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How to find a safe breeder. 

If you're thinking of purchasing a â€‹Portuguese Water Dog, it is very important that you purchase from an ethical breeder. It benefits both you and the dog. You are more likely to bring home a healthy puppy with a predictable temperament and you are also supporting breeders who prioritize the welfare of their dogs over making a profit. 

What to Look for 

These are the signs of an ethical breeder 

  • They provide heath test of their breeding dogs. These test are also breed specific and target health risk for that breed

  • They are breeders trying to improve the breed not just make money off of the puppies 

  • The puppies are raised inside the home 

  • The puppies are with their mom for a minimum of 8 weeks 

  • They let you meet the mother of the puppies 

  • They ask you questions about your life style to see if the breed matches you 

  • Provides a written contract that includes health guarantee and a clause that states they will take the dog back at any point in its life if you can not take care of the dog 

  • They limit the number of litters they have to offer. Meaning they do not always have a litter available 

Red flags in Breeders 

  • Always has puppies available 

  • Will not let you visit where the puppies were raised 

  • Will not provide health documentations 

  • Pressures you to pay without meeting you  

Questions to ask 

  • How are the puppies socialized

  • What is the temperament of the parents 

  • Can you provide references from previous puppy buyers 

  • Why did you choose to breed this pair 

  • What vaccines and deworming will the puppies receive before going home 

  • How do you match puppies with their new families 

  • What challenges should I be expecting with this breed 

*Keep in mind if the breeder does not want to answer these questions, you should start looking for another breeder*

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