The Australian Terrier Club of America

What to look for when selecting a breeder...

Buy from a responsible and well-respected breeder. Responsible breeders are concerned with the betterment of the breed and the health and welfare of their puppies. They work on breeding-out hereditary diseases that might affect their breed. Screen the breeder by asking to see at least one parent of the puppy. See how the dogs in the breeder's home interact with your breeder. Are they friendly and outgoing, or do they shy away? Do the puppies appear healthy and friendly? Are the premises clean? Does the breeder willingly share information and ideas about puppy care and training? Will the breeder give you names of other puppy buyers as references?

Before you buy, make sure the breeder gives you a written sales contract to be signed by both buyer and seller...

Review the agreement before you sign it. The sales contract should include the names of the sire and dam and their AKC registration numbers, and a brief description of the puppy (sex, color, pet or show quality puppy). It should also contain the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the buyer and seller, as well as some sort of guarantee regarding the puppy's health. The health guarantee should allow you to have the puppy checked by a veterinarian of your choice and should set forth terms and a reasonable time period for returning the puppy should there be a health problem. If there is a problem, notify the breeder immediately and be sure to follow it up in writing.

Be certain that you understand all of the terms of the deposit, including any refund policy or additional conditions. The deposit may be handled as a separate written agreement.

Do understand the breeder's concern about requiring spaying and neutering of the puppy, and cooperate accordingly. Many, if not all responsible breeders routinely add a written spay/neuter requirement to their pet contracts as a condition before releasing the puppy's AKC registration papers to the buyer. Ask the breeder about the AKC's limited registration option which allows the breeder to reverse show or breeding restrictions if, at a later date, the puppy shows unusual promise. The responsible breeder will also be screening you while looking for the best home for each puppy.

Unless mutually agreed upon in writing - an example being the spay and neuter pet contract clause mentioned above, the breeder should furnish you with an AKC litter registration paper for a puppy, or an individual AKC registration paper for an older dog at the time of sale...

You should also receive at least a three-generation pedigree and a record of inoculations and wormings that the animal has received. If you state to the breeder that you are interested in pet quality, please do not expect at a later date that the puppy will grow up to be a good breeding specimen or show dog. Most breeders price their puppies according to whether they are show or pet quality.

You should do an in-depth study of the breed standard and discuss fully the merits or faults of the individual dog that you are interested in with the breeder. It is generally unwise to buy a breeding or show prospect under six months of age. All persons listed below in this directory will be happy to offer their help as breed information resources.

Many breeders of Australian Terriers have waiting lists for future pet buyers...

You may find as you search for your new family pet, that litter after litter is “spoken for.” Please do not give up, and do consider putting your own name on your chosen breeder's waiting list. It is seldom possible to start your search for a puppy in May and to be able to take one home in June.

If the above symbol appears after a breeder's name, it indicates that he or she has been officially recognized by the ATCA Health Committee as a Health Survey Participant. This means that the breeder has responded to an extensive questionnaire about general breeding and husbandry practices and submitted a detailed report about health issues that may have affected his or her dogs or kennel lines to an independent researcher for the purpose of establishing a reliable breed health profile. By aiding ATCA in identifying the problems that face our breed today, these members help to ensure that the future health and fate of the Australian Terrier will not be left to chance.