How to Vet Any Bully Breeder (Including Us)
We're going to hand you the interrogation kit for our own industry. Ask every breeder you talk to these questions — including us. An ethical breeder lights up when a buyer asks hard questions, because it means the puppy is going to a home that takes this seriously. If a breeder gets defensive at any question on this list, you have your answer.
The Seven Questions
1. "What health testing do you do on the parents — can I see results?"
The floor for this breed is DNA health screening on every breeding adult. At Lakeside that's Embark on 100% of our adults, and we show results before you ever put down a deposit — same policy for stud clients. "They're healthy, the vet said so" is not health testing. Wanting to see the actual panel is not rude; it's the whole point of the panel existing.
2. "Can I get the contract before I apply?"
A written purchase contract with a health guarantee should exist, and you should be able to read it before money moves. Ours is published on our website. No contract, or "we'll sort the paperwork at pickup," means every promise you've heard is worth nothing.
3. "Can I visit and meet the mother?"
You should be able to see where puppies are raised and meet at least the dam (sires are often outside studs — that's normal and fine). Breeders who will only meet in a parking lot, every time, for every buyer, are hiding something. Visit us in Henryetta and plan on staying an hour, because the dogs will insist.
4. "How do you price, and what does the deposit cover?"
Pricing should be published and explainable: what the base price is, what color premiums cost and why, deposit percentage, and what happens to the deposit if things change. Our three-line pricing model is on the homepage with every add-on listed. A breeder who quotes different prices to different buyers for the same puppy is negotiating, not pricing.
5. "What happens if I can't keep the dog?"
The gold-standard answer: the dog comes back to us — always, at any age. That's ours. A breeder who takes lifetime responsibility for what they produce is a breeder who breeds carefully.
6. "Can I talk to past buyers?"
References should be easy. Better yet, look for verified reviews the breeder can't edit — our Google reviews sync straight to our website, unfiltered, because we can't cherry-pick what Google shows. Screenshotted text-message "testimonials" on a website prove nothing.
7. "What support do I get after pickup?"
The sale is the beginning of the relationship, not the end. You should leave with a health record, feeding plan, care guidance, and a phone number that gets answered at year five, not just week one.
Red Flags: Walk Away If You See These
Pressure tactics ("three other people want this puppy, I need the deposit tonight"). Always multiple litters of multiple breeds available right now — that's volume, not a program. Merle-to-merle breedings or a breeder who can't explain double-merle risk (see our color genetics guide). Prices wildly below market — someone is paying the difference, and it's the dog. Puppies released before 8 weeks. Won't show health testing, won't show the contract, won't do a video call from the kennel. Any one of these alone is a reason to keep looking.
Why We Publish This
Because an educated buyer is our best customer. Every question on this list is one we want to answer, and every red flag is a practice we built Lakeside to be the opposite of. Take this list to five breeders. If we're still standing at the end, we've earned your application.
Trust how a breeder talks about their dogs more than how they talk about their prices. The ones who can tell you each dog's quirks, structure, and pedigree from memory — those are the ones living with their program, not warehousing it.