What to Ask a Breeder

Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the qualities of a dedicated and knowledgeable dog breeder. Once you begin to inquire about puppies, and find one you want to know more about and meet, it will be important to know what questions to ask the breeder to determine whether your future puppy has been carefully bred and cared for. The following are some questions to ask, a little information about why the questions are important and answers good breeders are likely to give.

How are your puppies raised? What kind of socialization have they had?

The importance of this question cannot be overstated. It is vital that a breeder introduce every pup to the world- many objects, sounds, people and places as well as other animals at the appropriate age. Once a litter is old enough, socialization is one of the most important responsibilities a breeder has. A good breeder will give you plenty of information on what a pup has experienced so far, and provide advice on how to continue a pup’s socialization.

Do both dam and sire have a CHIC number? Will you provide me with copies of the dam and sire’s health clearances?

It is very important to breed only those dogs who are healthy and have been screened for, and deemed free of, certain genetic disorders.

After the appropriate (breed specific) health screenings are done and the results are submitted to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, a number is issued. A good breeder will be able to provide you with the results of the health tests performed. Many good breeders test for other conditions as well. Results can be viewed by anyone on the CHIC website at Canine Health Information Center

What is a temperament test? Why may I not be able to choose my puppy?

As a litter develops and matures, individual personalities will start to blossom. One pup may be very active, grab the toys, jump, run, twist, turn, and tackle the others. Another pup may be sweet, silly, cuddly and playful. It is important to assess a puppy’s temperament- its personality, innate behavior trends and activity level. A good breeder will evaluate (temperament test) each pup and strive to match up the pup with a home that will be a good fit for both.

Do both dam and sire have a conformation title? If not, why?

for breeding should be a sound, stable and structurally correct representative of its breed capable of easily being amongst and around strangers, noise, crowds and other dogs. Earning a CH (by competing in dog shows) is one way a dog will demonstrate it has these important qualities and should be considered for a breeding program. On occasion, there can be exceptions to the rule. If either dam or sire does not have a CH title, or if you notice a dog or two in the pedigree without a CH before its name, ask why the breeder did not “finish” or earn a CH title, before the breeding. A good breeder will have a good reason.

Are your puppies sold with a written contract?

A written contract serves to support and protect the buyer, the breeder, and most of all- the puppy. A good contract will affirm certain things- like a health guarantee that states the puppy is healthy, free of communicable disease and current on immunization. The written contract may include spay/neuter requirements appropriate to your puppy as well as an agreement to provide appropriate care (good food, training, exercise and veterinarian care). A good breeder will always take back a dog if the buyer becomes unable to care for it.

Why did you decide upon this particular breeding?

The decision to breed should never be taken lightly. There are many dogs in this world. It is very important for a breeder to have a goal in mind when deciding to produce a litter. A good breeder is always trying to improve on his or her current generation and produce pups that are better than their parents. The following responses indicate you are not dealing with a good breeder:

“We thought it would be a great experience to raise a litter”
“We love our dog and just wanted one of his/her babies”
“We did not plan on the litter, our intact male got to our young female by mistake”
“Our friend/neighbor knows a lot about dogs, he/she owns the father/mother of the litter”