What to Look For In a Breeder
While not exhaustive, here are a couple things that you should look for at the start of your search to you make sure you're on the right track to buying from a responsible breeder who is working to improve the breed and selling healthy, mentally and physically sound puppies. While not all breeders who do these things are responsible, most breeders who do not, are not.
- Fully health testing all of the adult dogs they are breeding, and publishing the information with the OFA, and
- Members in good standing with either the American Black and Tan Coonhound Club (AKC) or the American Black and Tan Coonhound Association (UKC), and
- Proving their dogs in some venue, whether that is hunting, showing, or sports. Titling dogs prior to breeding allows folks to get an unbiased view of the abilities of the dog and prove it. Anyone can make any claim if they're not held to any standard of backing it up.
Questions to Ask Before Buying a B&T Puppy
Compliments of the American Black & Tan Coonhound Club
The best thing you can do for yourself and your puppy is to educate and commit yourself to finding the best, healthiest, most well-bred puppy you can find. Remember, you’re in for a commitment of probably 11 to 14 years! Here are some questions you should know the answer to before you bring home a Black and Tan puppy.
What should I ask the Breeder?
1. How many of the dogs within the pedigree, have you actually seen and had hands on? Tell me everything you know about the sire and dam. (You want to know more than what is on the pedigree, is the breeder knowledgeable about the health, temperament etc of the dogs in the pedigree?)
2. What is the incidence of dysplasia, bloat, allergies, thyroid problems, heart problems, eye problems etc. within the pedigree?
3. Were there any temperament problems in the ancestry of the puppies? Do you temperament test?
4. How much time do you plan on spending on the planning of the litter and the rearing of the puppies?
5. What are the sire’s/dam’s worst/best trait/fault?
6. Are the sire and dame OFA Certified? Do you have evidence? What about further back in the pedigree? (learn about dysplasia-prior to asking questions about it. )
7. Do you offer a Health guarantee on your puppies? What is it?
8. Are you willing and able to answer my questions for the life of the dog?
9. Do you require a spay/neuter agreement on companion-quality dogs? (This is a good thing)
10. What are the most important things that you are striving for in your breeding program? (Temperament should be the first along with Health!) Why did you breed these particular dogs?
11. Will you supply at least a 4 generation pedigree, the puppy’s health record and instructions on how to properly take care of my new dog?
12. What titles (conformation, obedience, hunting, sports etc) titles are in the pedigree? How far back? How many dogs? What titles are you currently working on?
13. May I see/visit with both parents?
14. What is your philosophy on breeding in general and with respect to Black and Tans?
16. What Clubs are you active in?