Alberta Roots

Pet stores, newspaper ads and now the internet may seem like a good place to purchase your new family companion however you should be aware that most breeders who use these means of selling are backyard breeders (A person who casually breeds purebred dogs with little or no regard to the breed standard, genetically linked defects or temperament.) or puppy mills (A term used to describe what may be considered the irresponsible and inhumane practices of some dog breeders when breeding on a large scale. Small-scale puppy farming is usually called backyard breeding.) The problems with these types of breeders are that they are not breeding to better the breed (temperament, health, structure, etc.) but instead are breeding to make money. Breeding should be done as an act of love for the breed with no income expectations. Breeders that truly care for their puppies and their well-being will do all appropriate health testing that pertains to the breed as well as have a reason for breeding (which is not for additional income). We have put this list together for you to assist you in finding a reputable purebred breeder.

1. What Health and/or Temperament tests do you do? Each breed has different hereditary problems and there is NO pedigree exempt from this (if a breeder tells you their pedigree or breed is free of all health issues - RUN!) With the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, the minimum tests that should be performed (after the age of 2) are hips (certified by OFA and/or Penn-Hip), elbows (OFA) and eyes (CERF). Swissy's are also prone to epilepsy and bloat. Unfortunately, there are no health tests for these traits however; epilepsy will usually show up before the age of two (which is one of the reasons why breeding animals should be over this age). Dogs who have bloated in the past should not be bred.
2. How long have you been breeding? What breeds? It takes considerable time to learn the health problems, temperament traits and structure differences in the pedigrees of one breed, let alone many breeds. You should look for a breeder who has been actively involved in the breed. The length of time is not as important as the knowledge they have acquired. Some 20+ year breeders know less than a new breeder however it would be advisable to adopt from a breeder who has bred before and you can talk to the people who adopted from the breeder in the past. If a breeder is breeding multiple breeds, they likely do not know very much about any of their pedigrees (not always, however usually true).
3. Can I meet the parents? What is the reason you bred them? This is a bit of a trick questions as many breeders will not have the stud dog on site. In fact, if they do, it may be a warning sign. You should be cautious if the breeder has both parents and has or is planning on breeding them together numerous times. This does nothing to improve the breed (which should be the purpose of breeding). It can be a way to reduce expenses (i.e. no stud fee, travel expense) Many of the good breeders will either use a male that is not theirs and usually some distance away because he has traits they are looking to improve in their girls pedigree (again, NO dog is free from all problems) or they have numerous females and only use their own male on a select few of them. The reason for the breeding should in all cases be to improve the breed. The breeder should only be breeding healthy dogs that are of breed standard and have passed their health clearances. You should be able to meet the mom (and dad if he is on-site) with no hesitation from the breeder so that you can see if they are in clean, healthy condition.
4. Have the parents been bred before? What were the issues with that/those litters? If the parents have been bred in the past, the breeder should tell you what was produced from those litters (i.e. a health issue, temperament problem or puppies that did not meet the CKC standard.) The breeder should be forthright and honest about all of the animals in the pedigree. There is always going to be something bad and if the breeder insists there is not, they are either lying or ignorant.
5. Where do the parents and puppies live? Swissy's are a very social breed that needs to be with people. They will adapt better in your home, if they are raised in a breeders home where they are exposed to normal household activities (pan dropping, the vacuum, etc.) Many of the best breeders will require the puppy live in your home as a member of the family due to their social nature. They are not suited well as an 'outdoor' breed where they are left in the back yard alone most of the time. If you are looking for that kind of dog, the Swissy is not the right breed for you. Swissy's are a breed that requires a great deal of socialization and it is imperative that they have been exposed to many different things while they are young both via the breeder and continued on after they are in their new home.
6. Can I get a puppy right away? When can I take the puppy home? If you can, you should proceed with extreme caution. Breeders who always have puppies available (especially in a rare breed such as the Swissy) are likely backyard breeders. It takes a great deal of money and time to properly raise a litter and puppies that are 'mass produced' are probably lacking socialization, cleanliness, etc. A responsible breeder will not allow a puppy to leave their home before it is 8 weeks old. Puppies learn a great deal from their mom and littermates and by removing them early, they are robbed of those valuable lessons (which will make your life with the puppy allot harder).
7. Do you show or compete with your dogs? In most cases, breeders who take time to show or compete with their dogs in CKC events such as conformation, obedience, carting, drafting, etc. are more committed to improving the breed. By 'proving' their dogs in these events, they are showing that they have invested a significant amount of time and training into their animals.
8. Do you have a contract? Can I have a copy? Most reputable breeders will have a contract they will require you to sign before committing a puppy to you. Make sure you understand all of the points of the contract and for your protection, do not sign until you agree with everything within. A responsible breeder will never require you to breed if you are looking for a pet but will require that you do not breed. (Again, breeding is very taxing both on financial and time resources as well as heartbreaking at times and therefore, a responsible breeder will never require anyone to breed their pet). Most contracts are in place to protect the breed but beware of the contracts that are there to protect the breeder!
9. What happens if for some reason I cannot keep my dog? This is a very important question to ask because if for some reason you cannot physically or financially take care of your beloved Swissy, you will want to make sure it is taken care of and loved. Most reputable breeders will require the dog come back to them where it will either stay or be re-homed where it can live out the rest of its life. Many contracts will require the dog will never be re-homed without approval from the breeder, as a good breeder will know where the dogs they produced are. This is a sign of a responsible breeder.
10. How do you choose your puppy's homes? Beware of any breeder who sells a puppy to anyone with cash in-hand. They are not thoughtfully considering how this puppy will be treated and loved and likely they have not invested much time, money or energy into the puppy and thus it is of no consequence to them ('breeders' who sell to pet stores are an excellent example). A good sign of a responsible breeder is that they want to get to know you... and you them. They are looking to develop a relationship with you and are available to you for the life of the dog.