Picking out a new puppy can be a fun and delightful adventure. The puppy you choose will be with you for many years - perhaps as many as 17 - so you'll want to make sure you bring along a list of important qualities to look for in a puppy and things to ask the breeder when you are there.
Sometimes the fun of getting a puppy can make us forget the real responsibility that picking out a pet entails. To help you out, here are a few important things that I would recommend putting on your list of things to ask your prospective breeder:
- Make sure you meet both parents of your puppy, and evaluate how they interact with you. Are they shy? Are they hyper or calm and outgoing? These are important qualities to look at, because your new puppy will most likely have qualities from one or both parents.
- Where is the puppy being raised? Is it in the house around the family, being interacted with on a constant basis? You will want your pup to be raised around the common noises of a house, with kids, pots and pans banging, doors slamming etc.
- Is the puppy AKC registered, and will a pedigree be provided for you to look at and take home? Even if your puppy is just going to be a household pet, it is important for you to get a quality-bred pup, not a pup that is inbred or bred indiscriminately and without the proper care. Having a quality-bred pup with the capability of being registered is just another proof of a good dog.
- Does the breeder offer a genetic health guarantee for the puppy? It is important for breeders to stand behind every pup they produce, so make sure you're going to get a guarantee.
There are many more things that would be helpful to know when talking to your breeder, but these few important ones will help get you started. Finding just the right pup from just the right breeder can sometimes be a daunting task, but the rewards for finding the perfect pup are reaped for many years to come.
