Questions When Visiting a Breeder
These questions are not necessarily in order of importance, some are geared to ask the
breeder and others for you to ask yourself when you visit.
1. Are the adults' eyes checked every year (current CERF certificate?).
2. Are you aware of the health for the puppy's ancestors? With any breed or pedigree there are
occasional problems just as there are in humans. Even if there has been a problem in the
background of your puppy, your puppy could be just fine but you should be aware of any history.
3. Can you see a contract before committing to a puppy? Are the guarantees meaningful? Is it
protecting the breeder or the puppy? A contract may say that a replacement puppy will be given
in the event of a health problem. Is this a replacement or is it in addition to your present puppy?
Are you really willing to give up your puppy if a genetic or health problem should occur? Are they
asking you to waive any Lemon Laws from your state that protect you? Why!?
4. Does the breeder have a non-breeding clause in the contract? Not having this clause may
indicate that the breeder does not care what happens to the puppies after they leave their care.
5. Can you meet the parents of the puppies? Is the puppy's mother appropriately concerned for
her puppies? If the puppies are under 6 weeks of age the breeder may ask you to wait until
they are a bit older before you can see them; so instead ask if you can meet some of the other
dogs in the kennel. Did you know in Florida a puppy cannot be sold until it is 8 weeks old?
Many Havanese breeders keep their puppies until 9 -12 weeks.
6. Has the breeder asked you questions to ensure that you can properly care for that puppy?
7. Does it have AKC papers? If the puppy is not properly registered then there is no guarantee
that the puppy is actually a purebred no matter what it looks like.
8. Are the puppies living in a home where they are handled and loved by people and what does
the breeder do to ensure proper socialization?
9. Is the kennel area clean?
10. Ask yourself if you trust this breeder and if he/she is someone you can work with. For the
first little while you will want to feel free to call her for help especially if you have never owned a
dog before.
These questions are not necessarily in order of importance, some are geared to ask the
breeder and others for you to ask yourself when you visit.
1. Are the adults' eyes checked every year (current CERF certificate?).
2. Are you aware of the health for the puppy's ancestors? With any breed or pedigree there are
occasional problems just as there are in humans. Even if there has been a problem in the
background of your puppy, your puppy could be just fine but you should be aware of any history.
3. Can you see a contract before committing to a puppy? Are the guarantees meaningful? Is it
protecting the breeder or the puppy? A contract may say that a replacement puppy will be given
in the event of a health problem. Is this a replacement or is it in addition to your present puppy?
Are you really willing to give up your puppy if a genetic or health problem should occur? Are they
asking you to waive any Lemon Laws from your state that protect you? Why!?
4. Does the breeder have a non-breeding clause in the contract? Not having this clause may
indicate that the breeder does not care what happens to the puppies after they leave their care.
5. Can you meet the parents of the puppies? Is the puppy's mother appropriately concerned for
her puppies? If the puppies are under 6 weeks of age the breeder may ask you to wait until
they are a bit older before you can see them; so instead ask if you can meet some of the other
dogs in the kennel. Did you know in Florida a puppy cannot be sold until it is 8 weeks old?
Many Havanese breeders keep their puppies until 9 -12 weeks.
6. Has the breeder asked you questions to ensure that you can properly care for that puppy?
7. Does it have AKC papers? If the puppy is not properly registered then there is no guarantee
that the puppy is actually a purebred no matter what it looks like.
8. Are the puppies living in a home where they are handled and loved by people and what does
the breeder do to ensure proper socialization?
9. Is the kennel area clean?
10. Ask yourself if you trust this breeder and if he/she is someone you can work with. For the
first little while you will want to feel free to call her for help especially if you have never owned a
dog before.
Finding Your Puppy...
Questions to Ask the Breeder
Questions to Ask the Breeder
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