Some Questions to Ask When Buying a Puppy

Some Questions to Ask When Buying a Puppy

Inexperienced dog owners often fail to ask important questions when buying a puppy. They get so involved in the emotion of falling in love with a cute puppy, they fail to consider many important items. Here are some questions you should ask before you bring home that wonderful new family member.

• What is the price of the puppies in this litter? Too obvious a question? Not really. Breeders who charge one price for “show-quality” pups and possibly a different, lower price for “pet-quality” dogs should probably be avoided. Why? Unless there are obvious issues with coat color or outward physical issues that disqualify a pure bred puppy from being shown, it is almost impossible to differentiate show- versus pet-quality dogs from birth to around eight weeks old. At least ask the breeder for their reasons for believing there is a difference in puppies in this litter. Should a breeder charge a different price for males and females, you might also want to disqualify them from your consideration.
• What is the health situation of the puppies AND both parents? Experienced dog breeders will have written documentation of the health condition of sire, dam, and puppies. Health tests of the parents (including hips, eyes, thyroid, or any other breed-specific potential issues) are very important. This may indicate a tendency for potential health issues in the future for these puppies. But finding a reputable breeder involves knowing these answers in advance and good breeders understand your concern.
• What immunizations has the breeder given the puppy to date? Always ask for written evidence, as less-than-honest breeders often only provide “oral” evidence and cannot (or will not) provide written proof of inoculations, treatments, and/or examinations.