MOSSO: On buying a dog

Buying an Afghan Hound from a Breeder by Stir Greer

Seeking a healthy puppy (or adult) from a well-bred litter?

Go to a dog show or two. Talk to breeders and exhibitors after they are done showing for the day, and meet some dogs. (Don't expect adult Afghans to fawn over you - they are Afghan Hounds, after all.)

Choose a breeder with good dogs who is trying to breed to the Standard. Look for a predominance of CH titles in the pedigree. This is especially important if you are wanting a show dog. If you're looking for a pet, you should be advised that a CH gives some assurance that other people thought the dog in question actually looks like an Afghan Hound. It's very easy to say "my dogs are right and proper Afghan Hounds" - but are they? Says who?

Choose a breeder who is breeding from healthy stock. Verify all claims of health checks. Absence of proof is not proof of absence. And lack of information is just that, lack of info. Every line or family of dogs has risks and benefits - no one breeder has the market cornered on "health". Beware of those who malign other breeders' dogs, either directly or indirectly.

In Afghans:

CERF (eyes--CERF certification is valid only for one year due to the nature of eye diseases like JC and PRA, and one certification at 1 yo is not proof of eye health at age 5. Online database.)
OFA (hips--look at the grades of other get from both sire & dam, as well as littermates and parents. Online database which also lists eye and thyroid certifications, as well as elbow, heart, etc. Hip dysplasia isn't definitively understood, but why invite trouble? It's costly to keep a 75 pound male on NSAIDS and supplements for the majority of his life.)
PennHIP (hips--this scoring system uses a distraction method as well as the "OFA View". Though promised for several years, there is still no online-database by which you can check scores, so ask to see actual certificates.)
Thyroid (the profile, not just the T4 test! OFA will register/certify results, or ask for a copy of the results from your breeder.)
Though I'm unaware of any published data on number of affected Afghans, a breeder might check for von Willebrand's Disease: currently no genetic test for this in AHs, so testing is limited to measurement of von Willebrand's Factor. The result of the assay is reported in % ranging from 0-180. See Vet Gen for an example of correlation of DNA test with factor assay in two other breeds. This might give you an idea of how much meaning you might be able to put in a vWF result, or might not. Also see this paper vWD facts
Some breeders also check for Elbow Dysplasia, get Cardiac certifications, etc., either due to concern or simply the availability of testing.

Don't expect a breeder to subsidize your dog ownership by selling you a puppy "cheap". A well-bred litter is not cheap to produce (but a poorly bred litter is). Certainly don't expect a breeder to GIVE you a dog because you promise to show it. Do you value the pup/dog in question? Do you value the breeder's time and expertise?

An "ooops" litter (unplanned breeding) from health-checked stock can be a fine source of a show dog or pet. Don't get caught up in judging a pup based on who planned the litter, the breeder or the dogs themselves.

If you are looking at a litter of puppies from untested, non-CH stock and you spend $500, you're an idiot. Spending $1500 on such a pup is proof that you are certifiably dumb. Sorry. It has to be said.

A well bred pet pup from verifiable-healthy stock for $1500-$2000 is a BARGAIN. Don't get sucked into the AR mindset that a breeder is in the wrong for wanting to produce well-bred, well-raised, well-socialized pups, and requiring compensation from puppy buyers. If Animal Rights zealots had their way, there would be no pets, no SAR dogs, no bomb sniffing dogs, etc.

Now get out there, and find yourself a good dog!