Understanding What Defines a Responsible Dog Breeder

Why Dog Breeder Standards Matter

“Not all breeders are created equal.”

In my work as a pet end-of-life doula and grief coach, I see firsthand the long-term consequences of poor breeding practices, health issues, temperament struggles, and heartbreaking grief that could have been prevented. As a small-scale Shih Tzu breeder, I’m committed to helping future dog guardians understand what responsible breeding truly looks like.

Choosing where your puppy comes from is more than a transaction, it’s a lifelong decision. Behind each adorable face is a story. That story can be one of love, intention, and ethical care, or one of exploitation and shortcuts. Knowing the difference can save you and your future dog years of suffering and thousands in preventable costs.

Key Characteristics of a Responsible Breeder

Responsible breeders don’t just produce puppies, they cultivate life with devotion, purpose, and ethics. Here’s what sets them apart:

• Health and Temperament First, Always:
  A responsible breeder prioritizes genetic health, emotional stability, and sound temperament over trends, colors, or convenience. We breed to better the breed, not to satisfy market demand.

• Informed About Breed-Specific Needs:
  We know the quirks, health risks, grooming requirements, and personality traits of our breed intimately, and we’re honest about whether it’s the right fit for you.

• Comprehensive Health Screening:
  Testing for breed-specific genetic conditions is non-negotiable. I openly share health testing results for all my breeding dogs, because transparency protects both you and the puppy.

• Home-Like, Clean Environment:
  My Shih Tzus are raised in a warm, enriched environment with daily human interaction, not in cages or kennels. They learn to trust, play, and bond from day one.

• Proper Timing for Rehoming:
  No puppy leaves my home before 10 weeks of age. Therapy-potential puppies stay with me until 6–8 months for early socialization and bonding. Rushed rehoming disrupts development and emotional security.
  
  

Transparent and Supportive Practices

• Open-Door Policy:
  Ethical breeders welcome your visit. You should meet the mother (and if possible, the father), observe where puppies are raised, and ask all the questions you need. If a breeder discourages this—take note.

• Questions That Matter:
  I interview all potential families carefully. Why? Because a responsible breeder cares deeply about where each puppy is going. We want lifelong matches—not impulse adoptions.

• Lifetime Support & Take-Back Policy:
  My commitment doesn’t end at pickup. I offer lifetime guidance on grooming, training, nutrition, and grief. And if life changes, I always take my dogs back—no questions, no judgment.

• Health Records Provided Freely:
  Vet records, deworming, microchip info, health test results—it should all be ready and willingly provided, not requested multiple times or hidden.
  
  

Red Flags to Watch Out For

If any of the following apply, proceed with caution, or walk away entirely:

• Breeders with no address, no phone number, only communicate via email "from unverified accounts"

• Breeders with no address, no email, only communicate via texting "with untraceable phones"

• Breeders refusing home visits and want to meet in a public area

• Breeders who have forms on their website but have no address nor contact details

• Breeders who only use email, refuse to talk on the phone and refuse to give their address

• Always type to research their address on Google Maps to see where they live

• Breeders that say that filling out an online form and prepaying is how dogs are ordered nowadays

• Breeders that ask you to pick a puppy from a photo, then to send a deposit prior to seeing the pup

• Breeders who talk about a puppy like if it’s a product that is easily shipped like a package

• Breeders that write that they will “ship you a puppy for Free by plane!” all you need to do is pay for the flight transportation

• Breeders that always have puppies “ready now” or offer multiple breeds

• Breeders that push for deposits before giving information and avoid questions

• No health screening, or vague answers about parent dogs 

• Breeders that get offensive if you ask about seeing their facility and puppy’s parents

• Breeders who want puppies to go before 12 weeks

• No questions for you: no concern for your living situation, experience, or plans

• No contract, no spay/neuter agreement, no follow-up policy, no health guarantee 

• Breeders that sound automatic, like a parrot, repeat generic info that all others say but lack depth

• Ask yourself, does this breeder seem like they will respond to me after the sale or adoption

Convenience should never be prioritized over ethics.

Ethical Commitment Beyond the Sale

A responsible breeder remains part of your dog’s story, not just their beginning.

• Ongoing Relationships:
  I keep in touch with my puppy families, not to control, but to care. Birthdays, milestones, vet updates, and even end-of-life planning are part of our shared journey.

• Health Guarantees & Contracts:
  My contracts include health guarantees, rehoming clauses, and sometimes spay/neuter agreements. This is about stewardship, not ownership.

• Breeding With Conscience, Not Volume:
  I breed 2–3 litters a year, sometimes fewer. My dogs are family, not inventory. I’d rather have a long waitlist than ever compromise on care or quality.
  
  

Choose With Your Heart, And Your Head

“If you feel rushed, pressured or guilted, walk away.”

You are not just buying a dog. You’re inviting a soul into your life. Choose a breeder who treats that decision with reverence, responsibility, and love.

As a grief coach, I’ve walked with many families through the loss of a beloved dog. The healthiest dogs physically, emotionally, and spiritually come from breeders who care deeply about every phase of a dog’s life, from birth to passing.

Written by Sabrina Steczko
Dog Wellness Advocate | Ethical Shih Tzu Breeder | Pet End-of-Life Doula | Trauma-Informed Grief Guide | Somatic Wellness Specialist