Finding a reputable breeder is the first step in puppy ownership, and though you may see a photo of a cute fluffy puppy who doesn’t yet have a home, pulling on your heartstrings, there are many things to consider when choosing your breeder. Your choice will not only affect the conditions in which your puppy is born, but also the foundation of how they are raised for the first eight (or more) weeks of their life. These early formative weeks will have an effect on the entirety of your dog’s life.
A reputable breeder will be able to offer you their knowledge and expertise, not just when you are looking for a puppy, but throughout your dog’s life; they will be your first point of contact when you have questions, or if something goes wrong. To a reputable breeder, their puppies are part of their family and they want what is best for them from the day they are born, so be prepared to acquire not just a dog, but a network of friends and puppy owners as well.
We recommend that you meet the breed before deciding whether or not the Hokkaido Ken is a good fit for your lifestyle and your family. While the amount of information available is growing all the time, much of it is based on the individual experiences of the people who share their lives with this breed and may not be an accurate representation of the breed in general. No amount of research will be as good as meeting the breed and experiencing them for yourself. Most breeders and owners will be happy for you to meet their dogs and have a chat about the breed, either in their own home, at an event, or going out for a walk. Anyone who will not allow you to visit before the puppies are born, or who sells puppies from anywhere other than their home should be avoided.
Take a list of questions and be prepared to answer a list of questions in return – this is not a breeder being nosy, it is their way of assessing whether you would be a good fit for the breed, it’s important to be honest and open if you have any concerns. Always be sure to ask about relevant health testing, and take time to look at their results – a reputable breeder will always be happy to show you and explain anything you might not understand. If a breeder is not health testing for breed relevant conditions, ask them why not!
If you choose to visit a litter of puppies, try and see them with their mother in the place where they were born and are being raised. Look at the conditions of both the puppies and any other dogs the breeder has (be aware that the mother of the puppies is likely to lose her coat and condition while nursing). Puppies should be raised in a clean environment with lots of social interaction from a young age. You will likely be asked to undergo a strict cleaning ritual before being allowed to see and interact with the puppies, this is to prevent the possible spread of infectious disease through contact with the outside and other dogs, before the puppies are old enough to be vaccinated.
Most breeders will have waiting lists before their puppies are even born, it is very uncommon to be able to visit a breeder with a litter and choose a puppy immediately and this usually is a red flag.
Ethical breeders will send puppies home microchipped and registered on an approved database as per UK law. It is a criminal offence to send a dog to a new owner without a microchip in the breeders name. The chip can later be changed into the owners name upon collection of the puppy. All puppies should be vaccinated with their first vaccine prior to leaving with the new owners. Remember, ethical breeders will be happy to provide this information to you, and to answer ANY and ALL questions you may have. You should never feel pressured to take a puppy from any breeder.
It is important to remember that, in the UK, the Hokkaido Ken is not a breed recognised by The Kennel Club and cannot be shown in conformation or be awarded any conformation titles. While the breed is recognised in other countries, and you will often hear people say “parents of any litter should be titled as well as health tested”, breeders in the UK are not able to do this as easily as their European and American counterparts. Attending dog shows where the Hokkaido can compete involves travelling overseas which is a huge investment in time, money, and resources, and there is unlikely to be much competition in the breed, if at all, even at most European shows. In general, it is important that breeders should title their dogs to prove that the meet the breed standard, and while the BAHK encourages its breeders and owners to participate if they wish and if they are able to, it is not compulsory for a dog to be titled or shown before breeding (or at any point in the dog’s life). We encourage interested parties to judge the ongoing efforts to preserve the Hokkaido Ken in the UK by the merit of each individual breeding program and the dogs within our small population
What your breeder will expect
When you have chosen a breeder, they will expect you to tell them what you are looking for: if you have a colour preference or you are set on having a boy or a girl then you will need to inform your breeder from the start. If you are hoping to breed in the future, or you would like to show your dog, these are important things to mention as it is likely to affect how long you may have to wait for a puppy which matches your needs. Be aware that the more preferences you have (especially when it comes to ‘rarer’ colours) the longer you are likely to be waiting.
If you decide to put your name down on multiple breeders’ waiting lists, it is best to inform all breeders from the start that this is your intention. Also let them know as soon as possible if you decide to purchase a puppy from someone else. If you are offered a puppy and your circumstances have changed or your lifestyle is not suitable for a puppy at that time, please let your breeder know so that they can offer the puppy to the next person on their list. If you decide the breed isn’t right for you, let any breeders you have contacted know – they won’t be offended, but it means they will not be keeping waiting lists full of people who are no longer interested.
Most breeders will expect you to meet them and their dogs in person before agreeing to let you have a puppy (though sometimes this is not possible, especially if your chosen breeder lives overseas). This is not them trying to be awkward, it is so you have a chance to meet the breed and possible parents of your future puppy and so they can assess you as a potential owner and decide what kind of puppy would best suit your lifestyle. Many breeders do not allocate puppies on a first-come-first-served basis and will instead match their puppies with their future families based on their temperament and energy levels as they grow.
It is important to respect your chosen breeder; if they decide that you’re not yet ready for a puppy or they feel that the puppy you have your eye on would not be a suitable match for your family, then appreciate the fact that they spend 24 hours a day with their puppies and will likely know exactly which puppy will be the best fit for your life.
The British Association of Hokkaido Ken - BAHK 