Avoiding Scams

One question we hear a lot is, "How do I know if this is a scam?"  Unfortunately, scams are everywhere, and it can be difficult to find a responsible and reputable breeder.  

 

Here are some things you should expect during a legitimate purchase process:

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• Home Visits

  • Most breeders raise puppies in their homes.  As much as we want to show off our beautiful babies, it's hard to feel safe letting strangers into your home and around your children.  In addition, puppies are very susceptible to a number of illnesses, some that could even be deadly.  Allowing large numbers of people into your home only increases the chance that your puppies will get sick.  So don't be alarmed if a breeder doesn't allow home visits.  Some of the best breeders have this policy.  It means they are truly concerned about keeping your future puppy safe and healthy.

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• Virtual Visits

  • That being said, it's completely acceptable to ask for a live, virtual visit.  The breeder will probably even offer one.  This will allow you to see all the puppies and get a feel for their personalities.  Most families pick their puppies this way and you can feel confident doing so if you've done your research and picked a quality breeder.

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• Cost

  • The old saying is true: you get what you pay for.  A great breeder won't have the cheapest puppies.  And a breeder with the cheapest puppies probably isn't a great breeder.  In fact, most of the cheapest puppies are from puppy mills or backyard breeders who aren't concerned about producing quality dogs.  Simply put, they're in it for the money.  When you buy a puppy, you're buying a member of your family.  They're going to be with you for a long time!  Not only do you want a puppy whose parents are health tested, but you want to support breeders who have high standards of care for their adult dogs and puppies.

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• Payment

  • You can expect most breeders to require a non-refundable deposit, usually no more than $500.  This deposit holds your place in line for a puppy.  If something comes up and you can't take a puppy when it's your turn, you can usually get in line for a future litter.  But responsible breeders like to know they have homes lined up for puppies before they breed.  We don't want to bring puppies into the world if no one wants them.  We want to make sure every puppy will have a loving home.

  • The rest of the cost is usually paid in cash at pick up.  Yes, even breeders get scammed.  Cash is the safest form of payment.  Let the breeder know if you would like a receipt and they should be happy to provide one.

 

How to find a good breeder:

• The first thing to do is to search online for reviews on the breeder. 

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• Look on their website to see if they do health testing on their adult dogs.

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• If it appears the breeder produces a lot of puppies every year, check their website to see if they utilize Guardian Homes.  If so, their adult dogs are living in loving homes, NOT in cages.  

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• You'll also want to make sure they are providing some form of Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) for their puppies.  At Duneland Doodles, we follow the Puppy Culture program, but there are several others available.

 

If this information isn't apparent on a breeder's website, call and ask the breeder for it.  

 

You should even feel comfortable asking for references, if desired.