Just to chime in here, and don't hate me, I'm just trying to explain how "responsible breeders" are recognized in the dog world.
Most responsible breeders will only have 1 to 2 litters MAX in a year, and will wait over a year to a few years passing in between litters. As mentioned, there will be a contract in place that if for some reason the owner needs to give up the pup, the breeder will take it back and either place it or keep it no matter if it's 10 weeks old or 10 years old. They will also ALWAYS be in the owners lives and will do extensive interviewing processes with the potential owners to make sure they are going to good homes. If they place a dog with you, most puppies (ones not pre-selected to potentially be shown, which would be on a co-ownership contract) will be put on contract that they are to be neutered and/or spayed and with a limited AKC registration so IF said buyer stupidly breeds the dog, they CAN NOT be AKC registered to bring more profit. Which is why you will see some puppies that are from AKC lines, but not AKC registered.
Also, most responsible breeders will not shove cute puppies in your face and talk prices. They will tell you to RESEARCH your breed, they will give you referrals, and encourage you to look up their health clearances and pedigrees. If you do not know the the potential health risks, they will make sure you are informed first and foremost of what you are getting yourself into. They will also give you a "reality" check, if you are getting a drooling dog they will tell you the realities of it and show you pictures of drool on their ceiling or better yet, have you come to their place and get drooled on. If you are getting a large breed they will tell you the realities of having a 100+ lb puppy running around your house.
And as Porkchopmaster mentioned, they will show their dogs to make sure they are prime examples of the breed and they will do ALL proper health clearances required for that breed and along with researching the genealogy of their lines to ensure they are using the BEST they can possibly use to FURTHER BETTER THE BREED. Usually this will include x-rays of hips/elbows, eye checks, heart checks by certified cardiologist vets, etc and they will be listed online for potential owners to research. There have been some great advancements in lifespan and minimizing crippling disorders like hip dysplasia in some lines and THAT is what the goal of a responsible breeder is. To make sure their dogs are the best representations of that breed that can be produced and that the puppys will be BETTER then their sire and dam. Any person who is interested in getting into breeding would need to prove them self to that community that they are qualified to breed and they will be taken under wing by a reputable breeder in the community who will mentor them for YEARS before any puppy is ever produced.
Also, many responsible breeders are VERY much involved in the rescuing of said breed and others. There are some breeds that you will hardly ever find a rescue situation because either a breeder or owner has stepped in immediately to take in that dog no matter what the expense is to them (and I have heard of bills getting in upwards of $10,000 easily). They will be a close knit community and very involved in one another's lives as well as their dogs and their dogs offspring.
It's not something that any of them take lightly and are dedicated to what they do, it becomes their lives.
In the dog world, anybody else is a back yard breeder (intentional or not) and/or puppy mill in their eyes and are passionate about stopping them just as much as us because these people are ruining the lines that the breeders worked so hard to improve for the health and longevity of the dog.
Most responsible breeders will only have 1 to 2 litters MAX in a year, and will wait over a year to a few years passing in between litters. As mentioned, there will be a contract in place that if for some reason the owner needs to give up the pup, the breeder will take it back and either place it or keep it no matter if it's 10 weeks old or 10 years old. They will also ALWAYS be in the owners lives and will do extensive interviewing processes with the potential owners to make sure they are going to good homes. If they place a dog with you, most puppies (ones not pre-selected to potentially be shown, which would be on a co-ownership contract) will be put on contract that they are to be neutered and/or spayed and with a limited AKC registration so IF said buyer stupidly breeds the dog, they CAN NOT be AKC registered to bring more profit. Which is why you will see some puppies that are from AKC lines, but not AKC registered.
Also, most responsible breeders will not shove cute puppies in your face and talk prices. They will tell you to RESEARCH your breed, they will give you referrals, and encourage you to look up their health clearances and pedigrees. If you do not know the the potential health risks, they will make sure you are informed first and foremost of what you are getting yourself into. They will also give you a "reality" check, if you are getting a drooling dog they will tell you the realities of it and show you pictures of drool on their ceiling or better yet, have you come to their place and get drooled on. If you are getting a large breed they will tell you the realities of having a 100+ lb puppy running around your house.
And as Porkchopmaster mentioned, they will show their dogs to make sure they are prime examples of the breed and they will do ALL proper health clearances required for that breed and along with researching the genealogy of their lines to ensure they are using the BEST they can possibly use to FURTHER BETTER THE BREED. Usually this will include x-rays of hips/elbows, eye checks, heart checks by certified cardiologist vets, etc and they will be listed online for potential owners to research. There have been some great advancements in lifespan and minimizing crippling disorders like hip dysplasia in some lines and THAT is what the goal of a responsible breeder is. To make sure their dogs are the best representations of that breed that can be produced and that the puppys will be BETTER then their sire and dam. Any person who is interested in getting into breeding would need to prove them self to that community that they are qualified to breed and they will be taken under wing by a reputable breeder in the community who will mentor them for YEARS before any puppy is ever produced.
Also, many responsible breeders are VERY much involved in the rescuing of said breed and others. There are some breeds that you will hardly ever find a rescue situation because either a breeder or owner has stepped in immediately to take in that dog no matter what the expense is to them (and I have heard of bills getting in upwards of $10,000 easily). They will be a close knit community and very involved in one another's lives as well as their dogs and their dogs offspring.
It's not something that any of them take lightly and are dedicated to what they do, it becomes their lives.
In the dog world, anybody else is a back yard breeder (intentional or not) and/or puppy mill in their eyes and are passionate about stopping them just as much as us because these people are ruining the lines that the breeders worked so hard to improve for the health and longevity of the dog.