While many AKC dog breed clubs have a code of ethics and require their members, and especially their breeders, to sign it, not all of them do. The SDCA is one of the AKC clubs that does not require a code of ethics for their members. Anyone can be a member of the SDCA so a breeder's membership in the SDCA National Club or any AKC club does not equate with being an ethical breeder. It is always a case of Buyer Beware when buying a purebred, registered puppy from any breeder. It is up to the buyer to do the appropriate research when paying the large amounts of money currently being asked for puppies. Always contact more than one breeder.
Some of the following information comes from the Scottish Deerhound Club of America's web site on how to find the right breeder, however, I've added a few of my own thoughts in each area to point out things I consider important and what prospective puppy buyers should be very cautious about. These are my opinions and do not reflect the official position of any club.
Make sure you ask the breeders you call a lot of questions! You need to know what questions you should ask - I've provided some starting information below. And even more important, the breeder should be asking you a lot questions, not be primarily interesting in getting your money. Good breeders screen their puppy buyers carefully; they want to know where their puppies are going, what they will be used for and how their puppies are going to be cared for.
1. What genetic testing does the breeder do? Find out what they know about the health problems that are common in Scottish Deerhounds and even some that aren't quite as common but still occur. Read the health information on the SDCA web site (
www.deerhound.org
2. How familiar is he/she with the history and purpose of the Deerhound? Does the breeder attend National and Regional Specialties? Does he/she participate in showing, coursing, and/or obedience? Is the breeder active in the national and/or regional breed club? As I said above anyone can be a member of the National or Regional Deerhound clubs and that alone does not mean they are an ethical breeder, but does your breeder participate in events with other deerhound breeders, not only to work for the benefit of the breed but also to learn from long time breeders about the Deerhound. I consider this a critical part of my breeding plans. If it wasn't for the many friendships with a variety of breeders that have been raising deerhounds for 30 to 40 years I would not consider myself a serious breeder. I consider them my mentors and respect and value thier frequent advice. Even after 25 years in this breed and having dogs in our pedigrees all the major lines, I am still learning. A Deerhound breeder cannot breed healthy deerhounds with correct temperaments without being an active participant in the larger deerhound community. I also feel it's important to give back to the Deerhound breed by supporting and holding office in both Regional clubs (president, secretary, show chair, member, etc over the years) and the National club (member, previous National Specialty show chair, board member). I also support a number of health research projects being conducted to improve the quality of life for our dogs.
3. Does the breeder stand behind the puppies he/she places? Will he/she take a puppy back or help you place it if for any reason you are not able to keep it? Can you feel free to call with questions about feeding, grooming, or health concerns? Can he/she give you information about regional clubs and dog activities you might enjoy with your new puppy? Again make sure you ask the breeder for specifics about their guarantee and exactly what they are guaranteeing for. What about temperament? If your dog turns out aggressive around other dogs or people what does your breeder offer? What does your breeder know about temperament problems? Twenty years ago aggressive temperaments were very rare but occasionally a puppy would be shy. Now we not only have more shy temperaments but we are seeing more dog and people aggressive deerhounds. An honest breeder knows if there's a shy puppy in their litter and is truthful about the temperament. I've heard that a sharper temperament makes a better coursing dog. While I don't do much coursing, my dogs kill their share of rabbits and have won a few coursing events but are totally safe in groups of dogs and with people. A nasty temperament is not necessary for a good coursing dog.
4. Ask to meet the mother of the puppies and, if possible, the father. Ask for pictures and health information on both parents and grandparents. If possible try to meet the parents or at least other dogs from the breeder. If they've been breeding for awhile they may have sold dogs in your state and, if the owners are willing, can give them your name to arrange a meeting. An honest breeder provides the pedigree up front before paying for the puppy and honestly represents the puppies. Beware of inbred deerhounds. An inexperienced breeder may have some philosophical reasons but in my experience they breed what they have for convenience, whether they are related or not. Some new breeders inbreed and then take the offspring and inbreed it again with the parents. An experienced breeder may closely line breed but it's usually only with dogs who have proved their quality in the show ring and in previous litters of quality pups. They will be able to explain their breeding plan in detail and have personal knowledge of several generations of dogs in their pedigrees. Their plan is developed through years of showing and breeding experience. Beware of a breeder that tries to piggyback on the work of another breeder's hard work by claiming that breeders 20 to 30 years of breeding or work as proof of their own quality. A good breeder knows exactly what the dogs in the pedigree for 3 or 4 generations have done, have died from and their good and bad faults. A good breeder knows exactly why they did this specific breeding. Also beware of the breeder who breeds their females under 2 years - in my opinion they are breeding to make back their “investment” and have little regard for the health of the female. Beware the breeder who breeds a female deerhound multiple times. Most serious deerhound breeders only bred a female once unless she is of exceptional quality. They are not breeding for quantity or money but to improve the breed. Very few are of such outstanding quality they should be bred multiple times. Breeders who constantly breed litters are breeding for money only and not concerned about their dogs or where the many pups are going.
