Questions about your situation
Ask yourself the following questions before you buy:
- Do I/we have time for a dog?
- Who will take the dog out for walks?
- Why do I/we want to get a dog?
- How do I/we want to live with the dog?
- Who am/are I/we getting the dog for?
- How and where will the dog live?
- Who will take care of the dog – e.g. grooming, brushing teeth, bathing the dog, etc.?
Questions to ask yourself about the seller and the dog
- Do I/we trust the seller? Do they seem credible and serious?
- Does the seller seem to take good care of their own dogs?
- Do the dogs seem to like the seller?
- Does the seller seem interested in making sure the dog will have a good life with me/us?
- Is the seller trying to rush the sale? If so, why?
- Do I/we like the bitch/mother?
- Would this dog fit in with me/our family?
Keep in mind
Trust is about your gut feeling – by asking the questions above, you will get closer to the truth.
Keep in mind that if you bring the children, the situation can become very emotional. That’s why it can be a good idea to visit the breeder alone the first time. Children always fall for puppies – whether they are healthy or sick – and regardless of whether the breeder is nice or unpleasant.
If you haven’t had a dog before, it can be helpful to bring someone who has bought a dog themselves and has more experience than you.
The breeder
Ideally, you want a breeder who:
- genuinely likes dogs,
- has a pleasant bitch whom she has mated with a pleasant male to have puppies,
- has treated the puppies well during their first weeks of life.
If the breeder cares about the dog having a good life with you, it’s more likely that they are responsible and serious. Other important signs that they handle their dogs properly are if the dog is ID-marked, vaccinated, dewormed, and examined by a vet.
Meet the puppy’s parents
If possible, try to meet both of the puppy’s parents. That way, you have the chance to see if this is the type of dog you/we really want. The puppy’s parents say a lot about what kind of dog you will end up with.
If it’s a mixed-breed dog, you should also make sure you find out which breeds are in the dog and read up on those breeds – what kind of temperament they have – before you decide. For example, if you want a pure companion dog, it might be a disadvantage to choose a breed with too much hunting instinct. Try to find a dog that matches what you want to use the dog for and what your family situation looks like (children’s ages, etc.).
