choosing a breeder

Finding the right breeder is an important step and shouldn't be a spontaneous decision. Giant breed puppies' future health can depend largely on how they were cared for by their breeder during the crucial period when the brain, eyes, ears and bones are developing. We've assembled some tips and questions you can ask breeders to help in making an informed decision when then time comes to choose your new puppy.

Please do your research before purchasing a puppy. Read our checklist on Choosing the Right Puppy for more questions you should ask when interviewing breeders and selecting your new puppy.

puppy care

nutrition and feeding

giant breed growth

great dane/mastiff health

training large breed dogs

behavior & training

responsible breeding

great dane & mastiff puppies online & in pet stores

Use caution when browsing for a puppy online. A professional website is not a guarantee that you're dealing with a reputable breeder. Some puppy mills may claim to have "family raised" puppies in order to sell them to unsuspecting buyers out of state, when in reality their breeding dogs may spend their entire lives in cages, producing litter after litter with no veterinary care, exercise, or loving attention. Since puppy mills are only concerned with the bottom line, they typically never test their breeding stock for genetic illnesses such as hip dysplasia, which can be easily prevented by breeding only healthy dogs. Puppy mills often broker their puppies to pet stores, so it's best to avoid purchasing a puppy from anywhere except directly from a reputable breeder. Visit the breeder in person so you can check out the living conditions of the puppy and the parents of the puppy.

what are akc papers?

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is an organization that registers and tracks the lineage, or family tree, of purebred dogs. When you purchase a dog with "akc papers," this means the dog can be registered with the AKC, and they can provide you with a pedigree, a document listing the parents, grandparents and great-grandparents of your puppy. Once your dog is registered, he/she will be able to compete in events if he/she is eligible, and has the opportunity to earn titles. When two AKC registered dogs are bred, the litter produced is eligible for registration.

AKC papers do not guarantee the health or quality of a puppy.

directory of great dane and mastiff breeders >

what is a reputable breeder?

A reputable breeder:

Cares more about raising a healthy litter of puppies than the amount of money that will have to be spent to do so.
Ensures both parents are free of cardiac disorders and hip dysplasia by having OFA good or excellent results, and will not breed dogs that have not been tested for common genetic disorders or have been tested with poor results.
Will not sell a puppy to someone unless they are sure the new owners will be able to properly care for the puppy. This typically involves some sort of application, interview or questionnaire puppy buyers must complete before obtaining a puppy.
A reputable breeder will be familiar with the breed standard, will be able to point out the faults in their dogs, and can explain why the chosen breeding is expected to improve upon those faults.
Treats all of their animals with kindness and respect, providing a loving and healthy environment.
A reputable breeder will allow you to spend time with the parents of the puppy to get a feel for their personality and temperament. The adults should be happy, healthy and well socialized, excited to meet new people and receive attention.
Will be happy to show you where the puppies are kept - it should be clean and large enough for the puppies to run and play.
Will be familiar with the personalities of each puppy in the litter, and will assist you in choosing a puppy that is a good match for your family and lifestyle.
A reputable breeder will have a good relationship with their vet, and should be able to provide you with vaccination & health check-up records for their dogs and the puppies.
Will spend time explaining in detail any potential genetic issues, as well as common environmental health concerns (such as bloat)
Feeds a super-premium food, or BARF (raw diet)
Will not let a puppy go to its new home until it is at least 7 weeks old, preferably 8-9 weeks old.
Will have puppies vet checked with their first vaccine complete before sending them to their new homes.
Will prefer that puppies with show potential go to homes that intend to show them.
Will never ask a premium price for a merle or mis-marked puppy, claiming it is "rare."
Can provide references
Offers assistance with training and other questions, and is willing to take back the puppy if you are unable to keep it.
Offers a written contract and guarantees the health of the puppy.
Is involved in rescue, confirmation, agility, obedience, therapy or is a member of a breed club.
A reputable breeder only breeds purebred registered dogs, and will have the AKC (or other) paperwork ready for you when you pick up your puppy.
Chooses only to breed dogs that are good examples of their breed both in temperament and confirmation. Typically this means there will be several champions listed on the puppy's pedigree.
A reputable breeder does not usually have more than one or two litters each year, so puppies will not always be available.
Will not breed a female dog more often than once a year, and will not breed a great dane or mastiff before age 2 or after about age 5-6.
Will require a spay/neuter contract on most of the puppies and may provide only a limited registration.
Will not ship a puppy as freight.
Will never sell a puppy to a pet store or recommend buying a puppy from a pet store.
Typically does not accept credit cards.

references

breeders tips on choosing a good breeder.

stop puppy mills puppy buying tips.

how to find a good breeder guide to interviewing breeders

finding a good breeder guide to finding a good breeder

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