Good Questions to Ask a Dog Breeder

Bringing a dog into your home is one of the most important decisions that anyone can ever make. After all, raising a healthy and happy dog is a long commitment that can last up to 15 years or more. When considering purchasing a dog from a breeder, it is essential to first ask all of the right questions before making any decisions.

  1. Parents

    • It is vital to ask a breeder whether medical tests have been conducted on both of a dog's parents to check their health. The health tests that are important for dogs include eye, hip dysplasia and thyroid examinations. This is due to the possibility of health conditions being genetic, meaning that they could get passed down to the puppy that you are considering. Also ask to see the pedigrees of the parents, as well as the parents themselves, especially the mother. In terms of health, it is also important to speak about a possible health guarantee or contract in case there is a medical problem with the puppy.

    History

    • Inquire about the breeder's history with the specific breed in which you are interested. It is important to know how long the breeder has dealt with a certain breed and how much experience he or she has with these types of dogs. Find out how many litters of the breed have been bred by the breeder. Also, ask whether the breeder is affiliated directly with any breed organizations (such as the American Maltese Association).

    Socialization

    • It is crucial to consult any breeder about a puppy's temperament (this also goes for the temperaments of the parents). Find out about any socialization that may have occurred during the puppy's young life, including exposure to humans and standard human activities that take place in a household (from the sounds of cooking to the playing of young children).

    Training

    • Breeders are supposed to be experts on the breed of dog they are breeding. As a result, they are likely to be aware of how difficult or easy it is to train that dog, especially given that they have knowledge about the puppy's parents. Certain breeds are much easier to train than others. It is important to find out this information before you make a final decision on purchasing a dog.

    References

    • Ask whether or not you can get references of the breeder's previous customers. A reputable and honest breeder should be able to provide you with contact information of people with whom he or she has done business. It can be extremely helpful to speak to other people and ask about the experience they have had with their pet, including whether the puppy had any medical issues and whether the breeder provided any assistance regarding the matter.