The Quality of Your Dog is Only As Good As Your Breeder

I’ve been around the dog world long enough to know that when it comes to buying a pup, AKC papers don’t guarantee quality. In fact, they don’t guarantee much of anything beyond the fact that the dog’s pedigree is somewhat legit. The real value of a dog, especially a purebred one, lies in the ethics, practices, and knowledge of the breeder. Unfortunately, I've learned this the hard way through a series of frustrating and disappointing experiences with breeders who were more focused on the bottom line than on the well-being of their dogs or buyers.

Take, for example, a breeder I encountered recently. She was offering a cute dachshund puppy for a discounted price of $1,500 with AKC full-rights papers, but there was a catch: the dog had a huge genetic overbite, one that could cause long-term issue, and one that was going to pass on to future generations if bred. Instead of advising me against breeding the dog due to the known health issue, the breeder tried to sweeten the deal by discounting the price. Full breeding rights? For a dog with a genetic flaw that could cause lifelong health problems for its offspring? No thanks. She should have been selling that pup to a pet-only home, no papers, and ensuring that genetic issue wouldn’t spread. But the breeder didn’t care about that. She was just trying to offload the dog and cash in.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t an isolated incident. I’ve seen it happen over and over again in the dachshund world, where some breeders think that AKC papers alone somehow excuse bad breeding practices. Another breeder I came across was selling a one-year-old female dachshund for $2,500—again, with AKC papers. I asked about her genetics, because in my program it is high priority. To my surprise, the breeder had no idea. She hadn’t had the dog tested, nor had she asked about the dog’s parents when she originally bought her as a puppy. All she knew was that she had AKC papers and that the dog should be worth a lot of money. That was it. It was mind-boggling that someone could charge that much for a dog without even bothering to understand if or why it could be worth as much. But this is unfortunately a pattern I’ve seen far too often—breeders focusing on the paper trail rather than the health and history of the dog itself.

My worst experiences came when I purchased two AKC-registered male dachshund puppies to use as studs. On two separate occasions that were years apart and in different states, I ended up with dogs that had cryptorchidism—one testicle and possibly sterile. This condition is not only a major health issue, but it also made the dogs useless for my breeding program. The breeders who sold these dogs to me were either unaware of the issue or, worse, didn’t care to disclose it. Both times I was left feeling frustrated, knowing I had invested in a dog that I could not use for its intended purpose, all while the breeders probably moved on to the next sale without batting an eye. Because when breeders cut corners or just don’t care, it’s the dogs and the new owners who suffer, not the breeder.

And then there is the issue of breeders who are raising multiple breeds under one roof. I’ve spoken with a number of people who bought dachshund puppies from these breeders, only to later find out through genetic testing that their dog wasn’t purebred at all. In some cases, it turned out that the breeder had an “oops” litter of dachshunds mixed with another small breed, but still went ahead and registered the puppies under one of their male dachshunds to sell them for more money. It’s frustrating to think that people are out there paying premium prices for dogs that aren’t even purebred, all because the breeder is too lazy or dishonest to care about their breeding practices.

These experiences got me thinking: if I wanted to make a real difference in the dog world, I needed to rethink how I approached breeding. I wanted to create a program built around integrity and transparency, where the quality of the dog speaks for itself—no need for AKC papers to make the sale. The AKC can’t vouch for the health, temperament, or long-term well-being of the dogs—it only certifies their lineage. That's why I started my program focused on breeding unregistered dogs and producing healthy, well-socialized, pet-quality puppies. My goal is to make sure the dogs I raise are the best they can be, and that the people who adopt them know exactly what they’re getting—no surprises, no hidden issues.

So, what should you do if you’re looking to add a dachshund (or any breed) to your family? Do your research, ask the tough questions, and take your time to find a responsible breeder-- a breeder who prioritizes the health and well-being of their dogs over making a quick sale. Learn about the breed so that you can ask breed specific questions. Ask about the genetics of the puppy’s parents, ask for pictures of the parents, and, most importantly, don’t be afraid to walk away if something feels off. If a breeder is pushy, or only interested in talking to you about the dog's pedigree you should be concerned. 

In the end, the quality of your dog truly is only as good as the breeder behind it. And no amount of AKC papers or fancy pedigrees will make up for bad breeding practices, so don't let the papers fool you.