animal breeder interview questions and answers

#ANIMAL BREEDER INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SERIES#

Have the puppies been dewormed?Īll puppies are born with worms and routine deworming is recommended. Ideally, vaccines are administered by a licensed veterinarian rather than a feed-store vaccine.

#ANIMAL BREEDER INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SERIES#

How many shots have the puppies received and when are they due for their next round of shots? Puppies generally start their vaccine series between 6 and 8 weeks of age. Have vaccines been administered to the puppies? Proper socialization consists of positive experiences with other dogs and humans of varying ages, race, and sizes.

Socialization is critical in puppies ages 6 to 16 weeks. Have the pups been around other dogs and people? Question the puppy’s socialization exposure. Puppies not taken by other buyers over 12 weeks old or puppies that have been returned can indicate problems as well. Taking them away too soon can be a problem. It is important that the puppies socialize with their litter mates and other dogs early in life. Puppies ready for adoption should be between 8 and 12 weeks old. How old are the puppies? What age can I take my puppy home? What health problems have the parents had to date? When did they develop and how were they treated? This will help guide you as to what to look for and take preventative measures for your dog. Have the parent dogs had health problems? Optional vaccines include Lyme and the canine flu, which depend on disease risk. Ideally, the parent dogs should have a yearly examination by a licensed veterinarian, fecal examination, vaccinations for Bordetella (kennel cough), a distemper combination vaccine (such as DHLPP), and be on routine flea, tick, and heartworm prevention (this may vary depending on your dog’s exposure and geographic location). What preventative care do you provide to the parent dogs?Ī measure of the quality of care provided for the puppies can be evidence by the care delivered to the parent dogs. Are they shy, aggressive, or well-adjusted? 5. Make sure that they appear to be in good health and evaluate their overall temperament. They should not cower when you approach or touch them and not resist when you roll them on their backs and hold them in that position. The puppies should interact and be playful with other dogs and comfortable around people.

This will allow you to evaluate the cleanliness of the environment and the size, personality, energy level, and health of the puppies.

View and interact with the entire litter. Knowing the size of a dog’s parents can give you a good indication of how big a puppy will get. What are the individual sizes of the puppy’s parents? Study up on your specific breed to see if there are common genetic problems worth discussing. Since certain breeds are at risk for genetic conditions like hip, eye, and heart problems, responsible breeders should have their dogs evaluated and tested for diseases and ultimately “certified” disease-free. The answers you receive will help determine the quality of your breeder and puppy and provide you with information you need to help raise your puppy. To help you get a healthy and happy pet from a humane breeder, you’ll need to be prepared to ask some questions. Choosing a reputable breeder, however, can be rather difficult. If you are getting a dog, most veterinarians recommend that you buy from a breeder.

Animal breeder interview questions and answers