Buying from a breeder
What should I ask a breeder before buying a puppy?
A breeder conversation is an interview in both directions. Careful breeders expect hard questions and ask plenty of their own. Use the list below on your first call, listen for how the breeder answers as much as what they say, and walk away from anyone who rushes you.
Health
Ask which health tests the breed needs and whether both parents passed.
Every breed has its own set of inherited problems, and responsible breeders test for the ones that matter in theirs. Ask which tests the breed's national club recommends, whether both parents were tested, and for the results or registration numbers so you can look them up yourself. A breeder who says the parents are healthy because they look healthy is not answering the question.
Ask what vaccinations and deworming the puppy will have before going home, and whether a veterinarian has examined the litter. Then ask what happens if your own vet finds a congenital problem soon after you take the puppy home. The answer tells you a great deal about how the breeder stands behind the dogs they produce.
- Which health tests are recommended for this breed
- Results for both parents that you can verify
- Vet exam, vaccines and deworming before go-home
- What happens if a congenital problem is found
Temperament
Meet the mother and watch how she greets a stranger.
Puppies inherit a lot from their parents, and the mother also shapes how they experience their first weeks. Ask to meet her. A friendly, relaxed mother who comes to say hello is a good sign. A mother who is kept out of sight, or who is frantic, fearful or growly with visitors, is worth taking seriously, even if the breeder has an explanation.
Ask what the parents are like at home: with children, with other dogs, with noise and new places. Ask why the breeder chose this pairing. Good answers are specific, like wanting a calmer temperament or better hips, rather than simply having two dogs of the same breed. If the father lives elsewhere, ask for his details and any videos.
Raising the litter
Ask where the puppies live and what they have experienced.
Puppies raised inside the home, around normal household noise, tend to adjust to family life more easily than puppies raised in an isolated kennel building. Ask where the litter sleeps, who handles them each day, and what they have already met: vacuum cleaners, car rides, different floors, gentle children, visitors, a crate.
Ask at what age puppies go home. Many breeders send puppies home at around eight weeks, and rules on minimum age vary by state, so a breeder offering a puppy much younger than that should give you pause. Ask how the breeder matches puppies to families, too. A breeder who knows each puppy's personality can steer you toward the right one.
The call
Run the breeder conversation in this order.
Owners often forget half their questions once a breeder starts talking about the puppies. Writing the order down keeps the call on track and makes it easy to compare two or three breeders afterward.
- Start with your household, your schedule and what you want in a dog, then ask which of their dogs fits that.
- Ask the health questions and request test results in writing before discussing a deposit.
- Ask about the parents' temperaments and request a visit or a live video call to meet the mother.
- Ask how the litter is raised and socialized, and at what age puppies go home.
- Ask to read the contract, including the return policy, before paying anything.
- Note how the breeder answered, then compare breeders side by side after the calls.
Red flags
Pressure, secrecy and always-available puppies are reasons to walk away.
Some warning signs are clear. The breeder will not let you see the mother or where the puppies are raised. Several breeds are always available. Payment is demanded quickly, before questions are answered. There is no contract, or the contract says nothing about returning the dog if your life changes. Meeting in a parking lot instead of at home is another one.
A careful breeder also screens you. Expect questions about your home, your schedule, other pets and your experience. Many will ask you to return the dog to them rather than rehome it, at any age. That is a good sign. It means the breeder cares where every puppy ends up, for the whole of its life.
- No access to the mother or the raising area
- Many breeds or constant availability
- Pressure to pay before questions are answered
- No written contract or no take-back clause
The programs
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What health tests should a breeder have done?
It depends on the breed. Each breed's parent club publishes recommended tests, often covering hips, elbows, eyes, heart or specific genetic conditions. Ask the breeder which tests apply, then check that both parents have results you can verify. Your veterinarian can help you understand what the results mean.
Is it a red flag if a breeder will not let me visit?
Usually, yes. Many breeders limit visits while puppies are very young, which is reasonable, but they should still let you meet the mother at some point or offer a live video call of the dogs and the raising area. A breeder who never shows you where the puppies live is hiding something.
Should I pay a deposit before meeting the puppy?
Many reputable breeders take deposits before a litter is born, so a deposit alone is not a warning. Pay it only after the health questions are answered, you have read the contract, and you are confident the breeder is real. Be very cautious of any request to pay with untraceable methods.
What should the breeder's contract include?
Look for the puppy's health status and vaccinations, what the breeder covers if a congenital problem appears, any spay or neuter terms, and a take-back clause that has you return the dog to the breeder if you cannot keep it. Read it fully before paying, and ask about anything unclear.
Can someone help me decide on a breed before I talk to breeders?
Yes. Our new dog consultation is a $99 session by phone or Zoom. Our head trainer talks through your household, schedule and expectations, helps you narrow the breeds that fit and suggests questions specific to those breeds. The decision stays yours.
Virtual session, $99
Choose the breed before you choose the breeder.
A $99 new dog consultation by phone or Zoom, anywhere in the US, helps you narrow the breeds that fit your life and go into breeder calls prepared.