Finding a Responsible Breeder

1. Contact the local club and ask to be put in contact with their breeder referral program. If the club doesn't have a breeder referral program contact the national club's breeder referral program.

The RMVC can help you find a responsible breeder in Colorado. Our Breeder Referral Program is run by:

• Mel Reveles, info@rmvc.org
• Ginger Sammonds, 970.593.1711
• Judy Hetkowski

The Vizsla Club of America's breeder referral program is run by Florence Duggan.

2. Be VERY cautious if you decide to respond to an ad in the newspaper and never, ever buy an pup from a pet store. Puppy-millers often place "for sale" ads in newspapers and are often the source for stocking pet stores with puppies. Go to http://www.puppymillrescue.com/ and http://www.stoppuppymills.org/ to learn more about the horrors of puppy mills. Go to the Lawrence County Humane Society Abuse and Adoption Center and read their comparison chart on "Traits of a Responsible Breeder vs. a Backyard 'Breeder'".

3. BE PATIENT. Remember, you're adding a new family member to your home not buying an appliance. Take care when selecting a breeder. If they're reputable, they'll want to stay in contact with you for the life of the pup they place in your home. And you'll want them to because they will help you with everything from raising your pup the right way, training your V to be a well-mannered dog citizen, and even into your V's twilight years.

4. AKC registration does not mean the puppy comes from a reputable breeder. From the AKC website, "There is a widely held belief that "AKC" or "AKC papers" guarantee the quality of a dog. This is not the case. AKC is a registry body." The AKC's business is to provide a registry for dogs, which generates revenue for them. They don't proactively regulate breeders or their breeding practices. This means there are tons of puppy-millers and backyard breeders who sell their pups as "AKC registered" or "with AKC papers". This is simply means the pup can be registered with the AKC because it's a pure-bred dog. Please go to the AKC's website to learn more about what "AKC papers" mean.

5. Visit our "Questions to Ask a Breeder" and "What is a Reputable Breeder?" pages before contacting any breeders. When you are ready to contact breeders have a pen and paper handy so you can take lots of notes!

What a Reputable Breeder is:

Reputable breeders are not in it for the money--they breed the best to the best in hopes to improve the health, structure, temperament, and natural ability of the Vizsla breed.

Reputable breeders are truly guardians of the Vizsla breed.

Reputable breeders take good care of their dogs, providing:

• Plenty of love and affection
• A safe and comfortable home
• A good, nutritious diet
• Proper vet care including immunizations and parasite prevention/treatment
• Plenty of exercise
• Plenty of stimulation and socialization

Reputable breeders will take a dog of their breeding back under any circumstances, and regardless of the age/health of the dog.

Reputable breeders belong to (at minimum) their local breed club and/or kennel clubs as well as their national breed club. Our national club is the Vizsla Club of America.

Reputable breeders prove their breeding stock by putting titles on their dogs. Once a title has been awarded by the AKC it will be included in the dogs registered name. Ask to see a recent copy of the breeders AKC registration or pedigree. These titles include:

• Conformation (show) -- CH, BIS, BISS
• Hunt Tests -- JH, SH, MH
• Obedience -- CD, CDX, UD, UDX, OTCH
• Agility -- NA, NAJ, OA, OAJ, AX, AXJ, MX, MXJ, MACH
• Field Trial -- FC, AFC, DC
• Rally -- RN, RA, RE, RAE
• Tracking -- TD, TDX, VST, CT

Reputable breeders prove the health of their dogs by testing for congenital diseases and other health conditions. Ask to see copies of these health certificates (run the other direction if a breeder refuses to show you the actual certificates and insists their dogs are perfectly healthy). These tests include:

• Hip dysplasia -- OFA certification
• Von Willebrand's Disease -- health certificate
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), learn about CERF'ing at http://www.animaleyecare.net/diseases/cerf.htm -- health certificate
• OFA thyroid certification (if they do thyroid panels event better!) -- health certificate

Go to, http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/brdreqs.html?breed=VZ or more information about these health tests.

Reputable breeders take the temperament of the dogs they breed into account just as seriously as they take the health of the dogs.

Reputable breeders insist on placing a "limited" registration on their dogs that will not be shown or used for their breeding program. It becoming increasingly common for reputable breeders to insist on co-owning dogs they place as well.

What a Reputable Breeder is not:

Someone who sells their puppies to pet stores, brokers, or to people they haven't appropriately interviewed.

Someone who does not provide a safe and comfortable home for their dogs with plenty of stimulation and exercise.

Someone who does not test their dogs for congenital disease or other health conditions.

Someone who does not prove that the dogs they use in their breeding program are superior examples of the breed by getting titles on them.

Someone who will not take a dog they bred back into their home for any reason for the entire life of the dog.

Someone who allows their dogs to be rehomed through rescue groups or shelters.