Questions you should be asking before you visit the puppies for the first time.
Did the person breed the puppies themselves?
A puppy should only ever be bought directly from the person who bred them.
Will you be able to see the puppy’s mum?
You should always be able to see the puppy with its mother.
How many puppies are in the litter and how old are they/what’s their date of birth?
Ask this question when you see the puppies as well, just to double check you get the same answer.
If a c-section was needed, has the bitch had one before and how many times?
A dog should not have more than two c-sections.
How old is the mother and how many litters has she had?
The mother must not have been mated before 12 months of age, she must be no older than 8 years old and she should not have bred more than four litters in her lifetime – including this current litter.
Was the birth natural or was a cesarean section required?
Sometimes when puppies have been born by c-section, there can be a bonding issue with the mother and this can ultimately affect the puppies personality and behaviour.
Have the parents been checked for inherited conditions?
It’s important to find out what health tests are relevant for the breed you are interested in and whether your puppy’s parents have been screened. You also want proof of these tests having been carried out by seeing all the certificates.
What age will the puppy be microchipped and is it registered in the breeders name?
It is a legal requirement that the breeder (be they a registered breeder or not) has the puppies microchipped by the time they are 8 weeks of age. It is a legal requirement that the microchip is registered in the breeder’s name. The breeder should provide you with details so that you can change the details on the puppy’s chip to your own.
Will the puppies be vaccinated and wormed before coming home with you?
Puppies are usually wormed at 2, 5 and 8 weeks of age. If you are getting your puppy at 8 weeks of age it may or may not have had it’s first vaccination. But the sooner a puppy has its initial vaccination course, the sooner you can begin socialising that puppy in earnest.
Will you be able to see the father?
The father of the puppies may not be there, but it is worth meeting him if possible after all these puppies have 50% of both their mother and fathers genes in them!
Have the puppies had any health problems and have they been checked by the breeders vet?
You want to ensure that the puppy you buy is healthy from the outset.
Will you be able to see where they were bred and reared?
It’s a good idea to see where the puppies were bred and reared to ensure the conditions were good.
At what age will the puppy be allowed to come home with you?
Puppies need to be at least 8 weeks of age before going to a new home. This way they have had the chance to learn from mum and siblings and build some confidence.
Will you be encouraged to visit the puppies more than once?
If you have children, you should go the first time without them as it will make it easier for you to notice things and ask questions.
Can the puppy be returned if there are any problems?
A responsible and conscientious breeder should accept the return of a puppy in any of the following situations:
- Due to hereditary (can be defined as a disease caused by a genetic mutation that has been transmitted from parents to the offspring ) health issues that could have been tested for.
- Many breeds have well-known hereditary health issues within their breed population, some of which can be tested for with pre-breeding screening. Unless a breeder makes a puppy buyer aware that a dog might be affected by a certain condition prior to the sale and the buyer accepts this, a breeder should accept a puppy back if they are found to suffer from a hereditary health problem.
- Due to a congenital (refers to a disease present from birth) defect that the buyer could not reasonably identified.
- If the puppy has a congenital defect that has a serious, ongoing and/or potentially costly impact on the pup and that will affect their quality of life, the breeder should accept a return of the puppy, unless the buyer purchased the puppy knowing about it in the first place.
Meet Mary – our certified behaviourist
Our dog behaviour service is led by Mary Howat, who many of you may recognise from our Blairgowrie team!
Mary started working with Thrums in 2003, and has progressed to qualify as a certified animal behaviourist and certified Elite Fear Free professional. She also runs her own dog behaviour and training consultancy, K9INTUITION, taking veterinary referrals, behaviour consultations, one to one sessions with puppies and their owners and also providing advice for clients on choosing a puppy and before they have brought their puppy home.
She shares her life and home with her husband and their Labrador, Murdo and cat, Harray.
Call our Kirriemuir team today to book an appointment on 01575 572 643.