Getting a puppy? Questions to ask the breeder (and yourself)

So you want to get a puppy? Exciting times. But before you rush into buying the first cute little thing you see, take a moment to think about what breed of dog would suit your lifestyle. The decision you are about to make will affect the next 13 or so years of your life.

Consider your amount of free time, your activities, your energy.  Don’t get a working breed unless you are prepared to give it lots of physical and mental exercise. Don’t get an active breed if you are more of a sedentary type.  Don’t get a lapdog if you are going to leave it on its own for any length of time.  

And don’t be surprised when the breed you do choose starts showing behaviours he was bred for.  A terrier may dig up your garden, a sight hound may run off at full tilt into the distance after prey, a husky may pull like a train on the lead.

What I’m saying is DO YOUR RESEARCH.

I have lost count of the amount of times I have heard people say, “We didn’t choose the puppy, the puppy chose us!”  If you do make a choice, be careful about just going for looks – the  puppy with the floppy ear, or the heart shaped patch on his back.  What is much more important is temperament and energy.

Your breeder will know the temperament of all the puppies in the litter, and of the parents, so ask.  What will suit your household?  A shy puppy will be suited to a quiet home, perhaps with a single owner. A boisterous puppy may be suited to a house with an older dog who can keep it in line. A bossy puppy will need strong assertive owners. A puppy who has shown any guarding behaviours should not go to a home with small children.

ALWAYS buy from a reputable breeder.

NEVER buy a puppy from a puppy farm, or one that is less than 8 weeks old.

Poor breeding will affect your puppy for the rest of its life.

Bitches on puppy farms are used for financial gain, with little concern for the dog’s welfare. Their stress if often passed down to their puppies. A puppy who is less than 8 weeks old has not been taught the skills and valuable lessons it needs to learn from its mum.

Even if you think you are ‘saving’ one of these unlucky puppies, you are actually only enabling the disreputable breeders to continue to line their pockets and treat dogs poorly.

We must break the cycle.

Things to ask the breeder

A good breeder will ask you lots of questions. Such as ‘Do you have a garden?’ or ‘How long will you leave the dog alone each day?’  Be wary if they don’t.  Their first concern should be for the dog’s welfare.

Also be wary if they skirt around being able to answer any of the following:

Can I see the puppies with their mother?
Pups should be with their mother for their first 8 weeks.
Does the mother look healthy? Is she nervous or confident?

• How old is the mother and how many litters has she had?
  She shouldn’t be older than 8 or have had more than 4 litters.

• Who is the sire (father)?
  Ask about his temperament and if you can see a photo.

• Have both the parents and the puppies been health checked?
  Ask to see certificates from a vet. Some breeds are predisposed to certain diseases

• Will the puppies be wormed and vaccinated?
  They should have certificates to show they have been wormed at around 2, 5 and 8 weeks old and ideally have had their first vaccination.

• Are the puppies microchipped?
  They should be. It’s a legal requirement.

• Will there be a contract of sale and a list of advice?
  There should be, outlining your responsibilities  and the breeders.

• What are the puppies being fed?
  It should have a high protein content (around 60%) and they should send you home with a small bag of it. You can change the food later if you want.

• Is the litter being raised within a home? And are the pups familiar with typical household noises?
  They should be accustomed to the clattering of pans, doorbell, people coming and going etc

• Does the breeder have small children?
  This could be useful if you yourself have small children, but you want to check that the pups haven’t been stressed out by poor handling, which could lead to a fear of being picked up.

• Have the puppies been socialised?
  Ideally that should have had some interactions with people other than the owners.

• Have the puppies been in a car, on grass, eaten out of bowls?
  Not essentials, but will make your life easier if they have.

• Have the puppies been inside a crate?
  A good breeder will introduce puppies to a crate. This encourages the pups to hold their bladder and to settle for naps.  If you are planning to crate train your pup (and I recommend you do) this will make things easier.

• Can you provide a toy or blanket that smells of mum to go home with the puppy?
  A good breeder should do this as it makes your pup feel more settled once he is separated from mum

• Can I give the puppy back if things don’t work out?
  All breeders should answer yes to this. 

Are you getting a puppy?