It is recommended that puppies stay with their mother and littermates until they are at least 8 -12 weeks old. An early separation can cause lifelong behavior problems. Ask the breeder how you can verify the age.
Questions to ask a dog breeder:
1. How long has the breeder been in business at the same location? (Make sure they are not a fly-by-night operation.)
2. Does the breeder have references you can contact?
3. How many types of dogs do they breed? (Most reputable breeders only work with one or two breeds.)
4. What are common health issues or concerns associated with the breed? (Reputable breeders test for genetic and common diseases for their particular breed, they minimize inbreeding and have few litters a year. Ask if the parents have been tested.)
5. Does the breeder offer a written guarantee to provide a full refund of the price if the dog is later determined to have a serious pre-existing medical condition or temperament problems?
6. Ask the breeder to email, fax or mail the puppy's pedigree (if it's not made up yet, have them fax the mother and father's pedigree. Be wary if they do not agree to this.)
7. A good breeder will ask you questions, wanting the puppy to go to a good home.
Tips to help you find the perfect companion animal:
1. How old is the dog? (They should be at least 8 weeks old.)
2. Have the puppies been socialized with people? (Puppies should be friendly, not shy or aggressive. The breeder should treat puppies as family pets not like livestock.)
3. Has a veterinarian checked the puppies? (Get a written and signed statement from the breeder's veterinarian indicating that the animal has received an exam. Ask for the name of the vet and call for verification.)
4. Make an appointment with your own veterinarian for the day you pick up the puppy, or soon thereafter.
5. Always ask to see the mother. If the dog you are obtaining is eight weeks old or younger, you should still see evidence that the mother was lactating (enlarged mammary glands). Beware of breeders that show you a pretty female dog that has never had a litter!
6. Most breeder will have given vaccines, by 8 weeks of age a puppy would have gotten one distemper combination vaccine, including a parvo preventative. He or she would also receive booster shots at 3 to 4 week intervals. Ask if the puppy has been de-wormed and the name of their veterinarian. ****PASSIVE, MATERNALLY-DERIVED IMMUNITY WILL GENERALLY PERSIST FOR ABOUT 12 - 16 WEEKS IN MANY PETS. AS LONG AS MATERNAL ANTIBODIES ARE PRESENT IN SUFFICIENT STRENGTH, VACCINES ARE VIRTUALLY USELESS DURING THIS PERIOD. QUITE OFTEN, BREEDERS WILL BEGIN THE COMBINED VACCINATION SERIES AT FOUR WEEKS OF AGE, WITH RE-VACCINATION OCCURRING EVERY TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE PUPPIES REACH 12 WEEKS OF AGE. THIS INTENSIVE REGIMEN OVER BURDENS THE PUPPIES' IMMATURE IMMUNE SYSTEMS. COMBINING VACCINATION WITH COMMONLY USED ANTI-PROTOZOAL DRUGS CAN RESULT IN BRAIN AND SPINE LESIONS, SEIZURES, AND OTHER NEUROLOGICAL SIGNS. Check with a holistic veterinarian for the best vaccine schedule for your pet.
7. Is the puppy being fed an appropriate diet of nutritious food? (Ask to see what the breeder is feeding the dogs. Most good breeders will give you a few days' supply of dog food for you to take home and help your puppy's digestive system adapt. A change of food needs to be done slowly.(Check out my other blogs about commercial pet food. Chose a high grade holistic food or make a homemade diet.)
Where do you find a reputable breeder? The following is a good starting point, but still do all of your own research and do not take the breeder's word that they are reputable. The AKC Breeder Referral website provides both breed organization and breed rescue group information for the particular breed you are seeking. Search the Internet for referrals from breed organizations/clubs, breed rescue groups and/or local kennel club groups in your area.
Questions to ask a dog breeder:
1. How long has the breeder been in business at the same location? (Make sure they are not a fly-by-night operation.)
2. Does the breeder have references you can contact?
3. How many types of dogs do they breed? (Most reputable breeders only work with one or two breeds.)
4. What are common health issues or concerns associated with the breed? (Reputable breeders test for genetic and common diseases for their particular breed, they minimize inbreeding and have few litters a year. Ask if the parents have been tested.)
5. Does the breeder offer a written guarantee to provide a full refund of the price if the dog is later determined to have a serious pre-existing medical condition or temperament problems?
6. Ask the breeder to email, fax or mail the puppy's pedigree (if it's not made up yet, have them fax the mother and father's pedigree. Be wary if they do not agree to this.)
7. A good breeder will ask you questions, wanting the puppy to go to a good home.
Tips to help you find the perfect companion animal:
1. How old is the dog? (They should be at least 8 weeks old.)
2. Have the puppies been socialized with people? (Puppies should be friendly, not shy or aggressive. The breeder should treat puppies as family pets not like livestock.)
3. Has a veterinarian checked the puppies? (Get a written and signed statement from the breeder's veterinarian indicating that the animal has received an exam. Ask for the name of the vet and call for verification.)
4. Make an appointment with your own veterinarian for the day you pick up the puppy, or soon thereafter.
5. Always ask to see the mother. If the dog you are obtaining is eight weeks old or younger, you should still see evidence that the mother was lactating (enlarged mammary glands). Beware of breeders that show you a pretty female dog that has never had a litter!
6. Most breeder will have given vaccines, by 8 weeks of age a puppy would have gotten one distemper combination vaccine, including a parvo preventative. He or she would also receive booster shots at 3 to 4 week intervals. Ask if the puppy has been de-wormed and the name of their veterinarian. ****PASSIVE, MATERNALLY-DERIVED IMMUNITY WILL GENERALLY PERSIST FOR ABOUT 12 - 16 WEEKS IN MANY PETS. AS LONG AS MATERNAL ANTIBODIES ARE PRESENT IN SUFFICIENT STRENGTH, VACCINES ARE VIRTUALLY USELESS DURING THIS PERIOD. QUITE OFTEN, BREEDERS WILL BEGIN THE COMBINED VACCINATION SERIES AT FOUR WEEKS OF AGE, WITH RE-VACCINATION OCCURRING EVERY TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE PUPPIES REACH 12 WEEKS OF AGE. THIS INTENSIVE REGIMEN OVER BURDENS THE PUPPIES' IMMATURE IMMUNE SYSTEMS. COMBINING VACCINATION WITH COMMONLY USED ANTI-PROTOZOAL DRUGS CAN RESULT IN BRAIN AND SPINE LESIONS, SEIZURES, AND OTHER NEUROLOGICAL SIGNS. Check with a holistic veterinarian for the best vaccine schedule for your pet.
7. Is the puppy being fed an appropriate diet of nutritious food? (Ask to see what the breeder is feeding the dogs. Most good breeders will give you a few days' supply of dog food for you to take home and help your puppy's digestive system adapt. A change of food needs to be done slowly.(Check out my other blogs about commercial pet food. Chose a high grade holistic food or make a homemade diet.)
Where do you find a reputable breeder? The following is a good starting point, but still do all of your own research and do not take the breeder's word that they are reputable. The AKC Breeder Referral website provides both breed organization and breed rescue group information for the particular breed you are seeking. Search the Internet for referrals from breed organizations/clubs, breed rescue groups and/or local kennel club groups in your area.
