Dealing with a reputable breeder

When you go to inspect or buy a puppy remember you may prevented from touching  puppies that are less than 4 weeks old.

This is ok, and is simply the breeder trying to eliminate any chance of illness in the puppies

While many dogs bought from newspaper ads and yard signs are healthy and happy, far too many are ill, poorly socialized, genetically flawed dog-catastrophes waiting to happen.

Suggested questions you should ask your breeder.

When is he/she old enough to go home?

If you are purchasing a purebred puppy from a breeder, you should purchase a puppy that is between eight and twelve weeks old. A puppy should not be separated from its mother before eight weeks of age.

 Is this breed right for me and my lifestyle?

Check to make sure that the breed is compatible with your life and your needs before you make that purchase. Verify that the dog you are looking at is healthy.

How long have you been breeding dogs and what other breeds have you brLook for someone with some experience with the breed you are interested in. If they are new to your breed, do they have experience with a similar breed?

You probably want to avoid anyone who has "switched" breeds every couple of years, from popular breed to popular breed. Also, be very wary of people who have many  dog breeds. It is not uncommon to find people breeding more than one kind of dog (for example, quite a few Cavalier breeders are also interested in Havanese), but a breeder producing litters of many different breeds of dog is not going to be your best source, and probably should be suspected as a puppy-mill or disreputable breeder.

What kind of congenital defects are present in this breed? What steps are you as a breeder taking to decrease these defects? What is the breed club doing re this problem if anything?

Avoid anyone who says "none", or "not in my dogs!". There are genetic problems in   some small and some not-so-small dogs - some problem is present in almost every breed. Do some research here, and make sure you know what kind of answer you should be getting from the breeder.

A reputable breeder should be able to tell you what kinds of problems might be present in the particular breed (for example, hip dysplasia, patella luxation, thyroid problems,  etc) and what kind of testing is available to find it. It goes without saying that the breeder should be doing those tests on their breeding stock. Any dogs that have any of the more problematic of these problems should not be bred -- avoid anyone who is breeding dogs known to have serious genetic problems, and who is not testing their dogs and bitches.

Do you have the parents here? Can I see them?

This is kind of a trick question - most times breeders will not own both dogs. They will own the mother (and you should be able to see her). The best match for that bitch probably belongs to someone else. You should be able to see the mother and any other dogs on site when you visit. If the breeder hesitates, you should wonder why - are the dogs kept in clean, healthy conditions? Are they too aggressive to let loose? You should be very comfortable with any reason not to see the dogs.

What are the good and bad points of the parents? What title do they have?

Some breeders will start to gush at this point and enumerate all the wonderful qualities of their dogs - and the best I've talked to also will point out their flaws. What you're looking for here is temperament, possible aggression, how they deal with people, how they're not "perfect".

As for titles, reputable breeders show their dogs, and they should be carrying points towards a championship, if not champions already. This is important - while there are many wonderful dogs out there that haven't seen the inside of a show ring, if the breeder is truly trying to improve the breed, they will be comparing their dogs to other breeders and trying to breed dogs that match the standard. The only way to do that is to show their dogs.

Many breeders compete in obedience as well, and will have Companion Dog (CD) or other obedience titles or agility passes for the parents. Often, this is a good benchmark for temperament and behaviour.

Can you ask your breeder to explain the puppy's pedigree?

Yes a good breeder should be able to tell you something about dogs on your puppy's pedigree. Have them explain the often cryptic letters and titles awarded, and get a good feel that they know the lines they are breeding from. At the very least, they should be able to provide you with a 4 generation pedigree and be able to tell you about the dogs.

You might see the same dogs listed a few times on the pedigree - the breeder should be able to point out any linebreeding and inbreeding and explain the benefits and dangers of both.

Where were the puppies raised? How have you socialized them?

What you're looking for here is an indication of what kind of socialization the puppies have had. Ideally, you want the breeder to have raised the puppies in the house, around the normal daily activities of a household so they are used to the noises and activity of humans, and hopefully they may have been taken out for a drive to get them used to travel.

A breeder who says "in the garage" or "in the kennels" can also have well socialized puppies, but you need to be more careful. Most toy breeds are raised in the home and are able to enjoy the home environment - if not have they spent enough time with the puppies? Some puppies are moved outside during the day to get used to other noises and such. Socialization is so important to getting a well-adjusted, well-mannered dog. Puppies should have been exposed to people, other dogs, new situations, normal household sounds and activities in order to learn. A puppy raised without this important social interaction can be shy, fearful, aggressive, or have other problems as they get older. Dogs need to know how to play, how to handle new situations, how to relate to people.

How many litters do you have most years?

Definitely avoid anyone who "always has puppies", or who is breeding their bitch every year or a very young bitch who has already had puppies. If someone has three litters (especially if they note that it was "unexpected") on the ground at the same time, they are certainly not planning these puppies! All puppies should be "expected" and well planned.

What guarantees do you have for this puppy? And what paper work will I get with him/her.

At the very least, the breeder should guarantee the puppy against any debillitating genetic problems, and ensure that the puppy is in good health. You should get the registration papers that they receive from the controlling body in that State. It may be on Limited Register! If it is a pet to be de-sexed, this means this puppy is not for breeding.

A breeder should be prepared to take any dog back for any reason - part of being an ethical breeder  is making sure that the puppies have a good home and that it stays that way.

Grooming and Care

All of these breeds need regular grooming. Many pets  are kept in a "puppy clip" which means they are not too short as the dogs need some cover to help protect them from skin cancers. These breeds do not shed their coats as much as many other breeds and this makes them a popular choice for people who suffer from allergies or asthma.

Ask how much grooming will I have to do and how much may that cost me?

What can you expect from the breeder?

You would expect:

1.      That the breeder provides a list of health tests that have been done on the parents and others in the lines of the puppy.

2.      That the breeder provides full vaccination and any microchip records.

3.      That the puppy is healthy and should be free from internal and external parasites.

4.      That the breeder provides you with written information on the care, feeding and training of your new puppy.

5.      That the breeder provides a sample of the food the puppy is used to eating.

6.      Find out if  the breeder has a policy to undertake to take the puppy back for re-homing if you are unable to keep it in the future.

7.      That the breeder will offer advice about the best age to get your puppy de-sexed.

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