Finding a Reputable Breeder The following are some of the typical characteristics of a reputable breeder: Reputable breeders only produce a litter with the goal of improving their breed and with the full intent of keeping a puppy form the litter with which to continue their efforts. They do not breed to make money, to supply the pet market during a wave of breed popularity, to give the kids a sex education, or simply because they happen to have two dogs of the same breed on the premises. These last are all spurious reasons to add more dogs to the current population. If the breeder has produced a litter for a silly reason, beware! ISSR Shiloh Shepherds are a breed under development and all litters are produced with the goal of improving the breed. Reputable breeders nearly always belong to a local or a national breed club and are active in showing or training their dogs. These competitions include licensed dog shows, field trials obedience trials, herding trials, tracking events, terrier trials and sled dog racing (among others). Competition helps to gauge whether a given dog is worthy of being bred; whether it offers the breed virtues that are worth reproducing. A good breeder knows that registration papers only mean the dog is purebred; they do not in any way confer or imply quality or breeding value. If the breeder does not belong to any dog organizations or compete with his dogs, beware! We are members of our national club, which is the ISSR our local club as well as the local AKC club. The dogs here at Madden's Shilohs Kennel are all involved in either showing, Obedience, As a Service animal, Therapy animal, Agility, or any combination of the above. Reputable breeders are willing and eager to spend time with you, explaining teaching and advising you about their breed. They will make the disadvantages of owning their breed clear, and it may be the first topic of conversation! No breed is perfect for everyone, and the responsible breeder wants to be absolutely sure you really want, and are prepared to care for, this kind of dog. If the breeder does not go into breed peculiarities, beware! Here at Madden's Shilohs Kennel we will spend an extensive amount of time talking with you about what you want in a dog and making sure you understand all it take to own one of our Shilohs before you ever take one home. Reputable breeders will screen you carefully to assure your suitability for owning their breed. They will not sell a large, active dog to an apartment dweller or to someone without a fence, for example, or a tiny toy dog to a home with small children. They will refuse a sale, regardless of any personal financial strain or the amount of work involved, rather than place any dog in an unsuitable situation. If the breeder does not question you closely about your home situation, beware! ISSR Shilohs like all dogs have some needs as do the people who want them. If you get to this point, our puppies are temperament tested and based on your needs we are often able to match up a puppy who is of a quieter nature with a family with a quieter nature, and a more active puppy with a more active family. Reputable breeders sell only healthy stock, fully-vetted, and guaranteed for some reasonable length of time after the sale. Their dogs are tested for any genetic deficiencies, which can be detected by the age at which the dog is sold. Most offer, or even require, that the dog be returned to them if your situation changes so that you cannot keep the dog. This applies whether the dog is 10 weeks old or 10 years old. No responsible breeder wants their dogs to end life in the pound or on the streets. If "all sales are final", breed-appropriate testing has not been done (or the breeder says, "Oh, that's not a problem in this breed", when you know it is), or their dogs appear unwell, beware! All the Sires and Dams used here at Madden's Shilohs Kennel have had testing for genetic deficiencies one would find in this breed. They have had their Hips/elbows/hearts checked long before they were bred. Reputable breeders are involved, on some level, in breed "rescue" work. They loathe to see their breed in trouble, whether that be an unsuitable home or a pound or shelter. When notified, they spend their own time and money to collect the dog, have it vetted, trained and socialized, if necessary, and find it a loving home. While a breeder might not specifically mention involvement in rescue work, if he or she cranks out multiple litters a year and/or acts as a broker, chances are they are more concerned with making money than with the unwanted pet problem ... beware! Here at Madden's Shilohs Kennel we are a small Kennel and produce only a couple of litters a year. Reputable breeders stay in touch with you on a regular basis to see how you are getting on with your new dog. They do not just sell you the dog and then disappear, leaving you to cope with problems on your own. This is probably the greatest advantage to buying your dog from a responsible breeder. You not only get a healthy, well-adjusted companion, you also get a lifetime of information, advice, and assistance from an expert who cares deeply about you and the animal he has sold to you. As in #5, if "all sales are final", beware! We at Madden's Shilohs Kennel, Steve and I want to hear from you monthly. We look forward to pictures and updates. Puppy kindergarten and obedience school graduations and all the other accomplishments, from birthdays to muddy paw prints. Many of the words on this page came from Linda Hazen Lewin, so I have to say I did switch a few around to meet our needs. Linda Hazen Lewin is an active member of the Dalmatian Club of America and American Kennel Club Judge #5404. She lives in Falls Church, Virginia.