10 Must-Ask Questions When Buying a Puppy From a Kennel

You have finally made up your mind and you want to increase your family with a precious puppy. Surely you are very excited and can't wait to take the little one home. But now comes the doubts about finding a kennel that meets your expectations, that is serious and has a real commitment to the welfare of animals.

If you want to avoid unpleasant surprises in the future you should only buy your breed puppy from responsible dog breeders. If you have searched the Internet, you have probably found different breeders who indiscriminately sell all kinds of puppies. Some of them are simply sellers trying to make a quick buck by dispatching puppies that may be sick, scared and poorly or not at all socialized. Even if you are aware of these issues and want to give these puppies a better life, you must understand the risks involved and the problems you and your family will face.

The supposed bargain can end up costing you more at the veterinarian with bills that far exceed the price of a purebred puppy. Not to mention the behavioral problems that do not allow you to leave the dog alone at home or that you have to endure the complaints of your neighbors tired of the annoying barking of your poorly socialized dog.

As you can see, just as you reconsider and inform yourself about the breed of dog that best suits you or that you like the most, you should also choose very carefully who is the breeder or kennel of your future life companion.

Dog Kennel. The importance of responsible breeding

In a dog kennel, where responsible breeding is carried out, the breeders select for breeding those purebred dogs that are in good health and have a good character. In this way we ensure that their offspring are free of hereditary diseases. In addition, we carry out the necessary veterinary check-ups, vaccinations and deworming so that you take home, above all, a healthy dog.

As responsible breeders, we respect the animals, their breeding times, their needs and we proceed to their socialization from the first weeks of life. In this way, puppies get used to other dogs, people, smells, noises and environments, so that when they become part of your family, your puppy will be able to adapt easily.

10 Important questions to ask a dog breeder

To make sure that the kennel you choose complies with these premises, you should ask these 10 questions. If it is a serious kennel, you will see how they will thank you for your interest and will answer the questions you ask with pleasure and without doubts.

1. Can you show me what the dog kennel is like?

When you call the breeder or kennel ask for an appointment to visit the facilities and meet the breeder or the team. Take advantage of the visit to look at the cleanliness of the entire enclosure, if it is spacious and the dogs have room to run, the brightness and if it is well air-conditioned.

If the kennel is not near you, look for its web page and check the photos. If you finally decide on that kennel, when you go to pick up your puppy, look at the questions we have mentioned.

2. Can I see the puppy's mother?

For the puppy to grow up physically and emotionally healthy, it needs to be with its mother for at least the first two months of its life. Therefore, ask to see the puppy's mother so that you can observe how she behaves with her puppies and check that she is purebred and in good health.

If the relationship between the mother and the puppies is not close or even alienates them, you should be suspicious and look for another purebred kennel. Keep in mind that the bitch's disinterest may be due to the fact that she is not even the mother of the puppies.

3. Can you show me the vaccination record?

Dog breeders are obliged to vaccinate the puppies in due time. Therefore, ask for the vaccination booklet and make sure that it is authentic and that all the vaccinations that are obligatory are written down. It is also necessary that the puppies are dewormed regularly.

4. Can I see other documents about pedigree and medical tests?

Dogs from officially recognized kennels are registered and have a pedigree. Ask the breeder to show you these documents and take the opportunity to ask about the selection of the male parent of your new puppy.

5. What do you feed the puppies?

Feeding is essential for the health of the puppies. During the first 6 to 10 weeks he will probably have been fed with mother's milk, but after that it is best to feed him with special puppy food that provides him with essential nutrients. Ask at the kennel what feeding plan they are carrying out to check that it is correct and so that you can continue it at home.

6. What recommendations and particular aspects of the puppy do I have to take into account?

Since we responsible breeders live with the puppies for so long, we know perfectly well the particularities of each one, so the breeder will be happy to discuss with you details of the puppy's upbringing that you take home, such as feeding schedules, sleep and exercise time, coat grooming, etc.

7. How do you socialize puppies?

In order to make a puppy a fearless dog with a correct and stable behavior, it is necessary to socialize it from the first weeks of life. In this way, the dog understands that there is more to the world than his mother and his littermates. That is why it is essential that he gets to know other dogs, other animals, other people, noises, smells, colors, places... so he will not get scared and will be able to adapt better to strange situations and people.

Ask the breeder to explain how he has developed the puppy's socialization in the kennel. You can even ask him to instruct you on how to continue this socialization with his new family.

8. Is there anything you want to know about me?

For responsible breeders, our dogs are part of our family. We take care of them from before they are born and we care about their present and future health and happiness. That's why, after dedicating so much time and effort to each puppy, we like to know what our puppies' new family is like. Don't be surprised if the breeder asks you about the type of house you have (small apartment or house with garden), the people who are going to live with the dog, the type of job you have... Basically, what the breeder does with these questions is to make sure that the selected puppy is the right one for you.

9. What is the price?

Obviously asking about the price is important and this is another question you will have to ask the owners of the kennel. Keep in mind that if the cost is less than 800 $ for a purebred puppy you should be wary of the breed of the dog and the breeder. The vet, the tests, the vaccinations, the feeding, the care, the education... it is a lot of time and money that we invest in each puppy. If the price is so economical it is because they will save something.

10. Once I take the dog with me, can you solve some doubts?

We know that the adaptation of the puppies in the first days generates many doubts to the new families, for that reason the responsible breeders continue with our work of advice even when the puppy is no longer in our kennel.

Need help choosing?

Buying a dog is not a decision you should take lightly. Take your time to think about the impressions the kennel has given you and all the information the breeder has provided you with. And if you have doubts about the breed that best suits your family and lifestyle, he will surely know how to recommend and help you in your choice.

As you can see, it is important to know how to choose the breeder and the kennel where your furry friend is born. You have to be very careful because there are many scams and every precaution is too little. Have you ever had an unpleasant situation with a supposed breeder? Have you taken into account all these questions when buying a purebred puppy?