The fact that you are reading this indicates that you care about purchasing a sound, healthy, good-tempered puppy. The purchase of a dog is a lifetime commitment - your commitment for the life of the dog. The following information will help you determine whether you have found a responsible breeder from whom to purchase this newest member of your family.

Good breeders will ask you more questions than you ask them; in fact, if you feel as if you've just been grilled, it's a good thing. Good breeders want to know all about you in order to decide if one of their puppies would be a good choice for you. As well, good breeders will make sure you do your homework, provide you with resources to learn more about the breed and will be happy to spend time with you discussing the breed, its characteristics, health and temperament. Good breeders should be more than willing to spend time with you on the phone or in person explaining the breed, its qualities, good points and bad.

It's not bragging when breeders tell you about the pedigrees of their dogs. There are far too many dogs being bred today. A responsible breeder will make the decision to breed based on certain criteria. One criterion is the background of the dog as reflected in championship titles of record either in the show ring or on the field. A pedigree that contains five generations of Champion titles indicates a line of breeding that has sought to improve the breed.

A good breeder is going to talk to you about the health of the breed. This is another criterion used by good breeders to determine whether to breed a dog. Basset hounds are in general a healthy breed, but they are prone to some genetic diseases such as von Willebrands (a bleeding disorder), Thrombopathia, (a disorder of blood coagulation), glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye leading to blindness, disk rupture and other spinal problems. In addition, Addison's disease and epilepsy have been diagnosed in many bassets. An ethical breeder will tell you if any of these illnesses have occurred in their line. As well - and this is important - an ethical breeder will tell you what if any testing has been done on the dam and the sire to screen for these illnesses. Not testing is not necessarily a sign of a bad breeder but more and more breeders today screen their dogs in advance of breeding. These tests can include - von Willebrands blood test, gonioscopy ( eye test), thyroid test, and a test for Thrombopathia (though this test is rarely performed. Only one lab in the country performs it and the samples must be fresh; thus it is outside the scope of most breeders. However, if you mention this disease to your breeder and they don't know what you're talking about, then this is may be an indication that the breeder is not well informed about the possible health issues of the breed.)

Good breeders will keep records on their breeding program, will be able to discuss with you the philosophy of their program and provide you with a history of their line. Once in a while a so-called "blue" basset is put up for sale. "Blue" (which is really a kind of blue-gray) is not an accepted hound color for bassets and is not desirable. This color has been linked with hair loss and a poor, thin coat. Similarly, a blue-eyed basset is not considered desirable by the Basset Hound Club of America. The basset breed standard calls for brown eyes. While bassets with either of these "blue" traits may turn up in rescue and can make wonderful pets, they are not show-quality dogs and should not be sold as "rare" or "special." They are rare because they have undesirable characteristics for bassets. Do not be fooled into paying extra money for them.

Many breeders today will do temperament testing of their puppies. This is an excellent practice and helps a breeder determine what will be the best match for that puppy's personality and potential homes.

A good breeder is going to ask a reasonable price for their pups. What is a reasonable price? Well, consider the amount of time which goes into all aspects of breeding, including the work to get that 5 generation CH pedigree, the testing and screening done in advance of mating, the testing done once the litter is on the ground and the amount of time and effort committed to this process, do not be surprised to pay anywhere from $600 to $800 for a pet quality pup, more for a show dog. REMEMBER - you get what you pay for!

What should you look for when you go to visit your breeder? The dogs should appear well cared for. That is, they should be clean, their nails should be short, their coats bright, their ears clean. Their kennels should be clean. Do you see fresh water for them?  Ask to see the dam and sire if he is on premise. These dogs should look healthy and well-cared for. It is not uncommon for a basset to be protective of its puppies or of its territory. Don't be disappointed if the dam or sire does not greet you enthusiastically. However if the dogs seem unsocialized, cringe in fear on your approach, or if the puppies run from you, huddle together in a corner of their area etc., this should raise questions in your mind about the socialization of these dogs. 

Good breeders do not over breed a bitch. That is, they may only breed a bitch once every two or three years. Ask your breeder how often his bitches are bred. If the answer is - every time she goes in heat or once a year, then this would be considered over use.

Finally, good breeders will want to stay in contact with you. They will insist upon a written binding contract and many breeders today will stipulate that if you cannot keep the dog you are to return it to them no matter the age of the dog.

A good breeder is not going to let a puppy go home with you until it is old enough - this could be as soon as eight weeks or more commonly today 10 weeks or more. Anyone who is willing to sell you a dog less than eight weeks of age is NOT a reputable breeder. Good breeders care about their pups. If they are selling a pup to a pet home they will sell that pup on a mandatory spay/neuter contract with limited registration. This is not a criticism of the quality of the dog as a loving family pet but rather that this particular dog does not meet the rigorous standard for breeding. They will send you home with a diet sheet, a sample of the pup's dog food and a good puppy packet - what to expect in the coming days and weeks, how to housebreak your pup etc. A good breeder wants to help you, will be open to your questions and work with as you introduce and raise this new family member.

Some last pieces of advice:

• Take your time. The purchase of a puppy is not a spur of the moment decision. One of the reasons breed rescues exist is because of "buyer's remorse."
• Read about your breed, ask yourself the hard questions - is this the right breed for my family and our lifestyle? Is this the right time in our life to bring bring a dog into the family? Do I have the time to commit to this dog, now and for the next 12-14 years?  If your answers to any of these questions are "no" then that is fine - better to come to that conclusion now then to wait until after a pup is in your home. If your answer is "yes," then read on.

So how do you find a reputable breeder? This rescue will happily provide you with a list of local breeders who meet the qualities mentioned above. You can also contact the National Breed Club for a list of breeders in your area. Where you won't find a reputable breeder is in the newspaper, or at a pet store.

And finally, given everything written above why should you consider rescuing a dog rather than purchasing a puppy? Many people come to rescue because they do not want to live through the housebreaking, shoe chewing, and other puppy behaviors. Rescue dogs are already spayed/neutered and have been behaviorally assessed. But the main reason to rescue a dog is because it's a kind and compassionate act. These dogs are living beings who need loving and caring homes. By adopting a rescue dog or by purchasing a puppy from a reputable breeder you are contributing to the solution rather than the problem.  

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