Get help from the breeder
Ask the breeder questions about the parents and close relatives: their health, temperament, conformation, and working ability. What expectations does the breeder have for the planned litter? Do these match the type of dog you are looking for?
Feel free to ask the breeder how they perceive the different puppies. The breeder has lived with them for many weeks and has observed them closely. This gives them a good idea of each puppy’s individual personality. However, remember that a breeder can never guarantee that a specific puppy will be suitable for a specific purpose.
If possible, visit several breeders to form your own opinion of the breed.
Some breeders also do not let the buyer choose a puppy themselves, but instead place each puppy where they believe it will fit best, based on your personality and how you plan to use the dog. In cases where you do get to choose your puppy, don’t pick the cutest one just because it’s cute. In the end, your dog will be the most beautiful dog in the world to you, even if it wasn’t the cutest in the whelping box.
Build a good relationship with the breeder
Try to develop a good relationship with the breeder, as it is invaluable to be able to call and ask about things you are unsure of. The breeder will most likely also be happy to receive regular updates about the puppy’s development and will usually be glad to help answer your questions.
Visit the breeder and puppies several times
To get a sense of what the puppies are like, you should visit the breeder on several occasions. On your first visit, for example, the puppies may have just been playing and might be tired.
Naturally, you will get a much better picture of the puppies if you can visit more than once, see how they develop, and get to know the puppy you eventually choose. If the breeder lives far away, try to stay a bit longer so that you have the chance to visit twice. Most breeders who have once accepted you as a buyer will happily let you spend time with the puppies so you can get to know them.
Also try to visit several breeders so that you can see more adult dogs before making up your mind. Be pleased if a breeder asks you many questions about you and your family, as this increases the chances that you will end up with the right puppy for your home.
Do you trust the breeder?
It is also important that you feel you can trust the breeder. Finding the right puppy is just as important as feeling confident in the breeder, who will hopefully still be there for you after the purchase price has been paid. Choose a breeder who you feel is genuinely interested in staying in contact.
Also try to get to know the adult dogs in the household so you can get a sense of their personalities. Keep in mind that buying from a well-known breeder is no guarantee of better puppies—especially if it is a breeder who produces many litters per year. Many breeders are more interested in selling than in carefully assessing you as a buyer.
The breeder’s ability to create a good environment for the puppies
There is an enormous amount a breeder can do for their puppies to give them the best possible start in life before they go to their new homes. Puppies that have experienced more than just their pen—who have gone on short walks, car rides, met other dogs, children, and so on—are generally better prepared to cope with change and stress than puppies who have spent their first eight weeks more isolated and sheltered. This is especially important in breeds that are genetically more prone to fearfulness around sounds, people, dogs, etc.
The breeder’s expertise in choosing the right puppy for you
The breeder is by far the most qualified person to choose the right puppy for your wishes—but this naturally assumes the breeder has had the time to get to know the puppies’ different personalities.
Should you choose the same breed as your neighbor?
Buying the same breed as your neighbor just because their dog is incredibly nice is no guarantee that the dog is typical of the breed, and often it is more relevant to ask why that dog turned out so well. How much training and work lies behind the behavior that you find so appealing?
If you still decide on the same breed, try as far as possible to look into the lines behind that dog and talk to a couple of breeders about whether this particular dog is a good representative of its breed.
Choosing the right breed and the right breeder can often feel like a lottery, but as with so many other things in life, it helps if you avoid impulse-buying a dog and instead take the time to decide what type and age of dog is suitable for you, whether you want a male or female, and above all which breeder you want to buy your dog from.
