Thursday, May 29, 2008

Beagle Breeders: The Good Ones

The history of the breed of dog called the Beagle is largely unknown. Some say the breed dates back to 200 A.D. Others believe the Beagle descends from 19th century English “Harriers,” which are a breed of medium sized English hounds. The breed began to be referred to as “Beagle” in the 1800s and was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1885. Their popularity has raised demand for purebred Beagles. A side effect is that there are both reputable and disreputable Beagle breeders attempting to profit from the sale of purebred puppies.

The subject of this article is finding good Beagle breeders and learning how to avoid bad breeders. Good Beagle breeders ensure the well being of their Beagles. They set up kennels to care for the breed they produce. They care about their reputation. Bad breeders set up puppy mills where they over-breed Beagles without regard to comfort or happiness.
There are many ways to determine whether a breeder has a good or bad reputation. Word of mouth is one way. Another is to use common sense. Many Beagle breeders have entered the computer age and use the Web to advertise. If their website claims “next day puppies” or other similar nonsense, it is probably best to pass them by.

Good Beagle breeders know their breed’s potential genetic defects and have dogs screened for medical conditions and behavioral. They do not breed unhealthy or maladjusted Beagles. Reputable breeders have their own kennels and do not sell puppies to pet stores. A breeder should be involved with breed. They should be experts on Beagles and supportive of Beagle rescue, adoption and fostering. The best Beagle breeders have good references such as AKC, American Kennel Club. They will also refer buyers to other reputable breeders.
To help you have a long, happy relationship with your Beagle, make sure he is healthy and well documented. Research Beagle breeders thoroughly. A good place to start your research is the American Kennel Club’s website. This website lists breeders specific to each breed and supplies pertinent contact information. Though the AKC does not officially endorse these breeders, their subsidiary AKC Parent Clubs can help you find a local breeder in your state. You want to buy your Beagle from a responsible breeder who has cared for your Beagle in adequate conditions.

It is important to contact the Beagle breeder and ask specific questions before buying. Does the breeder offer a warranty and/or return policy? Is medical documentation available? What other Beagle information can the breeder provide? You may also want to ask about rescued Beagles. These are usually adult Beagles who have suffered trauma such as abandonment and neglect. If possible, visit the kennel to make sure your potential Beagle has been raised appropriately.

Beagle breeders sell purebred Beagles. Beagle information and information about Beagle breeders is provided in this article.

Monday, May 19, 2008

The Dangers Of Fake Beagle Breeders

When you are ready to invest in a beagle for your family, and you intend to buy one from a beagle breeder, you need to be sure that you are dealing with a real dog breeder and not a fake trying to scam you. If you buy from a fake beagle breeder you could be forced to put your family through expensive vet bills and tough decisions because you were sold an unhealthy pet by a fake breeder.

A sure way to tell if you have a real beagle breeder or not is if the breeder offers you pet insurance that offers coverage for six weeks after you have purchased the dog. Legitimate breeders get this pet insurance for free from insurance companies and the insurance companies hope that you will extend the coverage once the six weeks has elapsed. Only legitimate breeders get the free insurance and if you are not offered this insurance in writing then you may have a fake breeder.
Breeders do not just disappear from your life as soon as you leave their property. Legitimate beagle breeders are part of you and your beagle’s life for a long time after purchase because it is the breeder’s name on your dog’s papers and their reputation on the line along with the life of your pet. If you find it impossible to get a hold of your breeder after the purchase, or your breeder can offer you no assistance or advice after the purchase, then the chances are you are dealing with a fake breeder.

Beagle breeders are also supposed to help novice beagle owners with health advice and even guidance on the kinds of foods your beagle should be eating. A good breeder will send you home with detailed care instruction on feeding your new beagle and will also send you home with samples of their food to help get you started. Once again if the breeder disappears on you then chances are they are not legitimate.
As was mentioned earlier you and your breeder should always be in contact with each other throughout a large portion of your beagle’s life. If your beagle becomes ill, or if you find that you can no longer care and keep your beagle, then a legitimate beagle breeder will offer to take the beagle back. A beagle breeder lives on a helpful and professional reputation and this is just one of the above and beyond services any legitimate breeder will offer.

Unfortunately if you have purchased your beagle from a fake breeder then there is not much you can do beyond suing the breeder to get your money back. You are encouraged to report the breeder to the National Kennel Club but in all reality there is not a lot they can do to make your situation right. Before you purchase a beagle from any breeder always check out the breeder with the National Kennel Club to make sure you are dealing with a legit business.

You can find a legitimate beagle breeders by using the information in this article. This article will help you find great beagle information.

