Thinking of a Bracco Italiano puppy?
The club recommends you find out the following before committing to buying a puppy:
Finding a Breeder.
Is the breeder a member of one or both of the 2 breed clubs. Breed club members agree to abide by the clubs code of ethics , some of which include good breeding practice, not breeding from dogs with health issues, under age or too often etc.
Ask to see their old dogs, good breeders treasure and appreciate their oldies and keep them. They don’t pass them on once they have had their quota of litters or sired the breeder a couple of litters and become surplus to requirement, that’s what puppy farmers do.
Find out if they breed a lot of litters, good breeders usually have no more than 1 litter a year and a lot of time and consideration goes into the selection of the sire, they don’t use the same sire on all of their bitches.
MyKC is a good source of information of numbers of litters breeders produce.
Good breeders don’t sell puppies with lots of terms and conditions and expect money back from any puppies your dog may have in the future.
A good breeder will ALWAYS take your dog back at any age if for any you are unable to keep him/her
A good breeder will support you and your puppy for the whole of its life, offering advice on training and health etc
If you want a puppy to work or show then ask the breeder for proof of any successes in the show ring or field, these are a measure of the quality of a breeders stock.
Don’t just rush in and buy from the first litter you see advertised on sites like Pets4homes. Good breeders usually have a waiting list and don’t readily advertise, be prepared to wait for a puppy.
Other Questions To ASK yourself, is a Bracco right for you?
Are you absolutely sure this is the breed for you, have you researched the breed thoroughly?
Do you have the commitment to train this sensitive, intelligent often stubborn breed and the patience to wait up to three years for it to mature?
Do you have access to safe, free running exercise grounds to use up that boundless energy?
Do you understand the need for training the recall with a hunting dog that can be driven by its nose?
Is your garden dog proof? Is your home ready for a chewing, peeing, slobbering bundle of energy?
A large breed can be a big financial commitment, feeding, insurance, vet’s fees, vaccinations, worming, training classes, kennelling during holidays etc. Are you prepared to give up some of lifes’ little luxuries if necessary?
Is someone home most of the day, a Bracco needs company.
Does the whole family want a dog?
If you can answer yes to all these questions and the Bracco really is the breed for you then the following points may help in your search for the right puppy.
Don’t just buy a puppy from the first litter that you see, try to look at the breed as a whole. Visit some adult dogs in their own home; attend shows, Discover Dogs at CRUFTS/Earls Court, Club events. Find out which lines have the type and nature that appeal to you.
Be prepared to wait for the right puppy, it is a 10-12 year commitment and with a rare breed you may have to wait longer than would be considered the norm in numerically stronger breeds.
Find out about inherited defects, for example have the parents been hip scored, elbow scored or eye tested. Ask the breeder if their lines have any inherited problems.
Always see a puppy with its mother, and try to see the whole litter. A photograph of the sire if not the sire himself should be available to see.
A puppy should seem heavy for its size, it should smell clean, have bright and clear eyes with no discharge. Check the ears, nose and anus these too should be clean and free from discharge. Be wary of timid puppies that cower away.
Do not expect to take your pup home straight away. It should be at least eight weeks old.
Ask about feeding your pup, get a diet sheet and preferably some food to tide you over; a puppy’s diet should not be changed suddenly.
Ask about feeding the dog as an adult.
Ask about exercise for the growing pup.
Ask about worming, inoculations, insurance, KC registration, endorsements etc. It is quite normal for litters to be endorsed with Kennel Club endorsements. These should be in writing in your contract with the breeder and signed by both parties. Ask what criteria need to be met to lift the endorsements in the future, if any. Be very wary of clauses which require you to breed from your puppy (or adult) or asks for future payments.
These are just a few points to help you in the task of selecting a puppy.
Remember take your time, be informed and you are likely to have a faithful friend for life.
View and download our the clubs Breeders Charter here.
