Buying a puppy - The most important questions to ask the breeder

Buying a puppy requires a significant investment of time, money, and research in order to get things right, and ensure that you buy a healthy puppy that is a good fit for you and your family. So, there are some important questions to ask a breeder when buying a puppy.

Even between pedigree puppies of the same breed, there can be a wide variation in the way that the breeder manages the breeding process and raises the puppies during those very important first few weeks of their development. 

You may not be concerned about owning a show quality puppy when you are looking for a family pet, but you will nonetheless wish to ensure that you get off to a good start by finding a puppy that has been bred for good health and temperament and responsibly cared for before you take them home.

Here is a puppy buying checklist of questions to ask before buying a puppy.

Have any health tests been performed on the puppies or the parents?

Some dog breeds are more prone than others to a range of genetically inherited health conditions, many of which can be tested for prior to breeding. It is wise to find out if the breed of puppy you are considering is particularly prone to any inherited problems – such as hip dysplasia or eye problems – and find out if the breeder in question tests their parent dogs and/or the puppies, in order to minimise the chances of passing these problems on down the line.

What socialisation and temperament testing have the puppies had?

The first 8 to 12 weeks of a pup’s life are a very formative stage, and a competent and experienced breeder will have spent this time wisely when raising the puppies. The puppies should be used to the presence of people, being handled and picked up, and they should have been exposed to normal household sounds, comings and goings and other day to day occurrences. The personalities and temperaments of the puppies will begin to manifest themselves at this stage as well, and a knowledgeable breeder will be able to comment on and discuss the personality and temperament that each puppy is beginning to display with any potential buyer.

What is the breeder aiming for in their breeding programmes?

Responsible breeders should breed their dogs for a continual programme of ongoing improvement with the aim of raising the standard and quality of their breed lines with each subsequent litter. Your breeder should be able to paint a clear picture of what this involves and what they are aiming to achieve with their own dogs, plus be able to tell you if they breed with an eye for showing, companion dogs, working stock, or something else.

Can you view the puppies’ father?

Not being able to view the puppies’ mother with her puppies should be an immediate warning sign for a potential puppy buyer. Unless you can be absolutely sure that there is very good reason why the pups’ mother isn’t present – for example, because of ill health – find another breeder. If possible, see if you can view the puppies’ father as well. This may not be possible in all cases as it’s not unusual for the dog not to belong to the breeder.

Does the breeder place any caveats or guarantees on the sale of the puppies?

Most dog breeders will offer a formal contract of sale for their puppies, which should outline in detail what you can expect from the breeder if anything goes wrong or the puppy is found to be in poor health. However, some breeders will also place caveats on the sale of their dogs, such as whether you can breed from them. Find this out during the early stages, to avoid disappointment later.

What have the puppies been fed?

Find out what the puppies have been eating as ideally you will carry on giving them the same food for at least a week when you take your puppy home. Usually, a breeder will provide new owners with some puppy food for the first few days.

Has the puppy been microchipped and had any vaccinations, flea or worming treatments?

By law, puppies need to be microchipped at 8 weeks old – so before they come home with you. Many breeders will ask the vet to give them their first vaccination at the same time and should all have received flea and worming checks and treatment. Make sure you are given all the documentation relating to the microchip registration (which you will need to transfer to your name) as well as any vaccination and other health records from their vet. You should show the latter to your own vet when you take the puppy for a check-up or their next vaccination.

Can you get references from any previous puppy buyers?

If your breeder is professional or semi-professional and it’s not their first litter, you should be able to get some references from previous buyers of their puppies. You may even be allowed to go and visit the puppy or adult dog in its new home. This could be a good opportunity to find out more about others’ experience with a puppy of the breed you’ve chosen.

For more advice, please visit our dog coach Vicky Carne's website.