Meeting puppies but don’t know what to ask

awkwardusername · 2021-05-01T21:46:31+00:00

We are going to visit a litter of puppies in a couple of weeks and we don’t know what to ask! We are looking for a bitch and we have been speaking to the breeder since mating occurred; the litter consists of five of each! The breeder is KC registered and has provided paperwork for both mum and dad. We aren’t sure what we should ask, what we should take with us or what the breeder might ask us! We have lots of detail about our lifestyles before we were added to the waiting list (German shepherd) so just need some advice. We have seen the health checks etc so we’re happy on that front, but as first time dog owners we aren’t really sure what to expect!

Happenchance · 01/05/2021 23:53

There's some advice here: puppycontract.org.uk/puppy-buyer/10-steps-buying-puppy

Have you seen a copy of the breeder's contract yet? I would want to know if they would take the dog back at any point during it's life, if you were unable to look after it.

Has the breeder already asked you a lot of questions?

Original poster

awkwardusername · 01/05/2021 23:57

@Happenchance

There's some advice here: puppycontract.org.uk/puppy-buyer/10-steps-buying-puppy

Have you seen a copy of the breeder's contract yet? I would want to know if they would take the dog back at any point during it's life, if you were unable to look after it.

Has the breeder already asked you a lot of questions?

Yes! They asked a lot of questions before we were added to the waiting list for a puppy! We’ve not yet seen the breeders contract but he said he would give us a copy after meeting mum and the pups, not sure if that’s a good sign! Also, the breeder picks the puppy we will eventually get, and I’ve read mixed reviews about that too, any advice?

OP posts:

Cleverpolly3 · 02/05/2021 00:25

What breed of dog is it?

Happenchance · 02/05/2021 00:26

Also, the breeder picks the puppy we will eventually get, and I’ve read mixed reviews about that too, any advice? In my opinion, it depends how experienced the breeder is. You could ask if they have chosen puppies for previous families and how many of those puppies were returned, but that assumes that the breeder will be honest with you.

Personally, I would look clinically at the puppies and decide which one was right for my particular setup, then see if that agreed with the breeder’s choice. I would also expect the breeder to give a detailed explanation about why they had chosen that particular puppy.

Is the breeder happy for you to visit them more than once? If you have kids, I wouldn’t take them on the first visit. It’s hard to look clinically at puppies when you have kids begging you to chose the one that they think is cutest (or the one that is hanging of them ).

Cleverpolly3 · 02/05/2021 00:27

Sorry how did I miss that!
Assume you are as in the know about the breed as you can be ?
They are beautiful dogs

Cleverpolly3 · 02/05/2021 00:31

@Happenchance

Also, the breeder picks the puppy we will eventually get, and I’ve read mixed reviews about that too, any advice? In my opinion, it depends how experienced the breeder is. You could ask if they have chosen puppies for previous families and how many of those puppies were returned, but that assumes that the breeder will be honest with you.

Personally, I would look clinically at the puppies and decide which one was right for my particular setup, then see if that agreed with the breeder’s choice. I would also expect the breeder to give a detailed explanation about why they had chosen that particular puppy.

Is the breeder happy for you to visit them more than once? If you have kids, I wouldn’t take them on the first visit. It’s hard to look clinically at puppies when you have kids begging you to chose the one that they think is cutest (or the one that is hanging of them ).

Agree with all of this My dog is older than my children but I’d gone without them to chose her if it was the other way around.

A breeder making a selection of puppy for a buyer would need to be an informed decision with some evidence of success for me I think. Assuming all puppies are healthy and are checked for breed specific issues etc.

caringcarer · 02/05/2021 00:49

We have bought 2 puppies in the past and picked them both ourselves. You should watch the puppies carefully. If one or 2 seem shy I would discount those as they may develop into nervous dogs. I picked an inquisitive one. I saw pups feeding from Dam on first visit and still with Dam and siblings but eating mush food on second visit. That is when I picked out my pup. I went back to collect when 10 weeks old.

Leonberger · 02/05/2021 07:04

Personally I would prefer the breeder to select me a puppy based on the type of dog I’m looking for, they know them best.

