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Dog Breeder

Questions To Ask Your Dog Breeder Before You Buy A Puppy

When you're beginning the search for a dog to join your family, you're likely looking for a reputable dog breeder near me. It can be overwhelming to see all the options when you search for a dog breeder in my area. When you visit different dog breeders in my area and see all of the cute puppies they have available, you'll want to make sure you have a list of questions prepared so you get the information you need before you make a decision. Check out this list of questions you should ask your dog breeder near me before you commit to purchasing a new puppy.

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First, you'll want to ask the dog breeder how old the available puppies are. The puppies that you see should be between three and twelve weeks old. If the puppies are younger than three weeks old, it's too soon for the breeder to be accepting visitors, and it may be a sign that there's a problem with the puppies, as they're trying to sell them quickly. If they're older than twelve weeks, it's also a sign that something is awry.

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You'll want to ask to see the puppy with its mom. Watch how they interact with each other to give you an idea of your potential puppy's personality. See if the mom is caring or aggressive, and see if the puppy is playful. If you also get the chance to see the dad in action with the puppy, even better. The more information you can get on where the puppy came from, the better you can assess if he or she will be a good fit for your family.

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The puppy should be fully weaned before you're able to take them home. For most puppies, this happens by seven weeks. If your puppy is not fully weaned, it's a sign that they may be younger than the breeder tells you they are. If you sense anything uncouth about what the breeder is telling you about the puppies, it's a good sign that you should look elsewhere.

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Talk with the breeder about how the puppies have been socialized. A good breeder will provide the puppies with plenty of time to interact with one another, as well as with members of the breeder's family. At a young age, it's not a good idea for puppies to socialize with dogs outside of the breeding facility, or with people outside of the breeding facility.

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Ask your breeder what they've been feeding the puppies, and if they have nutrition suggestions for you to follow at home. Changing a dog's food can cause digestive upset, so it's a good idea to continue them on the same food they've received at the breeder's. Asking the breeder for this information can also give you some insight into how well the dogs are treated. A high quality food generally signals that the dog is being treated well in other aspects of their care.

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