Why go to a Preservation Breeder?
The term Preservation Breeder refers to those breeders who are working to preserve the breed standard and breed type.
These are reputable breeders who are doing all the health testing recommended by the breed club (and often more). These breeders are carefully choosing pairings after exhaustive reviews of pedigrees to look for complimentary dogs and avoid the risk of medical or temperament concerns that we don’t have tests for.
These breeders are breeding to produce puppies that will excel in the conformation ring AND performance rings AND be fabulous family pets.
All of this is what sets them apart from the BYB who produce puppies without any thought to long-term impact and no planning beyond easily accessible males and females.
Or from the mills with hundreds of dogs produced like livestock for money.
Or even from the mediocre breeders who might show occasionally and do some health testing but aren’t deterred by some poor health tests or aren’t concerned about poor temperaments or aren’t concerned about faults and poor structure.
What is the value of a preservation breeder?
The planning before your puppy exists
Preservation breeders are always on the look out for a great potential pairing. They are attending shows and liaising with other breeders to find potential prospects.
They then pour over pedigrees looking for any red flags such as risks of medical issues that can’t currently be tested for. They either have the knowledge themselves or work with those who do to comment on individual dogs - what their type and temperament was like, any medical concerns, what sort of litters they produced - this sort of generational knowledge is invaluable.
**quick shout out here to all the breeders who have shared their knowledge and time with me!**
The care while your puppy is developing
Preservation breeders are always learning and evolving their practices. They are paying attention to appropriate nutrition for the dam while she is growing your future pup. They are working closely with their veterinary team to ensure appropriate and safe deworming to keep your future pup safe. They are carefully avoiding any high risk situations where the dam could contract a virus that would also impact your future pup.
When your future pup arrives, they are there supporting the dam and helping if needed. They have their vet clinic on speed dial in case of an emergency. They are well-stocked with whelping supplies and have prepared a safe, comfortable area for the dam to whelp and nurture your new pup.
As the pups grow, they are intervening to feed as needed. They are weighing regularly and tracking growth to ensure all pups are thriving. They are adding enrichment like early neurological stimulation or early introduction to scents to help your pup develop and thrive.
They have created a safe and clean environment where your pup can begin learning house-training as early as a couple weeks old. They have invested in different toys and apparatus’ to enrich your pup’s mind and activate their muscles and growth.
They are creating safe socialization opportunities and exposing your future pup to different kinds of people, different noises, car rides, and other experiences that will help them adjust seamlessly to your home and grow into a wonderful dog.
They are also carting all the pups off to the vet as needed for microchips or vaccines or deworming. They may have already completed some advanced testing like BAER for hearing or CAER for eyesight - working with veterinary specialists to give you the most information possible about your new best friend.
They will be creating a package of information to send home with you, including everything from training and socialization to vaccines and nutrition. They will have registered your pup with a reputable kennel club and provide you with all of this information. (side note - I sometimes hear the Continental Kennel Club referred to as “CKC”. The only reputable CKC is the Canadian Kennel Club. The Continental Kennel Club would happily register my shoe if I provided them with the registration fee.)
They will have a contract that outlines your and their responsibilities and usually highlights that your pup will always have a safe space with them if they ever need to come back for any reason.
The support for the rest of your pup’s life
When you take your new pup home, your breeder will sit with you and go through a ton of information. It will be overwhelming, but that’s okl! They will just be a call or email away! You not only have a new best friend in your pup, you have lifetime support from their devoted breeder. You have someone who can give you advice, who can help introduce you to dog sports, who can guide you through challenging puppy teenage stages, and someone who will celebrate every win, every achievement, every victory as enthusiastically as you do.
Finding the right breeder is crucial. They are the one making and growing your future best friend. The right breeder might not have a pup ready for your preferred timeline, but the right breeder is absolutely worth the wait. Also, great breeders are happy to refer you to other great breeders - so finding one right breeder can lead to more and may find you the perfect pup at the perfect time!