5. Are "companion quality" puppies sold with limited registration and spay/neuter agreements? Ask the breeder if they evaluate the puppies and to tell you why they are show or companion quality. Show and companion puppies should be priced differently. If all the puppies have one price the breeder probably has thrown together whatever parents she/he had in the yard to make money. We sell our pets for $1200 to $1500 depending on the quality. Our show puppies are $2000 to $2500. The higher priced puppies are the ones we would keep for ourselves to show. However, many of our pet quality pups have finished an AKC championship and we've finished many show champions that we've never bred. Depending on the home and the circumstances our pet quality pups are sold on limited registrations; however we are also very cautious about selling even show quality pups to people who are interested in breeding. We want our pups to be in loving homes first and a show dog second. And a good breeder is very careful to avoid placing one of their pups in a deerhound puppy mill situation.
6. Are the puppies well-socialized in a pleasant, home environment? Can the breeder supply you with names of other owners for references? We raise our pups in the house and even when it's time to start going outside they are still raised in the house as part of the family. By the time they leave they are partially house trained and have learned some house manners. However, even a kennel raised puppy can be social if exposed to a lot of people and activity and enjoys “in-home” time. Beware of the breeder who treats their dogs as livestock and raises them in pens or paddocks away from the house and with limited human contact. Those puppies will take a lot of work to socialize and if this husbandry situation is combined with poor breeding practices, such as shy or inbred parents, this could result in a deerhound temperament that is not typical of the breed. An ethical or good breeder welcomes visitors to check out their dogs and living environment anytime. While I would prefer a little time to clean house, we even encourage prospective buyers to request a visit on short notice. I understand completely the need for someone to ensure their new puppy was raised under the best conditions possible.
As a breeder of Scottish Deerhounds:
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I only breed for the purpose of improving the quality of the breed. I do not engage in cross-breeding (dogs of different breeds). I conscientiously plan each litter of deerhound puppies, selecting a stud dog and bitch to be mated based on their pedigrees, conformation and temperament.
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I research inherited health problems in deerhounds and do appropriate health clearances on all breeding animals. Copies of these health clearances are available to buyers of puppies.
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I only breed dogs and bitches that are in good health and of such maturity (not immature, yet not past their prime) to demonstrate a degree of freedom from genetic defects
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I provide information on the characteristics and properties of the breed to interested individuals.
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I test for health defects such as liver shunt and Factor VII clotting disorder plus do echocardiograms of my adult dogs. I support osteosarcomoa research, and other projects where possible. I attend health seminars whenever possible to make more intelligence decisions in breeding and raising puppies.
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I am a resource for buyers of my puppies that I have sold for the life of the dog. I accept the responsibility and commitment necessary for the welfare of every dog I ask my puppy buyers to keep me informed of the dog's health and other situations throughout the dog's life.
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I maintain accurate pedigrees and breed only those animals that display the characteristics set in the breed standard. I am an approved mentor within the SDCA and attend health and breed seminars at least once a year on deerhounds. I have conducted breed seminars for prospective judges.
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I clearly and fully document all transactions and agreements involved in the breeding of my Deerhounds
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I maintain a safe, clean and sanitary home and facility for all stud dogs, bitches, and puppies.
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I only sell Deerhounds to private individuals who display their ability to care for and maintain the dog throughout its life.
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I do not separate the puppy from its litter or transfer ownership until the puppy is at least nine or ten weeks old, vaccinated, and demonstrates he/she is developmentally ready and healthy. Most of our puppies do not leave until they are over 12 weeks old due to vaccination schedules.
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I inform new owners about positive identification procedures such as the tattoo and microchip and other sources of deerhound information such as the Scottish Deerhound Club of America.
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I fully disclose known information pertaining to the dog's history which includes health information on relatives in the pedigree.
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I only offer for sale puppies from parents registered with the American Kennel Club.
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I show discrimination in the sale of my puppies and am concerned with the type of homes in which they are placed. I make buyers aware of their responsibilities as dog owners. I do not sell or donate dogs to commercial dog wholesalers, dealers, brokers, retailers, pet shops or any other person or organization, for resale or "give-away" to the public. I do not supply dogs or puppies for charity raffles or auctions. I do not supply puppies or dogs to be trained or used for dog fighting. I am not a broker, dealer, puppy mill or wholesaler. I do not offer puppies for sale that I have acquired from others. I do not sell puppies to pet shops or other retailers.
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I am a member of the Scottish Deerhound Club of America (SDCA), the Golden State Deerhound Club (GSDC) and the Midwest Deerhound Club. I have served on the GSDC board in one office or another for almost 18 years and was Show Chairman for a National Specialty plus I am currently on the SDCA board.
The information I provide to the buyer is in a booklet I prepare specifically for each puppy and includes:
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A written agreement/contract transferring ownership of the dog to the buyer inclusive of a clause for the return of the dog to the breeder or placement of the dog with breeder approval should the buyer be unable for any reason to keep the dog.
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AKC registration forms.
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A spay/neuter agreement for Deerhounds sold as companions along with limited registration.
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A minimum of a three generation pedigree.
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A complete medical history.
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Written instructions for the proper care, feeding, grooming, exercise, and general treatment of the dog.
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A request for the buyer to periodically follow up on the dog's development.
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The time frame during which the puppy or dog may be examined by a licensed veterinarian, at the buyer's expense, and, upon written recommendation of the veterinarian for specific reasons, the puppy or dog may be returned to the seller for a full refund of all money paid.