Before buying a puppy, we always advise meeting the animal in person. Make an effort to get in touch with your breeder for any questions or concerns. Before making a purchase, it’s important to inquire about the behaviour of the prospective Acana Puppy Food in question, but you should also be aware that breeders maintain a three-day “cooling-off” period after the sale and a lifetime satisfaction if your pet is required to be placed in a new home for any reason.

Responsible dog breeders will make every effort to guarantee that all breeding dogs and puppies are kept, raised, socialised, and sold in good health.

We looked into Responsible Pet Breeders Australia (RPBA), which is a group dedicated to verifying breeders to make sure that puppies are bred in the most humane and ethical way possible. They are known in Australia to be one of the most reliable groups for verifying breeders. Here’s how to become a member on RPBA:

What are the two levels of dog breeding membership? 

There are two levels of registered breeder membership in the RPBA:

• Responsible dog breeders on probation for no more than a year who agree to abide by RPBA’s code of ethics can become members. The experts advise you to exercise caution while picking out a dog, and get in touch with them if there are any questions or worries. 

After the 12 month probationary period, members submit to an inspection of their facilities by a licenced veterinarian who will verify that the conditions in which their pets are kept are compliant with their rules. If successful, they will then be eligible to join as full members. Their probationary membership can get cancelled if they do not submit for an audit within three months. Please take note that probationary members who are not compliant risk being suspended. If breeders violate RPBA standards and code of ethics, they can also be suspended.

• Pet breeders that are Full Members must have their identities verified, adhere to the Code of Ethics, and comprehend and follow best practices. Their facilities are inspected and checked by a licenced veterinarian. A licenced veterinarian conducts the audit.

Why should you buy from a responsible breeder?

It’s important to buy from only responsible breeders because many breeders can sell puppies for lower prices but these puppies will be bred in puppy farms, wherein several puppies are kept in inhumane conditions and overbred without adequate rest and care. This can make dogs very sick and miserable. 

Puppies from unethical breeders also tend to be less healthy and can become sick early on. Responsible breeders, on the other hand, will have puppies that are DNA tested and pass health checks. This will ensure that the puppy you take home will be healthy and free of diseases that might pop up later on. 

RPBA and other groups that verify responsible breeders will make sure that breeders abide by laws and regulations. 

We wish you luck in finding your new puppy!