I would also check where they are being raised. I would only take a puppy that’s been raised in a home, preferably around other animals and children if possible. Lots of breeders now take on some early socialisation before the puppies leave so I would ask what sort of protocols they have in place for making sure the puppies are used to everyday things.

I would then want to meet the bitch, if there’s any nervous traits in her at all then run away as fast as you can. GSD are very prone to nervous and weak temperaments and you should avoid like the plague if any of the relatives are anything but happy and confident.

At the very least for GSD I would want to see decent hip and elbow scores for both parents and also DNA testing for CDRM.

Finally with GSD there are so many different types. Ours is basically bred as a pet, some are working or ‘police’ line and then there’s the show line. Depending on what your looking for the temperament may very massively so do some research on the lines and if you can try and find some other people who have puppies from this breeder and see how they turn out. Do some Facebook stalking and type in the prefix into the search bar- that can sometimes tell you a lot!

Training can help with any dog but it’s so important to get the right genetic base with a GSD so I would be even more careful than with another breed

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 02/05/2021 11:07

We've had a mix of 'we chose' and 'breeder chose' - in the latter case the breeder knew me already, had seen me training one of my dogs, and I'd also trained under her instruction... Plus she has decades of experience.

TBH it took much longer to bond with the 'breeder chose' puppy, but as she's growing up she's proving to be a very good fit in a lot of ways. She's not as madly driven as some dogs from that line, which is appropriate for us.

On the basis of my own experiences, I think an experienced breeder is well able to fit a puppy to a family, so it wouldn't worry me now.

DiddlyWiddly · 02/05/2021 12:14

I would be extremely careful with that breed.
As a PP said, nervous temperament is a huge issue within the breed now.

tabulahrasa · 02/05/2021 12:25

I’d double check the health tests... it’s not just hips and elbows with GSDs.

Also I’d want a low inbreeding coefficient.

What they’re being bred for, both in terms of why the litter exists because now is a very dodgy time to be breeding if they’ve no plans for at least one of the puppies and what lines are in them - a working line GSD is a very different dog from a show line one and some people are producing pet line ones, but rarely well... and working line GSDs are a hell of a lot of dog.

Also do they own both parents? Because that’s not a good sign in a breed as numerous as a GSD.

tabulahrasa · 02/05/2021 12:33

Oh and what they’re doing about socialisation as well, GSDs definitely need everything doing early, they have a very early socialisation period.

PollyRoulson · 02/05/2021 13:00

Absolutely socialisation and more socilasation. GSD need a very careful and very well timed socialisation plan. Ask to see theirs, it should be detailed and in depth. Ask them for advice onhow to carry this out when you have the puppy. As firs time dogs owners this can be challenging.

If no written plan they should be able to communicate clearly what they are doing to socialise the puppies before you get them.

BlueEyesWhiteDragon · 04/05/2021 21:58

We breed GSDs.

Pretty much agree with what the others have said. There's many issues in GSDs not just the hips and elbows so double check health tests especially DM - the test for this is relatively low cost so id be worried if they hadn't carried it out.

Are they working line or pet/show line? There is a huge huge difference in the drive between a pet and working line and if you a first time dog owner pure working line is asking for chaos tbh.

Ask about plans for socialisation. What age are they being sold to you? 8 weeks or 12 weeks? The breeder should be able to provide you with a plan on socialising them - what they expose them to, how, when, how frequently. This ideally should be written with the socialisation ticker off / commented on as its been done. Are they in the house or kennels? If kennels ask about how they are and how frequently bringing into the house to socialise.

Do they just have mum or also other adult dogs? Ask about the pups interactions with dogs that aren't mum.

With regards to picking the puppy. Id expect the breeder to be able to give you very detailed information about the pups personalities and explain to you the pros and cons (as there will be both) of that pups character to your lifestyle / home and then together make an informed decision of the best pup for you. It shouldn't be this is the pup for you or you simply choosing the one you like the look of best.

They should have asked you everything they need to know before allowing you to see the pups. They will now be wanting to see you interact with their dogs, see how confident you are around the large dogs, how you interact with the pups and also their dogs reaction to you.

Ask about the support they offer you in terms of if you having behaviour / training issues. GSDs are amazing but the teenage phase is a bugger for even experienced owners. Also do they take them back if you cannot keep them? Is there a time limit on this?