- realizes that there are no perfect dogs and is honest about the positive and negative traits of his dogs
- breeds with the health and well being of his dogs in mind as well as the well being of the breed’s genetic pool. Avoid a breeder who repeatedly breeds their dog on every heat, or over uses their stud dog
- performs relevant health tests/screens on their breeding animals and makes the results known
- seeks to find opportunities to test and evaluate their dogs’ working character
- is familiar with the lines they are working with and the traits within those lines
- is invested in the pups they produce and offers ongoing help and support to their buyers
- places their pups with consideration to more than just sex, color or markings. Beware of a breeder that will make placements at a very early age as the character of a pup can take up to 6 weeks or more to unfold
- asks questions of potential buyers to determine the best match between pup and person
- does not let pups leave before the age of 8 weeks to ensure a good foundation of care and training
- makes socialization of pups a priority. This is especially important for English Shepherds
- will often also be involved in their breed’s associations and rescue groups
ENGLISH SHEPHERDS & other sundry things