The Buyer’s Checklist
Below you will find several questions to ask breeders, with an explanation as to why you would want a “yes” or “no” answer. If you don't think a point is important, then don't require it, simple as that. The list is mainly for people who don't know about the issues in the first place. And it is for people who don't know they can demand much more than they get from a pet shop, for much less than it will cost them at a pet shop. That's the basic difference between the person who breeds for income, and the one who breeds because they love the breed. The primary concern of the first type is to avoid losing money; if they lose too much they are out of business. The primary concern of the second type is the dogs. They expect to lose money and lose lots of money. For them breeding is a passion, not a business. You may be asking yourself “Wow! Do all those answers really have to be "correct"?” That's up to you and your standards. It is your choice; you can decide one or more of these don't matter to you.
You want these to be "yes"
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Were the puppies born on the premises? Most responsible breeders will have at the very least the dam on the premises. In a fair amount of cases the sire may not be on the same premises, but the breeder will have pictures of the sire available for you to view.
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Does the breeder insist that the puppies be at least seven weeks before being placed? Responsible breeders will not place puppies younger than seven weeks old. This is important for the best social and mental development of the puppy. Singleton (only) puppies and those removed from the litter early miss out on critical lessons in how to be a dog. This can be overcome to some extent by finding other playmates appropriately close in age AND an adult who can take the place of a skilled bitch teaching social manners.
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Have the puppies been introduced to children? To other animals? What steps are being taken to properly socialize each individual puppy? Socializing is not playing, socializing is becoming familiar and comfortable with all life has to offer, so the puppy should have been introduced to children, other animals, a variety of people, different scents and sounds, etc. Ask the breeder to list them.
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Does the breeder seem happy that you are asking questions?
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Does the breeder ask you lots of questions? Questions about your lifestyle, family, experience with dogs and other pets, why you wanted a dog? Did you feel a bit like you were applying for a million dollar mortgage? Breeders who care for dogs do their very best to make sure that the puppy goes to a home that has both the willingness and the ability to provide what the puppy needs to grow up into a happy, healthy wonderful pet. That means the breeder is going to need some information from you. Be prepared to provide the answers and please don't feel insulted. It may not feel like it, but they aren't asking questions to make you feel bad. They are just doing the best for their puppies. If you aren't comfortable with the breeder, or how they deal with you, then move on to another. Just understand that their goal is to do the best they can for the puppy, and the breeder is human and may have a hard time coming up with the right tone. Also don't feel that just because you made a mistake or had a bad experience that no breeder will ever consider you "worthy" of a puppy. It is true that some just won't take a chance. Most, however, just want to know what has changed. What will prevent the same kind of problem from happening again.
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Does the breeder ask you whether you planned on breeding? Most breeders will require the buyer to spay or neuter the puppy.
At what age will this requirement be enforced?
What incentive is being given to encourage compliance?
What is the potential consequence if the requirement is not met?
If this requirement is important to the breeder, does the contract expressly state that agreement and compliance is "material" to the contract?
- Will the breeder be available to offer advice and support for as long as you have the dog? As a puppy buyer being supported and assisted in making a successful match, you rely upon the breeder's experience with raising and training this breed. This does not stop once you take your puppy home, it should continue for the life of the dog.
- Does the breeder make you feel comfortable calling for advice? You want to be sure that you choose a breeder you will feel comfortable with for years to come. At any point in your dog’s life you may need advice or have questions, and your breeder should be your first resource.
- Does the breeder go over some of the problems some people have with the breed? Remember, it isn't possible to produce the perfect dog. What a breeder can do is become educated on what genetic diseases are, how they are expressed (become obvious instead of hidden), how serious they are in terms of risks to quality of life, and how to balance the risks so the dogs have the best chance at a good quality of life. So if you are looking at the qualities of a breeder, what you want to know is how well educated the breeder has become on these issues, and whether the breeder makes good use of that education.
