Hi everyone,
I am currently looking for my first poodle and have been researching breeders in my area. I am wondering if a breeder that breeds standard poodles as well as poodle mixes or merle poodles (two different breeders) should be off my list for that reason alone. Both breeders are CKC registered, do health testing, have a health guarantee, lifetime take-back policy and seem selective in picking homes for their puppies. From their facebook pages and reviews they do not seem like a back yard breeder or puppy mill situation. We haven't met either in person yet but they do require that before getting a puppy so we would be meeting them and the parents and be seeing the kennel/home to get a better feeling about it if we were to go forward with one of them. Should I steer clear of these breeders solely because they offer poodle mixes or merles? Would that be a deal breaker for you? A lot of other breeders I've contacted have 2+ year wait-lists (which is fine but I would like to have a dog sooner if possible), are out of my budget or just have not replied to me at all so I just want to make sure I am making a smart decision and not an impulsive one. Can a doodle/merle breeder be ethical?
I am currently looking for my first poodle and have been researching breeders in my area. I am wondering if a breeder that breeds standard poodles as well as poodle mixes or merle poodles (two different breeders) should be off my list for that reason alone. Both breeders are CKC registered, do health testing, have a health guarantee, lifetime take-back policy and seem selective in picking homes for their puppies. From their facebook pages and reviews they do not seem like a back yard breeder or puppy mill situation. We haven't met either in person yet but they do require that before getting a puppy so we would be meeting them and the parents and be seeing the kennel/home to get a better feeling about it if we were to go forward with one of them. Should I steer clear of these breeders solely because they offer poodle mixes or merles? Would that be a deal breaker for you? A lot of other breeders I've contacted have 2+ year wait-lists (which is fine but I would like to have a dog sooner if possible), are out of my budget or just have not replied to me at all so I just want to make sure I am making a smart decision and not an impulsive one. Can a doodle/merle breeder be ethical?