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Should I look at Classifieds?

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Buyers should usually beware of pets advertised in the classifieds. Reputable breeders usually have waiting lists for their pups and don’t need ads to get them into a home.

Here are some commonly used terms to watch out for:

"Puppies: full-blooded, no papers" –These "breeders" are so inexperienced that they don't know the correct terminology to refer to purebred, pedigreed, registered puppies. The breeding was probably an accident or was planned because the dogs would make pretty puppies or to give the kids the experience of seeing a birth, not because they would actually contribute anything to the health and stature of the breed.

"Full-blooded" – This probably means that the parents are of the same breed. However, it could be an attempt to characterize puppies of mixed parentage. For example, two cocker-poos do not produce a purebred litter. Even though the parents may be called a breed, they are not. It takes generations of careful breeding to produce a new breed.

“AKC–registered” refers to the American Kennel Club, a registry that depends on breeders to keep accurate records of the sire and dam of each litter and to forward that information to its North Carolina office whenever a litter is born. Thus AKC registration means that the dog is likely to be purebred, but it makes no guarantees as to the health or temperament of the dog.

"Pups OFA registered" or "Good hips" – Puppies cannot be registered with OFA (Orthopedic Foundation of America). The quality of their hips can be guesstimated based on the OFA certification of their parents, but this certification is given only upon examination of radiographs (x-rays) taken after the dog is two years old.

"Both parents on premises" – Although we always recommend that potential buyers see the mother and father of the litter, the presence of both parents is not a guarantee that the puppies were thoughtfully produced. The parents may have good temperaments and be genetically healthy specimens of their breed, or they may not.

"AKC champion background" – It depends on how far back the champions are and how many there are in the four generation pedigree. A champion great-great- grandmother means little to the value, health, or genetic fitness of that puppy.

"Needs room to run" – Securely fenced yard and obedience training is usually required.

"Friendly" – Could be code for overbearing, untrained, undisciplined, obnoxious and destructive.

"Protective" – This should say, "overprotective;" Otherwise it would say, "good watchdog."

"Free to a good home" – Possible Translation: "get him out of here before he drives me crazy."

Here are a few green flags that are sometime found in the classifieds.:

"Interested parties only need call" – These breeders don't want to talk to people who aren't serious about their breed and this particular litter. They are interested in placing their pups in families that already know the breed and its strengths and weaknesses.

"Parents OFA, eye-tested" – These breeders are serious about producing healthy puppies from healthy adults.

"Puppies home-raised" – These puppies have lived in the house, not in a kennel, and have had human contact from the time they were born.

"AKC champion parents" – These breeders are generally serious about producing healthy puppies.

"Health guaranteed" – These breeders stand behind their puppies. They do not guarantee that the puppy will never get sick, but they do offer replacement puppies if the one you buy is a victim of a genetic disorder.

Next Page: Should I adopt from a shelter?

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