A committed breeder views his/her dogs as a serious hobby. They work
actively with their dogs. Allowing themselves the opportunity to assess the physical
and mental characteristics of their dogs prior to deciding to breed that dog. They
breed for sound dogs with good temperament with show ring success being
secondary to healthy puppies. The committed breeder is eager to share information
about the breed and will be very  interested in you and your lifestyle. They aren't
naturally nosy but have the interest of their dogs in mind. They will also welcome
you into their home to see their dogs and the environment they are raised in. Find
a breeder that will be willing to discuss the problems that are prevalent in the breed
and what they are doing to correct them. They recognize that all breeds have their
problems but an informed buyer is a happy buyer.

    A committed breeder will recognize the importance of good socialization of your
dog and should readily discuss this with you. They will spend time each day working
with their pups to get them used to household activities and noises. They will handle
the pups frequently. They will not place the pups in their new homes until at least
seven  weeks of age. Finally, they will choose a pup for you. These breeders have
spent numerous hours working with the puppies and assessing their temperaments. At
the same time, they have attempted to determine your needs for a pup and are in the
best position to match the two.

     A committed breeder researches his/her dogs and their pedigree. They seek to
determine any latent genetic concerns that may be in their dog's background. These
same breeders test their dogs for all genetic problems that are of concern to the
breed if the technology is available. Genetic concerns will still show up from time to
time. Some of these problems may not have any prior history and are completely
unexpected. This is all part of breeding but working with a reputable breeder is your
best defense. It will reduce the odds of this type of problem occurring. The welfare
of their dogs is of the utmost interest to the committed breeder. These breeders will
include guarantees in their contract that are in the best interest of their dogs. All dogs
that are not intended for breeding should be sold on non breeding contracts and the
sales contract should incorporate a spay/neuter clause for all non breeding dogs. If
this is not the case you may not be dealing with a committed breeder.