When buying a puppy, it is important to ask the breeder a variety of questions to ensure that you are getting a healthy and happy pet. Here are some questions to consider asking:
- How old are the puppies?
- Are you able to see the puppy with its mum and dad?
- Are you able to see and handle the full litter?
- Are they weaned?
- What should I feed my puppy? Do you have a diet sheet to take away?
- When am I allowed to take the puppy home?
- Does the breeder place any caveats or guarantees on the sale of the puppies?
- Have health tests been performed on the parents?
- How long have you been breeding? What is your experience with this breed?
- How do you socialize your puppies?
- Can we contact you after picking up the puppy?
- What requirements do you have for people looking to buy your puppies?
- Are the puppys parents "certified"?
- Have the puppies had any health problems?
- Have the parents been checked for inherited conditions?
- What is the puppy’s inbreeding coefficient?
- Will there be a contract of sale?
- Can you see the pedigree (family tree)?
It is also important to meet the puppies and their parents in person, and to ask for references from previous buyers.
