My tips for those who want to find a new dog/cat

How to find a good breeder

Important: Never buy animals from pet shops; buy directly from breeders. Dogs and cats sold in pet shops do not undergo proper socialization, health testing, or genetic testing. Their parents spend their entire lives confined in puppy mills without proper treatment, and their puppies are often separated from their parents too early. This is why dogs from pet shops often show behavioural problems compared to those from non-commercial breeders.

Green Flag

The breeder asks about your lifestyle habits.

The breeder observes the personalities of their puppies/kittens, selects those that match the buyer's personality and lifestyle.

The breeder shows (not just saying) you the health checkup and DNA test results of their dogs and cats, and the results say their dogs and cats are healthy. 

But the important point here is: Although this is a sign that the breeder cares about the health of their breed, in the case of polygenic diseases such as hip dysplasia, cancer, and DCM, there is no guarantee that their offspring will be 100% unaffected simply because the parents did not have the disease at the time. So, I recommend signing up for pet insurance.

Puppies/kittens and their parents live in a pleasant environment and receive proper care: If the breeder restricts visits for reasons such as personal safety or protecting the dogs/cats from external viruses, you should request a live video call showing the room where the mother and her pups/kittens are staying and check their social media updates.

When the buyer is no longer able to care for the animal, it must be returned to the breeder instead of being sent to a shelter.

The breeder educates buyers about the breed, including care requirements and potential health issues (without downplaying them).

The breeder provides advice and assistance throughout the dog/cat's life

The breeder microchips their puppies/kittens

You should be careful with them

If the breeder describes themselves as "ethical" or "responsible": To verify whether they are truly ethical or responsible, one must examine the living environment they provide for their dogs/cats and whether they conduct health and genetic testing for the breed's future.

If the breeder says they offer health guarantees: You should insist on getting a copy of these guarantees before you buy.

Red Flag

The breeder reacts defensively when you ask to see health and genetic test results.

The breeder breeds three or more breeds simultaneously.

The breeder breeds White Dobermans or Double Merles.

The breeder breeds only dogs/cats they own.

The same name appears more than once in the pedigree within the first 3 generations

The breeder attempts to downplay the importance of serious breed health issues (e.g., DCM in Dobermans).

The breeder sells puppies under 8 weeks of age or kittens under 12 weeks of age.

The breeder claims the puppies/kittens are always available.

The breeder breeds dogs and cats with extreme features (ex,. extreme size ("Teacup," "King"))

The breeder doesn't ask you any questions.

Especially when the Doberman breeder claims there is no DCM in their bloodline... You must never buy a Doberman from that breeder. 


When you select the dog/cat breed you'll raise...

You need to assess your lifestyle. If you are a couch potato who works from 9 to 5 at the company, high-energy medium- to large-sized dog breeds, including Dobermans, are generally not very suitable, at least in the general case. Some cat breeds, such as Bengals, have high energy levels and require 30 to 60 minutes or more of interactive play every day. If the breed you want does not fit your existing lifestyle, you should consider whether you can adjust your lifestyle for that dog or cat breed.

I recommend that you research the history of the breed. The reason breed history is important, especially in the case of dogs, is that their personalities tend to be heavily influenced by their historical purpose. While this can be managed through exercise, mental stimulation, and proper socialization training, you can't rewrite their DNA.


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