Have you been thinking of buying a purebred puppy or kitten? Do you own a pedigree pet which you wish to mate? Explore the range of pet breeders located across Malta and Gozo and introduce a new member to your family. Be cautious, as buying a purebred animal is no easy task. You need to find the right breed for your family from a reputable breeder whom you can trust.

Why Buy an Animal from a Pet Breeder?

Professional pet breeders generally specialise in a specific breed which they're passionate about. Since breeding relies on genetics, mates are carefully selected according to their bloodline and planned matings are carried out to produce a pure litter, in an endeavour to preserve and enhance the breed's characteristics and follow the global Breed Standard.

You may want a purebred to serve as a family pet, but most people would want purebreds to start participating in national and international pet shows and to start breeding. Some purebreds may also have specific genetic utilities and thus may be used for racing, hunting or guarding purposes.

When buying an animal from a reputable pet breeder, you can expect to receive a pet with excellent pedigree history, a high standard of temperament, appearance, movement and health. Litter is guaranteed to be healthy as parents would have been tested for diseases, are vaccinated, and fed healthy food. Due to their proficient upbringing, they would be more adaptable to new environments, noises and people, and hence, can be trained more easily. Due to the breeders' passion, purebreds are treated well, kept in clean conditions and cared for. You'd also be able to meet the parents, whose temperament and structure would indicate how the animal's personality and structure would be in future. In contrast to crossbreeds, you'll know you'll be getting what you're paying for. Additionally, you'll be able to receive continuous guidance and advice from the breeder throughout his life.

Which Pets Can You Buy?

The most common breeds on the local scene include dogs, cats, birds and rabbits. Popular dog breeds include Malamutes, Beagles, Maltese dogs, Golden Retrievers, Teacup dogs, German Shepherds, Chihuahuas, Cocker Spaniels, French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Siberian Huskies, Pharaoh Hounds (Klieb tal-Fenek), Pointers and Yorkshire Terriers. If you're more inclined to buying a pedigree cat, you can choose from Persians, exotic cats, Siamese, Sphynx, British Shorthair, Scottish Fold, Bengal and Maine Coon cats. Birds are also popular in Malta, with parrots, parakeets, lovebirds, canaries, budgies, pigeons and African greys, being sought for. Bird breeders may only sell breeding pairs so it's best to check accordingly.

What's the Process of Buying an Animal from a Pet Breeder?

Self-Evaluation

First and foremost, you need to carry out a detailed self-evaluation process and consider various crucial factors. Can you afford a pet? Purebreds will come with an expensive price tag which can start from a few hundreds to thousands of euro. Additionally, you'll have ongoing feeding, medication, and training costs. Is your living space large enough to accommodate a dog? Would you be able to provide daily exercise, training and playtime? Will you be working long hours, leaving your pet feeling lonely at home? You need to ponder on these factors and make sure that adopting a pet is really what you want.

Which Breed Is Best for You?

After choosing the animal you prefer, you need to choose a specific breed. Conduct detailed research and gather as much information and reviews as you can from pet owners, breeders and the Breed Standards guide. Pedigreed pets follow an international Breed Standard, which would provide you with all required details. This is the ideal guideline to follow when choosing a pedigree as you'll find detailed information on physical appearance, temperament, movement, capabilities, health and any hereditary defects associated with the breed. Whatever your preferences, you'll find information on the size they grow into, coat length and type and optimal colour associated with its type. A big-sized dog would not be an ideal option if you live in an apartment, and if you're searching for a low-maintenance dog, you need to search for a dog type which is short-haired. Don't stop at the physical appearance, especially if you're looking at puppies which will surely look cute. Check out behavioural tendencies to determine whether they're good with kids and suitable for your lifestyle and your space, and consider grooming and dietary needs. You need to know what to expect when it grows into a full-fledged adult and be ready for commitment and responsibility.

When the most suitable breed for your lifestyle is determined, you'd need to decide whether to buy a male or female, puppy/kitten, adult or senior pet.

When Can You Buy a Purebred?

Particular breeds may not be so common and if you have very specific preferences, you may need to wait a long time for a litter that fits your specifications to be born. Renowned breeders would especially have long-waiting lists. Some may provide you with the opportunity to reserve a specific breed which would have all the desired features. Preferences may include sex, colours, and pet/show/mating qualities.

