Getting a well bred Bernese Mountain Dog from a reputable breeder affects the kind of experiences you will have with your dog throughout its lifetime. Conscientious breeders take great care to select breeding pairs that will have the greatest chance of producing dogs with good temperament, structure, health and character.

BREEDER FOCUS

In this country and abroad there are breeders who are using dogs primarily as a way to turn a profit. A breeder, whose focus is profit, can cut corners in; caring for their own dogs, providing socialization for dogs and puppies, and often fail to conduct necessary genetic testing on breeding dogs to minimize producing pups with debilitating inherited traits. While dogs to minimize producing pups with debilitating inherited traits. While monetary concerns are a part of any well run breeding program, the conscientious breeder is most concerned with the dogs and their welfare.

AVOID RESELLERS

Currently there are DOG BROKERS importing dogs from poorer countries, particularly from Eastern Europe and Russia. Buying through a reseller makes it difficult or impossible for you to learn about the focus of the pup's breeder or the kinds of conditions under which puppies have been raised. Don't believe everything you are told by a DOG BROKER, who might tell you anything you wanted to hear to sell you a pup. The living conditions and health, soundness and temperament of the parents of your pup can have a significant effect on the well being of your dog throughout its entire life. Avoid buying your family's companion dog from a DOG BROKER. No reputable breeder, either in this country or abroad, would ever sell a well planned, well loved and taken care of pup into such an uncertain future.

CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

Championship titles in the backgrounds of parents can mean very little if the breeder has not adequately researched the families of dogs from which mated dogs are chosen. Adequate research on families of dogs requires a concentrated effort, study of pedigrees and an extensive understanding of traits possessed and passed on to offspring from dogs represented in pedigrees. AKC or other Conformation Championship titles are only a part of what makes up a quality dog or pedigree.

PUREBRED DOG REGISTRIES and AKC "LIMITED REGISTRATION

The following are several "puppy mill" registries.

1) FIC (federation of international canines)

2) CKC (continental kennel club)

3) APR (America's Pet Registry) the most popular of the puppy mill registries.

These acronyms are remarkably similar to the legitimate registries, FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale) and CKC (Canadian Kennel Club). It is possible that imported puppies will be touted to be registered with the FIC.

PLEASE beware of these puppy mill registries. There are also backyard breeders breeding litters from parents that were sold on AKC "Limited Registration". Limited registration certificates are offered by the AKC to breeders to designate dogs as NOT of breeding quality. The AKC will not recognize puppies as AKC registerable out of Limited Registration parents.

Here are some things to watch out for:

Make sure you are getting a purebred BMD by requiring proof that the parents of your dog are AKC registered. If the dog is an IMPORT, please make sure it is registered with the AKC before you pay for it. If an imported dog is to be registered with the AKC, the importer must register the dog with AKC. Check out breeders charging high prices and make sure you're getting more for your money than just a dog. DO NOT send money to anyone before seeing information about a pup's parents and learning about the seller's focus and reason for owning dogs. DO NOT send money before seeing a sales contract. Conscientious breeders use written sales contracts detailing both buyer's and seller's obligations and responsibilities involved in owning a dog from a responsibly conducted breeding program. Beware of breeders who don't ask questions and don't want to keep in touch with you and your pup. Good breeders care about dogs they sell and want to keep track of pups produced from their breeding program to better enable them to make sound breeding decisions that will affect future generations.