NZKC Registered breeders are required to breed in accordance with the Breeders Code of Conduct, the NZKC Breed Standard and to place importance on the recommended Health Tests.

The club maintains a directory of breeders who have registered with the club. We suggest you contact these breeders.

Most breeders are happy for you to sight the health certificates for the parents and some will actually write the health results on the pedigree of your puppy.

 The health tests most important to ask about are:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• General Eye Health (current)
• Goiniscopy
• DNA – Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) X-linked

Other health tests you can ask about are:

• Cardiac (current)
• Thyroid
• DNA Retinal Dysplasia / OSD
• Liver Shunt
• Diabetes

All responsible breeders want to hear about any issues with the puppy or adult they have sold or given to you. Please contact the breeder of your Samoyed so they can help you with any health or behaviour issue or if you can no longer keep your Samoyed.

Hints on how to find a responsible breeder

Responsible breeders usually spend time in answering buyers' questions, willingly give advice about diet, training, exercise, grooming etc.

They breed their dogs because they genuinely admire the breed and want to contribute to its betterment.

They allow bitches to recover sufficiently in between litters and do not breed season after season.

They usually consider themselves responsible for the whole life of the puppy, keeping in touch with the puppy's owner and want to be the first person to know and help if the dog can no longer be kept by the owner.

They help prospective owners work out whether a Samoyed would be the best choice for them.

They interview the buyer usually asking some or all of the following:

• Have you owned a dog before ? If so, what type ? How long did you own it ?
• Are there children in the family ? If so, how many and what ages ? Are you planning on having more children ?
• Do you own your own home ? If not does the landlord allow dogs ?
• Are you planning to stay there ? If not are you prepared for extra hassles to find a rental that does allow dogs ?
• Do you have other pets ?
• Do you have a fenced secure area and are you willing for the breeder to inspect this area ?
• Are you prepared to spend time training the puppy so that it will not become a menace ?
• Do you have time to spare to groom a dog ?
• Do you have time to give a dog appropriate exercise ?
• Will the dog have day time human company which this breed just craves ?
• Do you realise the costs involved in owning a dog, i.e. vet care, cost of quality food, boarding, annual registration etc ?
• And also do you realise that you will be taking on the commitment of a living creature that will be dependant on you for rest of it's life ?

How to locate a responsible breeder

Breed clubs in your area are a good point of contact for information about local breeders.

Dogs NZ (New Zealand Kennel Club) is also a good starting point to look for a responsible breeder.

Vet's, groomers, and boarding kennels can also be a source of information.

Beware advertisements offering 'fluffy bundles of joy for Xmas' etc. These type of people are only interested in the colour of your money !

Questions the owner should be asking the breeder, if the breeder has not discussed these already

• Is the breeder's dog a housedog ? If not, ask how they provide the human interaction that Samoyeds crave.
• Ask how they socialise the puppies.
• Are they able to refer you to other owners of their breeding ?
• Are they able to show you both dam and sire ? If not, are they able to provide photos, video etc of the sire. Usually the dam will be able to be seen.
• Will the puppies be NZKC registered ? And if so on what register ? Full or Restricted ?
• Will there be any endorsements registered with the NZKC ?  i.e. Not to be bred from etc.
  
• Ask to view the pedigrees of the dam and sire.
• Are the breeding stock x-rayed for hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia ?
• Are they certified free of eye disease ?
• What are the terms if the puppy develops any genetic problem ?
• Does the breeder require 'pet' puppies to be spayed / neutered ? And do they have a contract stating by / after a specific age ? 'Pet' quality puppies should not be deficient, they just probably do not meet the breed standard for coat type, head type, pigment, bone structure, eye type etc and should not be bred from.
• Ask about their vaccination regime. Ask what vaccinations and worming the puppy will have before going to a new home and what needs to be continued by the new owner ? There is a lot of debate about vaccinations and worming but all puppies should have started both before going to a new home.
• Ask what age the puppy will be when ready to come to their new home ? Prior to eight weeks is not recommended.
• Ask if they are members of a breed or obedience or agility club and can help you join up with one in your area.
• Ask if they actively participate in events with their dogs.
• Ask if the puppy will come home with anything such as a care booklet, first weeks food, toys, lead / collar, comb / brush or training crate. It is recommended to feed the puppy the same diet as the breeder for the first week and then gradually over another week change to the food you want to feed.

Responsible breeders should willingly give the above information and would want all the above discussed before you view any puppy. They will also be happy for you to inspect their property. They will be happy to offer advice and support you and your puppy as you head through a joyous life together.

If you would prefer an older dog ask the breeder if they have a retired breeding or show dog looking for a new home or register with the club for a rehome or rescue.

BEWARE OF BUYING FROM PET SHOPS AND UNKNOWLEDGEABLE BREEDERS AS THEY DO NOT AND WILL NOT OFFER THE FOLLOW UP SUPPORT THAT IS USUALLY REQUIRED FOR A FIRST TIME SAMOYED OWNER AND ESPECIALLY FOR A FIRST TIME DOG OWNER.

Breeders registered with the club