Dealers shall provide the new owner with the dog's or cat's immunization history.

                    C. A violation of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

                    1984, c. 492, § 29-213.40; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.70; 1993, c. 174; 1995, c. 625; 2006, c. 503; 2008,
                    c. 860; 2014, c. 148.

• • Only breeds one or two types of dogs and is knowledgeable about the desired characteristics of the breed, such as size, proportion, coat, color, and temperament.
  • Has a strong relationship with a local veterinarian. Explains the puppy’s medical history and what vaccinations your new puppy will need.
  • Provides a copy of the puppy’s vaccination records.  At a minimum, the puppy should have been dewormed and received its first round of vaccinations (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza).
  • Explains in detail the potential genetic problems inherent to the breed and provides documentation that the puppy’s parents and grandparents have been tested to ensure that they are free of these genetic problems.
  • Offers guidance for caring and training your puppy and is available for assistance after you take your puppy home.
  • Recommends that you promptly take your puppy to your veterinarian for an exam. The responsible breeder’s veterinarian will have already examined your puppy.
  • Is willing to provide references from other families who have purchased puppies if you ask.
  • Feeds high quality, premium brand pet food.
  • Does not always have puppies available.
  • Is actively involved with local, state, and National clubs that specialize in the specific breed. Good breeders may compete with their dogs in conformation (which judge how closely dogs match their breed standard), obedience trials (which judge how well dogs perform specific sets of tasks on command), or tracking and agility trials.
  • Encourages multiple visits and wants your entire family to meet the puppy.
  • Provides you with a written agreement, contract, and/or health guarantee and allows plenty of time for you to read it thoroughly.

The breeder will probably ask you to:

• • Explain why you want a dog.
  • Explain who in your family will be responsible for the puppy’s daily care and attend training classes, where the dog will spend most of his/her time, and what rules have been decided upon for the puppy -- for example, whether or not the dog will be allowed on the furniture.
  • Provide a veterinary reference.
  • Provide proof from your landlord or condominium board that you are allowed to have a dog.
  • Sign a contract that you will spay or neuter the dog unless you will be actively involved in showing him/her. (Applies to show quality dogs only.)
  • Sign a contract stating that you will return the dog to the breeder should you be unable to keep the dog at any point in the dog’s life.

If a breeder doesn’t meet most of these minimum requirements – WALK AWAY.  Do not be tempted, regardless of the circumstances, to purchase your puppy from an importer, broker, middle man or pet shops.  Most of these puppies come from mass breeding facilities known as puppy mills. Too often, the result of these puppy mills are puppies with poor health or temperament problems that may not be discovered until years later.