A good breeder expects your questions — and welcomes them. Before buying a puppy, ask about health testing on both parents, what vaccinations and deworming the litter has had, how the puppies are being raised and socialized, and whether you can meet the mother and see where the puppies live. The answers, and how openly they are given, tell you almost everything about whether this is the right source for your dog.
Health Testing and Paperwork
Ask which breed-specific health tests the parents have had — for example hip scoring, eye examinations, or DNA tests for inherited conditions relevant to that breed — and ask to see the actual certificates or results, not just verbal reassurance. A responsible breeder tests because they are trying to produce healthier puppies, and they will explain results honestly, including imperfect ones. Also confirm what the puppies themselves will have received by pickup: first vaccinations, microchip, deworming schedule, and a vet health check, all documented to take home.
How the Puppies Are Raised
The first eight weeks shape a dog's confidence for life. Ask where the puppies live — ideally in the home, amid household sounds, not isolated in an outbuilding — and what socialization they get: handling by different people, exposure to everyday noises, early car rides, and beginning housetraining foundations. Ask about the mother's temperament, since she is your best preview of the puppies' adult personalities, and insist on meeting her. A breeder who cannot show you the mother with a convincing reason is a serious red flag.
Questions About the Match and the Safety Net
- Will you help choose which puppy fits my household, rather than letting me pick by color alone?
- What food are the puppies weaned onto, and will you send some home with me?
- What support do you offer after pickup — advice at three months, a year, five years?
- If my circumstances change, will you take the dog back at any age?
That last answer matters most: responsible breeders insist on it. They will also ask you plenty of questions about your home, schedule, and experience. Being interviewed is a good sign, not an insult.
Timing and Transparency
Expect to join a waiting list — puppies bred thoughtfully are not available on demand. Ask when puppies go home (rarely before eight weeks), what the contract covers, and whether the price includes insurance trial cover or a starter supply of food. Vague answers, pressure to pay a deposit immediately, or a breeder unwilling to be visited should end the conversation.
Start Your Puppy's Records From Day One
Everything you gather — parent health results, vaccination cards, microchip number, feeding notes — becomes the foundation of your dog's lifelong file. KinsLe's Pet Passport is the records packet where you can keep vaccines, medications, allergies, and documents together and share them with vets and sitters whenever needed, so nothing from these first important weeks gets lost in a drawer. Start the Pet Passport archive on KinsLe with the breeder's parent-health certificates, first vaccine card, and microchip paper, so that earliest history stays readable when a future veterinarian asks for it.