LOOKING FOR A PORTUGUESE WATER DOG PUPPY?
BUYER BEWARE CHECKLIST
| REPUTABLE BREEDERS | BUYER BEWARE |
|---|---|
| 1. Interview/meet the family and match the puppy to the best home for all involved. Be prepared to wait for a puppy. | First come first serve wait list, does not evaluate puppy or family to best match them. |
| 2. Refer to the breed as Portuguese Water Dog or PWD. | The word “Portie” is used to refer to the breed. |
| 3. Dedicated to breeding PWDs with puppy prices in line with the going rate. | Produce several different pure bred dog litters and/or mixed “designer” dogs. Pricing too high or too good to be true. |
| 4. Only has a limited number of litters per year and the Sire is usually off property. | Produces many litters a year, often between the same group of parents they own. |
| 5. Title their dogs in performance and/or show events and are affiliated with Regional and National PWD Clubs. | Parents don’t compete and are just used to breed. No Club affiliations |
| 6. Provide PWDCA health test documents on parents and does vet wellness and eye exams on puppies before they go home. | Does not health test parents or testing is incomplete. Limited or no wellness exams or eye exams on puppies. No documents. |
| 7. Provide multi-generation Pedigrees with Registered AKC names and titles along with a call name. | Dogs on pedigree have no titles, pedigree doesn’t exist and parents are referred to by only call names like “Fido” & “Snowflake”. |
| 8. Expect the family to pick up and transport their puppy home. | Offers to fly the puppy solo to the destination. This isn’t an Online order!!! |
| 9. Contractually require the dog be returned if family can’t keep it. | Does not agree to take the puppy back. |
| 10. Raise the puppies in their home, socializing and preparing them for family life. Provide support for the lifetime of the dog, based on each family’s need. | Puppy receives little socialization and is not well prepared for homelife. Offers limited or no support after puppy is purchased. HAVING AKC PAPERS DOES NOT MEAN WELL BRED! |
For more details please follow the link to view the PWDCA Puppy Buying Cheat Sheet.
For a printable version of this chart, click here