- Is the breeder a member of a breed club? (An organization sharing information on the breed) A responsible breeder should be involved with the breed in other ways in order to build a resource base of information and knowledge. These would be activities that would tend to help the breeder make and maintain contacts with other people in the breed. They will also be ways in which the breeder contributes to the health and welfare of the breed.
- Were both sire and dam tested for any genetic health problems before the breeding? Did the breeder volunteer information on the health testing, and volunteer proof? In order to be listed with Yankee Golden Retriever Club Breeders Referral the breeder must provide the club with copies of clearances for hips, eyes & heart.
- Does the breeder have information on the health testing of most of the immediate relatives of the sire and dam? For the most part a breeder should know the health and fitness of the immediate family members. Making good breeding decisions requires knowing the health of as much of the immediate family as possible. The more information the breeder has on other dogs in the pedigree the more confident you can be that the breeder has been making good decisions.
- Does the breeder offer a guarantee against genetic health problems? Did the breeder explain that a guarantee is not a promise that a genetic health problem won't occur, but a promise about what will happen if it does? It isn't possible to produce dogs entirely free of genetic problems. So if a breeder tries to say that there are no problems, they are either lying or extremely ignorant. What you want is a breeder who is honest about what potential problems exist, and who tries to reduce the risk of problems, especially the serious ones. There are some breeds that have a very low rate of problems. There are none that have no problems at all.
- Is the guarantee at least two years long? A two year guarantee is a bare minimum. It avoids covering late onset problems such as blindness and cardiac problems. Such a short guarantee suggests the breeder doesn't really understand the difference between fault and responsibility. A breeder who truly stands behind their dogs accepts responsibility for genetic problems even if it is not their fault that those problems occur. Less than a two year guarantee is simply unacceptable as so many conditions will not be detectable at an early age.
- Does the guarantee allow you to keep the dog? Does the guarantee allow you to choose at least a partial refund instead of another dog? Contracts vary from breeder to breeder. Be sure to request a copy of a breeder’s contract to review prior to making the commitment to purchase your puppy. That way you know exactly what you are getting.
- Is the breeder concerned enough about the welfare of the dog to promise to take it back (no matter how old) if you can't keep it? (Not necessarily pay you, the purpose is to avoid the shelter, ensure good placement) Does the contract require return of the dog or an opportunity to approve placement if the buyer cannot or will not keep the dog? Does this apply no matter how old the dog is? That does not mean the breeder must refund the money. The purpose of the provision is the protection of the dog. The contract should include fair provisions accounting for whether the breeder gets any value by accepting the dog back. The buyer needs to understand that in most cases accepting the dog back is a burden taken on for the benefit of the dog and is not a benefit to the breeder. The breeder, however, needs to reassure the buyers that return to the breeder are not unfairly beneficial to the breeder. The goal is to encourage return instead of sale to an unsuitable home or surrender to a shelter or rescue.
You want these to be "no"
- Did the breeder state or imply that puppies would be arriving from off premises? (e.g. shipped in soon)
- Will the breeder agree to sell a puppy less than 7 weeks old?
- Was the breeder reluctant to answer questions?
- Did the breeder seem to be defensive in answering questions?
- Does the breeder charge different prices for dogs with or without papers?
- Did the breeder claim that his or her lines were entirely free of genetic health problems?
- Do you feel pressured into buying a puppy? Do you feel like the breeder is trying to "sell" the puppy (as in persuading you to buy)?
- Does the breeder promote the puppies as gifts or offer some special incentive in price to encourage a sale?
- Does the breeder have more than two breeds available?
- Does the breeder consider himself or herself to be a professional in the business of breeding? That is "professional" in the sense of making money, profit, or income, to be distinguished from "professional" in the sense of serious, dedicated and knowledgeable.
- Does the breeder charge different prices depending upon the sex of the puppy?
- If the breeder advertises, do they seem to focus on superficial qualities like color or size while ignoring health testing?
- Does the guarantee require the dog die or be euthanized because of the health problem?
- Does the health guarantee require that you return the puppy?
- Is the guarantee limited to a replacement puppy from the same breeder?
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