When the desired litter is available, you'd need to wait at least 8 weeks before you can remove the pup from his mother's care.

Where Can You Find a Reputable Breeder?

Finding a reputable breeder is crucial to ensure you're getting what you're paying for. Professional ones may be referred to by pet owners or veterinary clinics. Cat and dog shows are also opportunities where you can meet passionate breeders, or else you may contact or visit breeder clubs in person.

How Do You Choose a Trustworthy Breeder?

Finding an honest and trustworthy breeder who is committed to quality, rather than quantity, is a challenging task which you need to take seriously. Here are some of the factors which you need to take into consideration when looking around:

The Pet's Current Living Space

The space the mother, father and the pups are living in says a lot about the breeder. If they're being raised in a clean well-sized environment with access to food and water and specially designed areas for exercise and training, it means he is dedicated to his animals. Make sure you visit his home multiple times to make sure the living space is up to standard every time.

Pet's Parents

A good breeder will show you the father and mother of the litter without hesitation. Seeing them would give you a good idea of the litter's temperament and health.

Pet Shows

Most reputable breeders would enter their pets into local and international competitions due to the high quality pedigrees they raise. Their pedigrees may also have won some titles.

Pet's Health

Animals should have been screened for diseases and conditions before they were mated in order to ensure a healthy litter. The litter will then also be vaccinated and tested for any hereditary conditions which the breed in question suffers from. A professional breeder can provide the medical history of the litter's ancestry and present a Health certificate with the litter's test results. Do check whether the price includes a health guarantee or not.

Breeding Practices

Make sure that breeding practises conform to proper standards. Ask the breeder in question how often he mates his animals and how long he waits between one mating and another. A dedicated one will not mate animals which are too young, too old or too many times. They should wait 12 months until pets are mature and make sure the female is not mated on consecutive heats. Quality is more important than quantity in the case of professional breeders.

Breeder's Knowledge and Ability to Guide

A dedicated breeder should be passionate about the breed with an honest intention of enhancing its quality. He will have all the necessary knowledge on its pros and cons and would not be sceptical on sharing genetic defects which are associated with purebreds. Upon becoming a new pet owner, you'll receive ongoing advice and assistance from him.

Signing a Pet Contract

Professional breeders will make you sign a contract to guarantee their litter's safety and enrichment. They may choose to retain showing or breeding rights if the puppy or kitten has great potential and may reclaim him back if proper care is not administered or if the adoptive home cannot take care of it anymore.

Registering Your Pet 

A reputable breeder would be able to provide a registration certificate for pedigree purposes.

After buying a purebred, you'll be required to transfer the pet to your name. Without valid registration, you would not be able to participate in shows or continue breeding. Apart from registration papers, you also need to ask for vaccination records and care instructions so you'll know exactly what you're getting.

What Pet Training is Provided? 

A good breeder should provide the necessary house and collar training and carry out certain exercises so he grows up to be a good representation of the genus. The first six months are especially crucial for the development of the animal. When visiting the breeder's home, inspect how they interact with each other and with their owner, and whether the litter has been exposed to people, noises and smells. If affirmative, they would be more adaptable to new environments, and thus, would be easier to train.

What Are the Price Ranges? 

The price of pedigrees is quite high and several factors, such as breeding history, age, type of breed, sex, colour, structure, rarity, titles and qualities will determine the price. Check out the average prices a particular type is usually sold for, as a breeder who sells animals for less than they're worth should trigger an alarm. Finding the cheapest option isn't the way forward. You must be passionate about the breed and be ready to pay, be it for pet or show quality.

Pets of Foreign Origin

You may not find a desired breed locally and may be tempted to have him imported. A good breeder wouldn't ship the pup to you as it shouldn't be left alone on ships or planes. He will advise you to pick him up personally and remain with him throughout the journey.

Personal Questions

A reputable breeder will present you with a lot of questions. He will want to make sure that his litter is going to a safe and happy home and that they are suitable to the new owners' lifestyle and accommodation. The litter's safety is their utmost priority.

Explore the range of pet breeders listed on Yellow for pedigree animals. On the other hand, if you're more inclined into adopting an animal from a rescue organisation, click here for animal associations in Malta and you can choose from a variety of mixed breeds.

Check out these tips to make sure you're ready to explore dogs for adoption or other pets for sale!