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Backyard breeders are easy to spot.

“Reputable" breeders with overcrowded facilities and understaffed kennels?

Not so much…

Here's what I wish I'd known before putting down a deposit.

Weekly Bite

If you followed my guide on How To Avoid Backyard Breeders, then you’ve found a breeder with:

✅ Minimum breed-specific health testing

✅ IGP titled parents

✅ 4-generation pedigree

Which means you’re good to go, right?

Unfortunately not…

Health tests, titles, and pedigrees don’t tell you about their living standards.

• Are the dogs stacked in wire cages with grated floors?

• Are the dogs left in outdoor runs without proper shelter?

• Is there only 1 person for every 15 dogs?

So you're left guessing whether that "reputable" breeder with perfect paperwork is running a clean, humane operation… or cutting corners behind closed doors.

But don’t worry. I got you.

I spent months digging through AKC¹ & FCI²³ standards to build you a facility inspection checklist.

Fair warning, it's intense.

Care Standards

1. Can all dogs be identified using a proper identification system (e.g. microchip)?

2. Are all dogs provided access to fresh and uncontaminated water as appropriate?

3. Are all dogs fed a fresh, uncontaminated, and nutritionally complete diet suited to their individual needs at appropriate intervals to maintain a healthy condition?

4. Are all dogs provided access to elimination areas as appropriate?

5. Are all dogs provided with the opportunity for daily positive human contact and socialization?

6. Are all dogs assessed daily for overall health and behavior, with any deviation in condition addressed expeditiously and appropriately?

7. Are all dogs provided regular grooming to ensure health and comfort?

8. Does the breeder have the facilities and resources to appropriately isolate and care for dogs with contagious diseases?

9. When euthanasia is necessary due to welfare reasons, is it always performed humanely by a licensed veterinarian?

10. Does the breeder have the capability to provide appropriate care in the event of an emergency or disaster, such as the ability to evacuate?

Facility Standards

1. Is there ≥1 competent full-time staff member per 10 dogs to carry out appropriate levels of care and conditions?

2. Is the facility large enough to house all the dogs without overcrowding?

3. Does the breeder have adequate facilities and resources for staff to maintain appropriate hygiene and sanitation standards when caring for dogs?

4. Is the facility clean and dry, free from debris, feces, pests, and standing water?

5. Are all dogs provided with a regular diurnal lighting cycle through natural daylight or appropriate artificial lighting?

6. Are all dogs provided sufficient ventilation to prevent dampness, eliminate noxious odors, and maintain healthy air quality?

7. Are all dogs provided protection from continuous or excessive noise exposure?

8. Are all dogs provided protection from adverse weather (e.g. sun, wind, rain, snow) and temperature/humidity extremes based on their individual needs?

9. Is the facility designed to avoid resource competition when dogs are housed together?

10. Are all dogs provided with private primary enclosures large enough for each dog to sit, stand, lie down, turn around comfortably, retreat, and move freely?

11. Are the floor surfaces in the primary enclosures solid, with appropriate bedding provided for comfort?

12. Are the primary enclosures not stacked on top of each other?

13. Do all dogs have access to enrichment area(s) and outlets that enable them to fulfill their mental and physical needs as appropriate?

14. Are the floor surfaces in the enrichment area(s) solid?

15. Are the primary enclosures and enrichment area(s) constructed with safe materials that can be sanitized, well maintained, and are designed to minimize risks of injury, illness, and escape?

Breeding Standards

1. Does the breeder  have adequate facilities and resources to successfully whelp, raise and assure the future well being of any resulting litter?

2. Are the whelping and nursing area(s) located in a quiet and non-stressful environment exclusive to dam(s), foster dam(s), and puppies?

3. Are the whelping and nursing area(s) large enough for each dam to sit, stand, lie down, turn around comfortably, retreat, nurse at full stretch, and move freely around puppies without harming them?

4. Are the whelping and nursing area(s) constructed with safe materials that can be sanitized, well maintained, and are designed to minimize risks of injury, illness, and escape?

5. Are the floor surfaces in the whelping and nursing area(s) solid, with soft and absorbent bedding provided for comfort?

6. Does the breeder provide the dam(s) the opportunity to rest away from puppies when needed?

7. Does the breeder's puppy socialization and habituation program include appropriate exposure to various novel environmental stimuli such as sensations, sounds, sights, surfaces, people, and animals?

8. Are all dogs retired from the breeding program either kept and cared for by the vendor or re-homed as appropriate?

If you're lucky, you'll only have to inspect 1 breeder’s facility.

But what if the breeder can't meet these basic standards?

Then you're back to square one.

Unless that breeder is on K9Scouter…

Every breeder must pass a live video facility inspection using these exact standards.

They must also provide proof of health testing, responsible breeding practices, and guarantees before you can match with them.

That way you can skip the legwork and focus on finding your dream dog.

TL;DR: Health tests and titles don't show whether breeders are responsible. Use this 33 question checklist to evaluate breeder facilities or skip the inspection entirely with K9Scouter's facility verification.

References (I had to review way more than just these, but it’s enough to give you a starting point)

1. AKC Care & Conditions Policy

2. FCI Responsible Breeding Guidelines

3. FCI Welfare Guidelines

Tail End

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Until next Thursday, ✌️

Sam