Monday, May 12, 2008

What You Should Ask Your Beagle Breeder

Getting your next Beagle puppy (or even a dog) from a Beagle breeder is a lot more expensive than going to a pet store, but you get a lot more for your money. Not only that, you are assured that your puppy was not bred in inhumane conditions at a puppy mill. Most pet stores and online sites in America that sell and ship puppies get their puppies from these barbaric puppy mills, where dogs are treated worse than battery hens.

The advantages of going to a Beagle breeder is that your puppy is healthy, is socialized, is from a place where you can meet the parents and where you can ask all the questions you want about your prospective puppy. And, unlike a pet store or Internet puppy mill site, you will be asked just as many questions about your canine experience and Beagle information before you will be allowed to buy a puppy.
When you contact the Beagle breeder, there is vital Beagle information you need to have them answer you. First off, why should you buy a puppy from them? What is so special about their Beagle puppies that make them worth thousands (or however much they are selling for)? A good Beagle breeder is used to these questions and will answer them to your satisfaction. Any Beagle breeder who treats you with contempt or belittles you should be avoided. You also need to know if they are licensed and if their stock is AKC registered.

Don’t be swayed by all those big brown eyes looking at you. You really should write the questions down before visiting any Beagle breeder. It is all right to first contact a Beagle breeder by email or by phone. But they should not sell you a puppy right on the spot. There’s something fishy about that. For as many questions as you can think of to ask the Beagle breeder, he or she will ask you ten!
The basic things to hammer down are what things you are paying for and what the Beagle breeder covers. There should be a contract – NEVER go just on a verbal agreement. An ethical Beagle breeder will take the puppy back if your vet proves the puppy is ill. An ethical breeder will take the puppy back NO MATTER HOW OLD the dog is if you encounter a disaster and have to give the dog up.

An ethical breeder will also let you visit, pet and play with the parents, so you know what personalities they are. Always visit the actual breeder’s kennel before agreeing to a pup. No ethical breeder will have dead dogs on the property, keep their dogs in stacked crates, or stink to high heaven. Please report these “breeders” to the authorities. An ethical Beagle breeder will check your home and background out to see if you are good enough for one of their puppies.

Many people could mellow out considerably if they became Beagle breeders. There is no such thing as too much Beagle information.

Monday, May 5, 2008

What to Look for in a Beagle Breeder

There are few things cuter than a Beagle puppy, which is undoubtedly why this breed has continued to maintain its reputation for being one of the most popular breeds to have as a family pet. However, with the demand for the breed comes people who are looking to capitalize on the popularity of the Beagle without concern for the health and integrity of the breed. As a buyer who is interested in Beagle puppies, it is up to you to find a reputable Beagle breeder to get your dog from.

Fortunately, there are some steps that you can take to ensure that the Beagle breeder that you purchase from will provide you with a puppy that is healthy and has a good temperament. Even if you choose a Beagle breeder from the Internet, you can ask certain questions and follow particular procedures to protect yourself and your future family pet. Keep in mind that a dog is a long-term investment for any family, and the right steps will make sure that you and your pet have many years of enjoyment with one another.
There are a number of questions that you should ask a potential Beagle breeder before you ever check out the dogs available from him. First, a responsible breeder will be willing to let you meet one or both parents of the dogs to see if they are both healthy and well socialized. Another important issue to cover with your Beagle breeder is genetic problems that tend to run in the Beagle breed. Your breeder should be well versed in the issues and should be able to provide documentation of testing for his dogs.

Ask your Beagle breeder what type of food that he feeds his puppies. It should be a high-quality dog food. It is also important to find out whether the puppies have seen a veterinarian and if their immunizations are up to date. A good breeder will provide documentation for veterinarian care as well. It is also good to inquire as to when the puppies will be released to their new homes. Puppies that are younger than eight weeks should generally not be taken from their mother.
If you decide to investigate Beagle breeders on the Internet, there are some precautions that you can take here as well. First, never restrict your communication with the breeder to email only – at some point you need to have a phone call to ensure that the breeder is legitimate. It is also a good idea to see what the location of the breeder is from his website. If he does not provide a location, or he asks you to send payment to a different state or country from the one listed on his website, you will probably want to find a different breeder. You can also request a signed contract prior to the purchase of the puppy that will help to protect your interests if the breeder does not deliver what he promises.

By following some basic procedures and doing your homework, you can protect yourself against unscrupulous Beagle breeders that are more interested in making a quick buck than they are with the betterment of the breed. This will help to ensure that you end up with a happy, healthy puppy that your family will enjoy for many years to come.

The importance of finding reputable Beagle breeders cannot be overstated, and this author can help to guide you in the right direction in the process. Articles like this one will give you the tools that you need to interview, evaluate and select the best Beagle breeder for you and provide all the Beagle information necessary to raise a healthy family pet.

Beagle Information