Is It Safe To Buy A Poodle From The Humane Society Or Through The Newspaper

Humane Societies: Humane societies are a good place to find assorted pups and dogs, but seldom offer purebred Poodles. Breed rescue organizations frequently monitor incoming dogs at shelters and pick up purebreds for placement through individual breed rescue. Shelters sometimes do have purebreds with all types of backgrounds and temperaments available for adoption.

What's a backyard breeder and why should you avoid one? Basically, a backyard breeder is someone who owns a Poodle and decides that breeding her dog with the neighbor's Poodle would be a great idea. The result will be a fabulous litter of pups that could be registered and they will both make money! Any dog can be registered by a breed registry, but that doesn't mean the dog is of sound mind and temperament. There's little consideration for conformation, health, or temperament in backyard breeding.

Reputable breeders rarely advertise in local newspapers - they don't have to. They usually
sell pups by word of mouth, and pups often have homes well before they're born.

The best advice about buying a Poodle through newspaper ads is this: Buyer Beware. If you're set on buying a newspaper-ad Poodle, investigate the background of the advertiser and be prepared to ask a lot of questions about the pup's medical history. Find out what hereditary diseases are common in Poodles and insist on seeing proof of health clearances.

What about ads for Poodles in dog or Poodle magazines? Serious, reputable breeders are more likely to advertise pups in well-respected magazines, but anyone, reputable or not, can buy an ad. In fact, many magazines have disclaimers, advising potential buyers to investigate puppy advertisers. Approach sellers in magazines the same way you approach newspaper advertisers – skeptically - and be sure to investigate the source.