After you have decided that you want a purebred cat, dog, or especially an exotic new pet, you should find a reputable breeder. Using a breeder over a pet store has many great advantages. You can have a little background history on the animal you are purchasing. If you are getting an exotic animal you can be assured that their care before they arrived and that of their parents was indeed good, making them more likely to be healthy. Additionally purchasing animals from reputable breeders aids in the control of the pet population by making it more difficult for animal factories to make money mass producing animals.
Pet Placement
The first thing in that you will notice when you contact a breeder that is reputable is that they will have certain procedures in placing their animals. They should usually have owners before having new babies, with few cases of accidental offspring. This is often done through holds on litters or hatchings (if we are talking about reptiles or birds). This can be done with or without a deposit, on a first come first served bases, and even starting with friends and relatives. Whichever method the breeder chooses, it should be that they have homes before they have new babies. This is to keep a tight control on the pet population. Their goal should not be to produce and sell as many pets as possible, but rather to good homes for the pets that they produce.
Owner Assessments
The good homes part should be a huge issue. There should be an owner assessment. Whether you have an interview or an application there should be some questions as to why you want this pet. Many breeders will even ask what type of food you plan on feeding it, what, where, and how you will be housing it, and some will even require proof of housing. This is often true with exotic pets that have special needs, or breeders concerned about their puppies having adequate room for exercise. Whatever the breeders method is, they should walk away feeling like you will make a good appropriate home for the pet that you seek. If the breeder doesn't do any of these things then they are most likely only concerned with whether or not you will buy the animal. This process is important to you because it means that the animal you will gain is one that the breeder cares about. It will have been taken care of and bred for looks as well as temperament.
Breeder Assessments
While it is completely appropriate for the new owner to be assessed, it is also appropriate for you to ask questions of the breeder. You can ask about care, housing, and breeding purposes.
You can feel free to talk with the breeder about why he or she breeds this animal. They should be open, honest, and friendly. You can also ask about the history of the animal and about whether or not they are well socialized and will fit in with your family and your other pets (if you have other pets). You can ask to see their facilities and to meet the parents of your new pet.
This isn't always an option, there are some cases where disease and illness are a concern and admitting strangers can be dangerous to the animals. However, most will let you meet them, or at least see pictures of the animals and their housing.
Caution
It is always best to be cautious when moving toward a transaction. First of all remember that a reputable breeder will have spent the time needed for socialization and will have made sure that each animal in his or her care is well taken care of. These should be important things for you and your new pet, now and in the future. If you feel that something might not be right, you should discontinue and try with another breeder at another time.
Finding your new pet shouldn't be about how quickly you want it, unless you are thinking of rescuing a pet that has already been abandoned. If you are seeking a baby, then you should be willing to wait for it and to find that perfect new pet, at a good breeders house. It isn't always easy and is often a long wait, but it will be worth it.
