Questions to Ask When Choosing a Breeding Dog Prospect

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Breeding Dog Prospect

Are you an aspiring (or established) Pomsky breeder looking for the perfect dog to begin or continue your breeding program? Selecting the right breeding dog prospect is a crucial step in establishing a successful and ethical breeding operation.

Here are some essential questions to ask when shopping for a breeding dog prospect, ensuring that honesty, ethics, health, personality, and structure are prioritized:

1. Health Screening and Genetic Testing

• Are the breeding dogs health tested for genetic diseases relevant to the Pomsky breed, such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), Degenerative Myelopathy, VMD1. Are the parents carriers of any of these? (Being a carrier is not a fail point. It means that you will need to ensure that if the puppy carries this gene is paired carefully to prevent any genetic concerns.)

• Can the kennel provide documentation of health clearances from reputable veterinary specialists or organizations, such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC)?

2. Temperament and Personality

• What is the temperament and personality of the breeding dog prospect? Are they friendly, sociable, and well-mannered? Has temperament testing been performed on the puppy? How does the puppy cope with new situations? Is it shy and reserved? Scared? Laid back? Outgoing?

• Can the kennel provide information about the breeding dog's behavior, including their temperament with people, children, and other animals?

3. Conformation and Structure

• Does the breeding dog prospect meet the Pomsky breed standard (Link to Standard) in terms of conformation and structure?

• Can the kennel provide evidence of the breeding dog's pedigree?

• Can the kennel provide stacked views of the parents and any adult siblings, outline their faults?

• Can the kennel provide a list of considerations for structure for future pairings based on what they know the puppy will structurally be like as an adult?

4. Breeder's Code of Ethics

• Does the kennel adhere to the APKC’s® Code of Ethics which prioritizes honesty, integrity, and the well-being of the dogs?

• Does the kennel actively promote and adhere to responsible breeding practices?

• Does the kennel focus on colors instead of structure?

• Does the kennel allow breed rights for any puppies in the litter with a breeding payment fee? Are all puppies in litters considered “breeding prospects”?

• Does the kennel allow breed rights on females charting under 10 lbs?

🚩 Warning Flags: Why Not to Choose Certain Breeders

• Kennels that supply pet stores or use a brokerage to mass sell puppies.

• Beware any breeder selling rights with puppies from a dam’s first litter, without adult puppies to view results from the pairing.

• Beware any breeder that focuses on color, chooses “rare” colors, or allows breed rights for female Pomskies charting under 10 lbs.

• Beware any breeder that does not offer patella testing in puppies, all necessary vet documentation, genetic report, proof of vet visit, and applicable vaccinations.

• Beware of any breeder that allows puppies to go home prior to 8 weeks of age.

• Beware of any breeder that does not thoroughly investigate you and your program for suitability.

• Lack of health testing and genetic screening for common Pomsky health issues.

• Poor temperament or behavioral issues in the breeding dog prospect.

• Breeding dogs that do not conform to the Pomsky breed standard in terms of conformation and structure.

• Breeder kennels that do not follow a Code of Ethics or prioritize the health and well-being of their dogs.

Choose Wisely for Your Breeding Program

Selecting the right breeding dog prospect is essential for the success and integrity of your Pomsky breeding program. By asking the questions outlined above and prioritizing honesty, ethics, health, personality, and structure, you can ensure that you're working with reputable breeders who share your commitment to responsible breeding practices.

For a list of recommended breeders who uphold these standards, visit the American Pomsky Kennel Club's website at www.americanpomskykennelclub.org/recommended-breeders. These breeders have demonstrated their dedication to ethical breeding and are excellent resources for finding your ideal breeding dog prospect.

Remember, ethical breeding isn't just about producing puppies—it's about safeguarding the health and well-being of the dogs and preserving the integrity of the breed for future generations.

List of Questions for Kennels:

1. Are the breeding dogs health tested for genetic diseases relevant to the Pomsky breed?

2. Can you provide documentation of health clearances from reputable veterinary specialists or organizations?

3. What is the temperament and personality of the breeding dog prospect? Has the puppy been temperament tested?

4. Can you provide information about the breeding dog's behavior, and current and expected adult temperament, both individually, in littermates, and parents?

5. Does the breeding dog prospect meet the Pomsky breed standard in terms of conformation and structure? Can you provide stacked views of the puppy, several adult siblings, and the parents?

6. Can you provide evidence of the breeding dog's pedigree and DNA report?

7. Does your kennel adhere to a Code of Ethics that prioritizes honesty, integrity, and the well-being of the dogs?