Vizslas Unlimited

One central location for all things Vizsla

Questions for Your Breeder

Below are some questions your breeder should be able to answer for you.

Q. What are this breed’s best and worst qualities?

A. Good breeders are knowledgeable about the breed and their breeding stock. No breed is ideal for every family, and a good breeder would want you to know about the breed’s intelligence, trainability, and exercise needs.

Q. How is the temperament of the sire and the dam?

A. Shy and aggressive dogs are not typical, and should not be considered as part of a breeding program. The personality of a female in whelp may not be her norm. Meeting the mother before she is bred would be ideal, as would knowing the sire of the litter if he lives locally.  

Q. What were you striving for as part of your breeding program?

A. A concerned breeder will strive for a dog that has a good temperament, representative of the breed and healthy. Vizslas are a sporting breed, and the hunting abilities play a large part in the temperament, trainability, health, and looks of the breed.  

Q. Are you affiliated with regional or national Vizsla clubs or any all-breed clubs?

A. Club membership is not a guarantee of a reputable breeder, but most breed clubs have a code of ethics that their members agree to follow.  Most reputable breeders know each other through their network of clubs and club events.

Q. Do you compete with your dogs?

A. Breeders who compete with their dogs will be proud to show you what awards they have won. Championship titles are evidence that the breeder is knowledgeable with the characteristics that produce winning field or show dogs. You as a consumer need to make sure that the breeder is concerned also with the temperament and health and trainability of the breed. 

Q. How do you plan your litters & raise the pups?

A. Bitches should not be bred before they are OFA certified at two years of age or after they are 8 years old. Healthy females can be bred two seasons in a row if given the third one off to rest. Male dogs may be used for stud after they are OFA certified at two years of age and up to 10 years old. Most breeders certify that the dog is worthy of being bred by titling the dog in at least one area of competition before they are bred. 

Q. What is the registered name of the sire and the dam?

A. Dogs that have been titled or bred will appear on a comprehensive pedigree website that John Parliament maintains. The Website is located at www.vizsla-k9info.com  This is a valuable resource, it has information about lineage, and has OFA data. OFA certified dogs that have not been titled or bred appear on the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals website at www.offa.org.

Q. Will they be handled daily by the breeder?

A. Puppies need to be handled everyday and exposed to a variety of sights sounds and smells. They should also be given access to a separate bathroom area apart from their sleeping quarters.

Q. What are the breed’s health issues? Do you screen your breeding stock for those illnesses? Are the Sire & Dam OFA Certified? How many generations are OFA Certified?

A. A well- informed breeder will know about the health issues of the breed, check to see if their stock is free from the illnesses, and will provide evidence that the stock has been registered with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). The OFA has been registering dogs since 1966 to help lower the incidence of orthopedic and genetic diseases, most breeders use sires and dams with at least 3 generations of OFA certified ancestors.


Q. What do the OFA numbers mean?

A. When an x-ray is submitted to OFA, they assign a number to the dog that provides all of the information needed to those who understand the numbering scheme.

Example: The fictional vizslas named CH Good Girl MH received an OFA number of VZ-12345F24F-NOPI and FC Good Boy SH received a number of VZ-34567E26M-PI.

What can we tell from these?
1. VZ=Vizsla (all breeds have their own two initials)

2. The first set of numbers are the dogs individual OFA ID

3. Good Girl has Fair hips and Good Boy has Excellent hips
(A "G" would signify Good hips)

4. Good Girl was 24 months old and Good Boy was 26 months  old when their x-rays were taken

5. Good Girl is a Female and Good Boy is a Male

6. Good Girl has no permanent identification, and Good Boy in permanently identified with either a microchip or a tattoo.

A similar scheme is used for the OFA rating of elbows. See the OFA website www.offa.org for more information.

Q. Do you offer a health/temperament guarantee with your puppies?

A reputable breeder will give some guarantee that the puppy will be free of certain health issues within a specific period of time. Many breeders do not guarantee temperaments because there are too many variables that will affect a puppy's personality once they go to their new homes.

Q. Are you willing to answer my questions after I take the dog home?

A. Most breeders are willing to help you for the life of your pet.

Q. Do you require a spay/neuter agreement on pets?

A. Dogs that are not going to be bred should be neutered. Cancer is common in all dogs, and removing the sex organs lowers the risk of many of the kinds of cancer. It also eliminates the possibility of unwanted litters. Some breeders insist that you spay/neuter your dog for their own safety. Others understand that dogs that are going to be used in competition must be left intact.

Q. Will you assist me if I cannot keep the dog?

A. Many breeders will assist buyers in finding a new home for their pet. Assistance can be referrals or taking the dog back themselves. This should be spelled out in your contract.

Q. When can I visit my new puppy?

A. Puppies are susceptible to illness and are inoculated against Parvo, Distemper, Measles Parainfluenza and Hepatitis before being sent home. Many breeders want the pups to be inoculated before exposing them to outsiders. Ask you breeder for pictures and be understanding if they wont allow you to see the pups long before you can take them home.  Each breeder makes this decision based on their their own situation.

Q. What paperwork will I receive with my puppy?

A. You should receive pedigree information, and health and vaccination records. Your breeder should provide you with a ownership certificate allowing you to register your puppy with the AKC.  Most reputable breeders also include an extensive packet that includes information on food, health issues, training, and where to find reliable information. Ask your breeder how many pages and what training booklets are included in their puppy packet. Reputable breeders what you to have enough information to handle most puppy training situations.


Q. Do you sell to pet stores?

A. No reputable breeder will ever sell their puppies to a pet store, either directly, or through a broker. Breeders that sell to pet stores and brokers are puppy mills. Reputable breeders want to meet potential buyers in person and maintain contact throughout the life of the puppy.

Q. How many breeds do you sell?

A. A breeder who specializes in one or two breeds is preferable to one who sells several of the more popular dog breeds.  A breeder who sells "mixes" or "hybrids" or "designer dogs" is probably not breeding high-quality purebred dogs.

Q. Are there any Breeder Associations or other organizations I can use to verify claims made by the breeder or check the quality of dogs my breeder produced in the past?

A. Unfortunately, no. The only thing you can do is research the breed, get reliable information, and get to know the breeders. Great breeders can be found through just e-mail contact, and "bad" breeders can be found  through in-person meetings. Ultimately, the choice yours and must be one YOU are comfortable making. 

 

DISCLAIMER: Content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the Vizslas Unlimited, the VU Webmaster, listed breeders, or advertisers.  Any other articles, advice or suggestions contained herein are not intended to replace the advice or suggestions from qualified medical or behavioral professionals.