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Find a Good Breeder:

Here's What You Need to Know

The Ibizan Hound is an unusual breed of dog in the United States, and breedings are not numerous. Initial contact of a breeder may be made through Breeder Referral at The Ibizan Hound Club of the United States, or by observing Ibizan Hounds at local dog shows, lure coursing, or other canine events and getting in touch with the breeders of the dogs you see. Do not assume that you are dealing with a reputable breeder! IHCUS does not insure a standard of quality or honest conduct. You are the only one who can determine if you are dealing with a trustworthy breeder.

A Word About IHCUS

National breed clubs are voluntary organizations. While The Ibizan Hound Club of the United States has a Code of Ethics (required by the AKC), there is no assurance that breeders on the breeder referral list meet this code of ethics. When you contact Breeder Referral at IHCUS and receive a list of breeder names, be aware that you are on your own. The breeder may or may not sell you a dog or puppy that is healthy and socialized.

With this information in mind, it is worth checking out the IHCUS website.

Checking Out That Breeder

Beware of a kennel offering more than a few puppies from a current litter, or more than one or two adult dogs for sale. A kennel which always has eight or nine dogs for sale is an indication of a business out of control: poor socialization, poor follow-up care, and other hidden problems may show up after the contract is signed.

As the potential purchaser, you can and should be in control of the initial process of interview and evaluation. Many people, anxious to own that puppy, ignore warning signs that they are getting less than the dog of their dreams because they are so eager to be an acceptable buyer to the breeder. Decide that this is going to be the best dog available to you. You are investing a considerable amount of money in getting the best lines, the best health, the best early socialization and training, and the best expert advice and assistance that will be available to you for the life of the dog.

Do not purchase from a breeder or a pet store with the thought that you are rescuing the dog (or the breeder). True rescues are available through genuine rescue organizations such as the Podenco Aid Foundation, and payment only covers shipping, medical care, and perhaps a donation to the nonprofit corporation. Purchasing from a breeder or pet store perpetuates more breeding. By "saving" one puppy you are insuring that more puppies will have to endure what the first little one did.

Does the Breeder Meet Your Standards?

It is well worth the time and trouble to visit the breeder's kennel. If you are purchasing from a distant breeder, then be sure to interview others who have purchased dogs from the same breeder, and ask them about the kennel conditions:

The breeder should be able to provide references of satisfied buyers. Be sure to follow up on them, and question the references about any difficulties or second thoughts they may have had. Ask about the quality of follow-up care.

The breeder should be able to explain the Breed Standard, and how his or her lines meet or deviate from them. The responsible breeder should be willing to educate the potential buyer about show vs. pet quality, and alert the buyer to faults in his or her line. The responsible breeder engages the dogs in sports appropriate to the breed: coursing, agility, obedience, tracking or hunting. Learn about the Titles obtainable in each sport, and inquire about the breeder's dogs' achievements.

Kennels should be clean, with fresh drinking water in clean containers. There should be indoor as well as outdoor facilities, comfortable beds, toys, and fresh chew items. Dirt runs are not ideal, as the soil may be infested with parasites, but if present should have a layer of chips or sawdust. Note the presence of flies and what is being done to control them. Fleas should not be present.

Dogs should be of good weight, clean, energetic, not aggressive or excessively timid. Look for condition of teeth, ears, eyes, and nails. Be alert for redness or discharge from the eyes.

Definitely ask to see and meet the older dogs on the property. Brood bitches past the age of safe whelping and older stud dogs should be either in pet homes where they are valued, or present as house pets. It is especially informative to take a look at these older dogs. Subtle clues such as condition of teeth, nails, and skin tell volumes about the commitment the breeder has made to the well-being of his or her dogs and your prospective puppy.

Find out how many litters are whelped each year. The demand for Ibizan Hounds is not high, so the responsible breeder is never breeding more than 2 litters in a year, if even that much. Get a sense of whether the breeder regards breeding as an income source. Profiting from breeding indicates that he or she is not breeding to help or improve the breed, and you would be wise to quit the interview right there.

Ask to see the dam and sire (if he is on the property). Look for general health, vigor, and temperament. Ask about the achievements of the sire and dam in canine sports.

Ask to see a history of the breeder's lines. See how many times the dogs and bitches were used in breeding. A bitch should not be bred at less than 2 years nor older than 8, nor should she produce more than 3 litters in her lifetime. She should not be bred more than 2 out of 3 consecutive seasons.

Responsible breeders should test for at least two of the following hereditary conditions: hips (OFA, not Penn), eyes (CERF), Axonal Dystrophy rate, thyroid (complete panel), and hearing (BAER testing). Because there is no organized data collection for hereditary defects in Ibizan Hounds, breeders will disagree on which tests are necessary, but there should be evidence that the breeder is consistently checking for hereditary problems. Ask to see the test results on both the sire and the dam. If these test results are not available to you, it is time to look elsewhere for your puppy.

If the litter is already present, note where it is kept, and what is being done to socialize it. Puppies should be house dogs until they are sent to their new homes. A puppy kept in a kennel or barn will not have had the appropriate social stimulation and interaction with people to be an optimal pet. At the appropriate developmental stages they should have been introduced to children and other people, other animals such as cats, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers, and riding in the car. Littermates should appear healthy and vigorous.

See the contract/guarantee before leaving a deposit or purchasing a puppy. Read the contract thoroughly. Sad to say, the disreputable breeder can (and will) try to insert clauses to which you never agreed. The contract should specify details of the sale, including a health guarantee and the breeder's lifetime commitment. The kind of health guarantee will change from breeder to breeder, but it should be in the written contract in some form. The breeder should be able and willing to take the puppy or dog back at any point in its life if you are unable to keep it. Do not accept verbal assurances in place of a written contract on these points. Puppies should be a minimum of 8 weeks old, with appropriate vaccinations and worming, and fulfillment of the contract should be conditional upon the examination of the puppy by your veterinarian within a specified time period. If the puppy is pet rather than show quality, spaying or neutering should be a part of the contract. AKC registration should be clearly specified. Read the contract thoroughly.

Ask about the history of returns. Nearly all reputable breeders, sooner or later, must deal with this inevitable heartache. Does the returned dog rehome successfully, remain a house pet, or is he euthanized? Does the breeder complain about expenses incurred? Look for warning signs that the breeder is breeding for profit, rather than caring for the lives brought into the world.

The responsible breeder will provide a packet of information regarding training, diet, and general care, with several resources for you to check out. Ask to see this before signing the contract.

Here is the most important question of all to ask yourself: Do I like this person? Is this breeder someone I want in my life for the lifetime of my dog? Because that is exactly what is going to happen. Rely on your instincts about this person, and follow them.

Be prepared to be inspected as closely as you just inspected the breeder. The more questions asked, and the more references required, often indicate the degree of dedication of the breeder to his or her dogs, and how much follow-up assistance you can expect.

It may take time, patience, and quite a few long-distance phone calls until you feel you have the right breeder lined up, but it is worth every moment and every penny to get that special dog. The results will be worth it.

See more about the author of this Web site and her dogs, e-mail a comment on this site.

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