Ask the breeder if you can tour their kennel. It doesn't matter whether they have hundreds of or just
2. If they are breeding dogs they have a kennel. Whether they call it a kennel or not.
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If you are looking for a purebred dog. Ask if it is registered, and with what registery. Do not assume
that just because a breeder says their dog is registered that it is registered with the American Kennel
Club (AKC). If it's not registered with AKC, ask why not.
There can be a number of reasons as to why not.
The dog may never have been registered. May have been sold as a pet...often with a spay and neuter
agreement and a limited registration. (Limited registration means that the dog is not to be bred and if
it is bred the puppies are not eligible for registration.)
It's also possible that the breeder has been suspended. There are a number of reasons this can
happen...from record keeping issues to animal abuse.
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Has the puppy has been vaccinated, written vaccination records should go with your puppy.
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Are the puppy's parents are on site. Does the breeder have both parents.
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How long the breeder has been breeding dogs.
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How many breeds they breed.
How long has the breeder been breeding this particular breed.
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How often does the breeder breed her females.
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When was the puppy born. How old are puppies when the breeder allows them to go to their new
homes. I strongly recommend that you do not accept anything under a pound. Nor under 10 weeks
old if local... a minimum of 12 weeks if being shipped. If you have small children you may want to
consider one 5 or 6 months. Of course this depends on the dog and the children and how much time
you have to supervise your children with the puppy.
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Does the breeder require interviews, or do they just sell to anyone without a care as to what happens
to the puppy or where it goes.
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Do they have a return or puppy placement policy.
Most responsible breeders do have a return or puppy placement policy. Most will take their puppies
back, however this is done without a refund. This is not primarily about the money.
It's about making sure people think it through before they take a puppy home in the first place. Plus
it helps to eliminate irresponsible people who would take a puppy home... mistreat it and bring it back
to the breeder... usually ill or close to death. Yes I have seen this, my mother was a breeder and was
taken advantage of more times than I can count. She took people at their word. I do as
well...however, I back up their word, as well as my own with written ...signed contracts.
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