Choosing a Breeder:

ITR registered breeders must uphold the highest standards in terms of breeding ethics and practices, as well as health testing. The difference is in the quality of the breeder, the information you will be provided about your puppy’s bloodline, the degree of health testing conducted on your puppy’s parents, the breeder’s socialization of the puppies before they go to their new homes, and the support you will get from your breeder throughout your dog’s life. Experienced ITR breeders act as mentors to new or future breeders and we all work together as a group to ensure that the latest information on health issues is freely available and publicly published along with health test results.

As a potential puppy purchaser you must spend time researching the breed and understanding the requirements for ownership: do you have the time and/or means to own a Tamaskan? If you are confident with your decision, then you can start looking to see which individual dogs you like and which breeders produced those dogs and/or which combinations or upcoming litters are likely to result in similar (or better!) puppies. It is very important to search around and to get to know the various Tamaskan breeders (and their bloodlines) before selecting the one that is right for you. After all, at the very least your chosen breeder should provide assistance and support for the lifetime of your puppy so it is very important that you have confidence in them.

Never just buy a puppy on impulse, which shouldn’t even be possible if they are a responsible breeder, nor pay a deposit for a puppy without thinking it through fully – it is often very difficult to claim back your deposit if you change your mind so it is important that you make your decision well in advance. Most breeders will appreciate honest inquiries but few will have patience for timewasters. Once you have begun communicating and developing a relationship with your selected breeder, then it is time to start asking questions. The breeder should be able to answer all of your questions (in detail) and be able to show you (or provide copies of) the original documentation for all health test results as well as DNA profiles. The breeder will certainly ask you many questions and will probably ask to see photos of your living conditions, or perhaps even schedule a home visit.

At this point, arranging a face-to-face meeting would be ideal (if possible) to visit the breeder so that you can meet the dogs in person and see their living conditions. Look for warning signs: does the breeder have many dogs (of several breeds?!) that live as part of a commercial breeding facility, or does the breeder have just a few dogs that are treated as family pets with plenty of love, attention and exercise? How many litters does the breeder have throughout the year and, more importantly, how many concurrent litters do they have at any given time? If there are multiple simultaneous litters, it means that each puppy will get less one-on-one individual attention, which increases the likelihood that they won’t be properly socialized on a daily basis before they go to their new homes. It also increases the risk that health issues will go unnoticed and/or untreated. Always ask to see what comes with your puppy in terms of health guarantees or certificates and if your puppy will have a microchip, pet passport and vaccinations. The breeder should provide documentation of the deworming schedule and all vaccinations, for instance in the form of an EU Pet Passport.