Reputable breeders seldom advertise in the classified section of a newspaper. If they advertise at all, reputable breeders usually list in breed club directories or, in Canada, in the Dogs Annual. As breeders, we have a network amongst ourselves whereby if we have a litter of puppies and have inquiries, we recommend specific breeders to potential buyers.

When you see phrases like "Puppies: full-blooded, no papers" in an ad, do your homework. These "breeders" may be so inexperienced that they don't know the correct terminology or they may be trying to mislead potential buyers. The breeding may have been an accident or perhaps it was planned because the dogs would make pretty puppies or to give the kids the experience of seeing a "the miracle of life"—not because they would actually contribute anything to the conformation or health of the breed.

Full-blooded may mean that the parents are of the same breed, however a dog that is not registered (or registerable) can not be called purebred. In other words, there is no such thing as an unregistered purebred. However, it could be an attempt to characterize puppies of mixed parentage. For example, two cockapoos do not produce purebred cockapoos. Cockapoos are not a breed but a mixed breed—mutts. It takes generations of careful breeding to produce a new breed. A cockapoo is the result of breeding an often unregistered pet cocker spaniel to an often unregistered pet poodle—a mixed breed dog that is not registerable with the Canadian Kennel Club or any other recognized registry.

Papers in an ad could refer to a pedigree or to a registration certificate. A pedigree is a family tree that tells you the ancestors of the puppy. It can sometimes help to trace the dogs in the background to find out if the puppy may be a carrier or a potential carrier of several genetic disorders. A registration certificate allows the breeder to register the puppy with the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC); the United Kennel Club, a rare breed registry; or an independent kennel club or breed registry. Eligibility for registration does not reflect the health or genetic fitness of the puppy—it means only that the puppy comes from registered parents.

If you are tempted to call the folks who place an ad like this, understand that there is no such thing as a purebred litter that can not be registered. In Canada, under the Animal Pedigree Act, it is illegal to sell a puppy as purebred if it is not registerable. It is also illegal to charge more money for a puppy with papers than for one without. Papers must be supplied at no additional cost. When the litter is registered the breeder receives individual registration certificates for each puppy and it is their responsibility to register each puppy. Also, find out about prices before going to see the puppies—don't assume that the lack of papers means the price quoted is less than the price for a good quality registered puppy from a responsible breeder.

"Both parents on premises" is another phrase that should make you wary. It is very rare indeed that you will find a reputable breeder with both parents. Most breeders ship their bitch off to another province, state or country to be bred or they implant with fresh or frozen semen. It can mean that these are backyard breeders with a bitch that is bred every time she comes into heat (or whenever the family needs extra money). The parents may have good temperaments and be genetically healthy specimens of their breed, or they may not. So, investigate. A few questions should ascertain if this is a source you can rely upon.

Effort pays
The chances that you will get the right dog or puppy for your family increase with the amount of time and effort you put into the selection of a breeder. Remember, the cheapest price isn't going to guarantee the the most suitable puppy or dog; likewise the highest price ($2,000.00 and over) is not a guarantee that you will get good health or good temperament. Just because a particular breeder may be well known does not always indicate that the breeder is conscious of health, temperament or is attempting to improve the overall quality of the breed.