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I wanted to make this a sticky to help newbies navigate the world of on-line breeder sites. I've attached a link to a recent thread where someone was asking about a breeder they found, but upon a little investigation it was found that the site was a fake 'breeder' site for a puppy mill, full of lies:
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/choosing-breeder/625522-good-breeder-no.html
Notice the tactics used here to make the reader think that they are dealing with a 'good breeder':
The use of the first person(s) in the "About us" and through out the site, as if the site was really put together by one individual who is breeding.
No names or actual physical location given as to who the breeder is or where they are located.
The constant focus on adorable puppies - reputable breeders are first and foremost INVOLVED in the breed: showing, competitions, titling, etc. They don't just breed to make cute puppies and sell them first come first serve.
They always have puppies, they ship three times a week!! Good breeders only breed a few litters a year so they can give each bitch and litter their personal attention, and only have puppies available at certain times.
No information on pedigrees, health testing, origin of the parents, goals in breeding (other than very vague buzz-words of breeding the best of the best, etc). I wouldn't be surprised if the "sire" and "dam" pics they post on each of the linked sites are random pics found off the internet. The GSD pups in the GSD site look like they came from different litters from different parents.
Selling pups as if you were selling something on ebay: pictures with a description, browse through the site and pic the pup you want: NO!!! Good breeders evaluate their pups and pic the pup for you based on years of experience raising pups and dogs! Good breeders develop a relationship with their buyers so they can get a good feel of what the buyer is looking for.
Notice the similarity in some of the site names like Andyspugs, Chuckspoodles, etc - again made to look like one person is a small breeder and breeding a pair of dogs - ALL LIES AIMED AT DECEIVING.
Note that some of the sites look pretty basic as if they were done up by someone with average computer skills - again, they don't want the site to look too professional, they want you to think that Mr. and Mrs. Breeder are just a nice couple with some nice dogs, who breed nice puppies, and are not professional breeders - all meant to produce a certain image.
With some time researching and asking experienced people (like the members on this site), you'll know how to spot these fake breeder sites, and what to look for in a REAL reputable breeder.
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/choosing-breeder/625522-good-breeder-no.html
Notice the tactics used here to make the reader think that they are dealing with a 'good breeder':
The use of the first person(s) in the "About us" and through out the site, as if the site was really put together by one individual who is breeding.
No names or actual physical location given as to who the breeder is or where they are located.
The constant focus on adorable puppies - reputable breeders are first and foremost INVOLVED in the breed: showing, competitions, titling, etc. They don't just breed to make cute puppies and sell them first come first serve.
They always have puppies, they ship three times a week!! Good breeders only breed a few litters a year so they can give each bitch and litter their personal attention, and only have puppies available at certain times.
No information on pedigrees, health testing, origin of the parents, goals in breeding (other than very vague buzz-words of breeding the best of the best, etc). I wouldn't be surprised if the "sire" and "dam" pics they post on each of the linked sites are random pics found off the internet. The GSD pups in the GSD site look like they came from different litters from different parents.
Selling pups as if you were selling something on ebay: pictures with a description, browse through the site and pic the pup you want: NO!!! Good breeders evaluate their pups and pic the pup for you based on years of experience raising pups and dogs! Good breeders develop a relationship with their buyers so they can get a good feel of what the buyer is looking for.
Notice the similarity in some of the site names like Andyspugs, Chuckspoodles, etc - again made to look like one person is a small breeder and breeding a pair of dogs - ALL LIES AIMED AT DECEIVING.
Note that some of the sites look pretty basic as if they were done up by someone with average computer skills - again, they don't want the site to look too professional, they want you to think that Mr. and Mrs. Breeder are just a nice couple with some nice dogs, who breed nice puppies, and are not professional breeders - all meant to produce a certain image.
With some time researching and asking experienced people (like the members on this site), you'll know how to spot these fake breeder sites, and what to look for in a REAL reputable breeder.