Questions to Ask when Buying a Puppy

Questions to ask when buying a puppy are very important, especially when you consider the amount of money that you are investing in your future "best friend". Here are 10 questions that can help you make an informed decision.

Are you the owner of the puppies that you are advertising?

If the answer to this question is no, then this puppy could be coming from a pet shop situation or at least a backyard breeder and is most likely not coming from a reputable breeder.

Can I see the parents of the puppies?

If the answer to this question is no, then it is easy to assume that they are hiding something about the puppy. If you are inquiring about a litter of puppies, the mother should at least be available for you to see. The hidden concerns could be anything from the mother or dam being of poor quality to a greater concern such as a bad temperament that the puppy you are interested in could also have.

Where did you buy the parents or the mother of the puppies?

If the answer is from a pet shop, then you will have to decide if this is the type of puppy best suited for your situation. Often times these dogs are bought for an investment and the only concern the breeder has is making a buck. These breeds do not care about the puppy's temperament as it gets older, they are not concerned about improving the breed of dogs they are selling or getting rid of any genetic flaws that may arise in their bloodlines and they will not be able to help you with properly raising and caring for you puppy.

Are these puppies AKC registered?

Just because a dog or puppy is AKC registered it is not guaranteed to have a good temperament or even be a good quality dog. However, today there are many reputable breeders who will not release registration applications for puppies that they consider to be pet quality until the new owner can have the dog neutered. This helps ensure that quality dogs are available for registration because neutered dogs can not have any offspring.

Is the pedigree of the litter of puppies available for you to see?

Most reputable breeders have spent many hours going over pedigrees to choose which mating will be best for their dogs and will gladly let you see why they decided to choose this specific pairing. This is just another way to ensure that your puppy is coming from a reputable breeder. Other breeders do not spend the time to research the pedigrees and make an informed decision on the breeding or the outcome of the breeding.

How long have you been breeding this breed of dog?

The more experience a breeder has with that particular breed of dog, the more knowledge they will have about all aspects of the breed, which will benefit you if you ever have any questions or problems with your new puppy.

How many litters of puppies do you produce annually?

This is another way to tell if the breeder does this for the love of the breed or if they are only in it to make a buck. Those breeders who breed few times a year will have the time to give to the puppies and they will have gotten more attention They are also better socialized and often receive better care.

What kind of health guarantee do you offer?

A reputable breeder will generally offer a refund that is good for a definite period time after you buy your puppy or it will stipulate the age of your puppy as a factor of the guarantee. This health guarantee should be in writing and is supposed to protect both the breeder of the puppy and you the purchaser.

Are you a member of any of the Regional or National dog clubs?

National dog breed clubs generally have a rigid "Code of Ethics" that their members must adhere to in order to remain a member in good standing with the club. This "Code of Ethics" often prohibits the member from taking actions that are not in the best interest of that particular breed such as selling puppies to pet shops, breeding animals that are flawed genetically and other practices that could be harmful to the breed.

How much is the puppy?

This is not usually one of the questions that a prospective buyer forgets to ask. But when you are quoted a price, make sure you consider the answers to the previous questions that you have already asked the breeder. Sure, a backyard breeder may charge less for their puppies than a reputable breeder but in the long run it may cost you more to raise that puppy, especially if you run into health and temperament problems that you were not aware of at the beginning when you bought that puppy.