Maltese Growth and Development
How to interview your puppy breeder. Information you should know before you purchase your puppy.
Revised
1. How many breeds of dogs do they breed. One is good, two is probably acceptable, no more.
2. Are they AKC registered?
3. How many dogs do they have. Ask how many litters they have every year. Ask how many puppies they sell and whether they sell any to pet stores.
4. Ask how often their females are bred and until what age.
5. Ask if you can see the dogs - the sire and dam - not just the puppies. Many puppy mills have an area where they will bring the puppies to show to the public. You have to see where all the dogs live. We think all dogs should live in the house.
6. Ask what kind of genetic testing they have done on the dogs. Ask what health certificates they have for the dogs.
7. For large breed dogs, ask if the parents, grandparents and so on are OFA certified. Get the OFA numbers and check them. The ratings are fair, good, and excellent. If the parents are both just fair I don't recommend purchasing the puppy.
8. Make sure the patella's have been checked in smaller breeds. Loose patella's are can be hereditary as well as environmental.
9. Ask for the name of their veterinarian and call them to see if they are familiar with the breeder.
10. Ask for references.
11. Ask if the puppies are sold on a contract ,(spay/neuter) and then ask to see the contract. Ask if there is a warranty.
12. Ask whether the breeder will take back a dog regardless of the age if you are unable to take care of it.
13. Ask to see the pedigree and ask how many champions there are in the lineage.
14. Listen to whether the breeder asks you any questions. If the breeder doesn't care about the home that the puppy would be going to, then you don't want to buy from them.
15. Do they have pictures/cards from people who have purchased puppies from them. A good breeder will usually keep in touch with clients and always be available for any questions, as well as just seeing how their pups/dogs are doing.
DO NOT, under any circumstances, buy a dog in a pet store. Research establishes that 98% of the dogs in pet stores come from what we consider to be puppy mills. You are not saving that puppy, you are sentencing it's parents to lives of misery.