How To Find A Responsible Breeder
A Guide To Finding Your Puppy
Kamontry Her Grace
This page was written by Bronwen Gordon and I'd like to thank her for sharing this with me. Bronwen has committed and dedicated herself to provide education to the general public about our beloved breed.
♥️
Since the onset of the Covid pandemic, the demand for puppies has risen to an unprecedented level. At present there are just not enough puppies to fulfil this demand, resulting in a severe shortage across all breeds.
Many purebred dog breeders have had to make the difficult decision this year to forego their breeding plans with its many challenges and uncertainties, the welfare and wellness of their dogs has become paramount, and the risks have proven far too great.
This national shortage has driven people into the arms of unscrupulous breeders- those seeking to make a quick dollar, rather than concentrating on the health of the puppies they are breeding. Please don’t be fooled as these people are not interested in your needs- only their own, and it doesn’t always make for healthy, well-adjusted puppies. In some cases there is no puppy- just scams for your money and lots of heartache, so we reach out to you with some guidance. We recommend that you source a ‘Registered Breeder’ in your state who is governed by Rules and Regulations and who abides by those rules of the governing body in your state.
WHAT IS AN ANKC REGISTERED BREEDER?
To become a registered breeder within each state requires members to become registered with each state’s controlling body, eg. Dogs Queensland, Dogs NSW etc. All these state bodies are under the umbrella of the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC). Each member has to pay an annual fee, sit for exams on animal husbandry and animal care and apply for a prefix- which is the kennel name that the breeder registers all the puppies bred in their kennels with, and is a unique identifier of that particular breeder.
It takes commitment and dedication to want to do the best you can for the breed that becomes your passion, and all members of a recognized canine body who are affiliated with the ANKC have strict guidelines to the breeding, raising and selling of puppies, and a code of ethics on health requirements and regulating where and how puppies are raised and cared for.
In Queensland for example, those breeders registered with the State member body- Dogs Queensland, can also be found listed on the (ANKC) web site.
A Queensland breeder who is registered with Dogs Queensland will be issued with a ten digit number beginning with either 400 or 4100.This is also called a ‘Supply Number’. Any puppy bred by that breeder will also be given a ten digit number which is specific to that puppy alone and it retains that same registration number for life. That first four digits may be different depending on which state the breeder comes from.
TYPES OF REGISTRATION
A dog that is registered with Dogs Queensland for example, will be issued with a Certificate of Registration and Pedigree. Details on this will include the name of the dog, the registration number, its breed, sex, date of birth, colour and microchip number. It will also list the country of origin, a three generation pedigree, the name of the breeder and registered owner. So it is in effect a birth certificate for your dog.
The Australian National Kennel Council is the only internationally recognized registry in Australia able to issue certified pedigrees for purebred dogs, and these are the only pedigrees recognized by state government and local councils.
WHAT IS A BIN NUMBER?
Confusion arises when people assume that those breeders who have a BIN number (a breeder identification number), are also registered breeders with the ANKC. This is not correct.
Anyone who breeds a litter of puppies who is not an ANKC registered breeder is required by the Department of Agriculture to have a BIN number. This number is also called a ‘Supply Number’. Different states have different names for this number. Only members of an ANKC affiliated body, eg. Dogs Queensland are able to register their puppies with the ANKC
If you are in doubt, please contact the official canine body in your state, or go to the ANKC website where you are able to run a check to see whether the breeder you are considering buying from is actually a registered ANKC breeder.
COUNCIL REGISTRATION
Council registration also causes confusion and unscrupulous breeders may claim that they are registered breeders when in fact they are only registered with the local council.
When a dog is registered with the local council they will be issued with a six digit number- eg. 756894/2020 followed by the year that the dog was registered. This number has nothing to do with a breeder or the ANKC, it is simply the council’s way of identifying each dog on their registry.
Over time other councils have been formed that are not affiliated with the ANKC, and their requirements of membership may not be as comprehensive as those of the ANKC. These councils also cannot issue certified pedigrees, so please do your homework first before committing to anyone (including me).
CONCLUSION
In these times of national shortage and high demands, you need to be patient if you want a quality puppy from a responsible breeder. There may be a long wait, but in the end it will pay dividends if you gain a companion who lives well into old age.
Please don’t hesitate to contact the breed club in your state as they are here to help you, guide you and share with you the love for our remarkable breed.
Remember- a dog is never “just a pet. It is a breeder’s legacy, a little boy’s best friend, an elderly person’s therapy, a member of the family, someone’s whole world” (Eduardo Loredo Muller)
(The content of this article has been sourced from Dogs Queensland, The ANKC, The American Kennel Club, Brisbane City Council, The Department of Agriculture, Trish Fernleigh, Lyndy Morris, breeders within the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Qld)
Thanks must also go to Linda Miller and Natasha Allen who agreed to read this and provide feedback from the perspective of being potential puppy buyers.
Further reading
