Where do the parent dogs live?

If possible, visit the breeding facility in-person to see where the parent dogs sleep, eat, hang out, and play. If that’s not possible, ask for a virtual tour (ex. via FaceTime). Many breeders transfer their dogs to a different location (a “whelping box”) while they’re giving birth and nursing puppies, so it’s important to also see where they live while they’re not pregnant or nursing puppies. Do they live inside the breeder’s home as a family pet? Or do they live in a pen/crate in a separate building? Would it upset you if your own dog lived in the same environment?

How many litters has the mother dog had?

There is currently no legal limit in Nova Scotia (or Canada) on how many litters a breeding dog can be forced to have in their lifetime. In the UK, however, the required limit is 4 litters. Ask the breeder to send you a litter history* for the parent dogs signed by their veterinarian. Breeders who treat their dogs ethically will be comfortable sharing the frequency and total number litters their dogs have had.

*A litter history is a document showing the dates of each litter for a particular dog.

How does the breeding actually occur?

Does the breeder use artificial insemination to impregnate the female? If not, how does the breeding occur? Is the mother dog restrained during mating (ex. a “rape rack”)? What environment does the breeding occur in?

How thorough is the prospective puppy buyer screening process?

Ethical breeders care about the well-being of their puppies and do their best to ensure that they end up in safe, loving homes capable of providing them with the care and resources they need. Before purchasing a puppy, are you required to fill out a detailed application form and provide references? Does the breeder seem genuinely concerned about their puppies ending up in a good home?

What happens to the parent dogs when they are removed from the breeding program?

When they’re no longer able to breed, are the parent dogs kept by the breeder as family pets? Are they euthanized? Are they rehomed? Are the parent dogs spayed/neutered before being rehomed as recommended by The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations?

Some breeders will give away retired dogs for free. This may seem like a kind gesture, but giving away a dog “free to a good home” actually puts the animal at risk. If you want to sell a dog in Nova Scotia, you must have a veterinarian assess the dog and provide a veterinarian’s certificate of health. If you give it away for free, you don’t need this. If a breeder (whose business is selling dogs for money) is giving away their retired dogs for free, they may be trying to avoid having a veterinarian assess their parent dogs.

How many breeding dogs does the breeder have?

If they have a large number of dogs, do they have adequate staff to care for them all? Are the dogs receiving an adequate amount of love, attention, human interaction, and play time?

Does the breeder perform genetic testing?

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association requires breeders to perform genetic testing in a dog whose breed carries inherited diseases. For example, hip dysplasia is one of the most common inherited diseases in large-breed dogs (ex. Labrador Retrievers).

Is the breeder educated about the common inherited diseases that may impact their breed? Do they perform genetic testing on their parent dogs before breeding them? Do they provide purchasers with genetic test results for both the puppy and its parents?