A puppy adoption will help you bring home a friend that will remain loyal for the rest of his life. You just need to make sure that you pick the breed that you can comfortably care for. Now that you have found the breed to buy and the seller to buy from, there are a few more questions you need to ask. Below are the mandatory questions you need to ask a seller.
How old is the puppy?
This is the most obvious question. The purpose of this post is to ensure that you are buying a dog that is of the right age. Breeders make sure that they don’t sell their puppies until they are over the age of 7 weeks. The reason for this is because even with a puppy rescue, the puppy shouldn’t be taken away from its mother until they and their mother is ready. This is normally between 7 and 12 weeks. Don’t buy a puppy that is younger than 7 weeks. Doing so will lead to real physical and emotional damage to the animals.
Has the puppy been weaned?
A good breeder will show evidence that the puppy you are going for has been weaned off the mother’s milk. If the puppy is still feeding, there is a good chance it is younger than what the breeder claims or the breeder has no idea about what he is doing.
Where is the mother?
With a puppy rescue, there is a good chance you will not be able to see the mother. This is because most of these puppies are rescued from tough conditions and most of them don’t have their mothers. However, if the mother is still around, ask to see her. Looking at the parent will give you a good sense of the puppy’s future temperament. You also need to see the puppies with their mother. If the breeder refuses to show you that, there is a good chance the puppies are not old enough to be separated from their mother.
Has the puppy been wormed?
From when they are born, puppies have worms. Breeders worm them at the age of 2 weeks and every 2 weeks after. You also need to make sure that the puppy has received a vaccination and when the next dose is due. Being wormed and vaccinated means your new dog rescue will not be prone to diseases. Vaccinations are done from the ages of 6 to 9 weeks.
Has the puppy been socialized?
Socialization is needed else they will be problematic once you bring them home. Know how the breeder has socialized his puppies. If it hasn’t been socialized, you will have to invest time and money in training and socialization.
These questions will keep you from making mistakes in a dog adoption. Don’t forget to ask the seller if you can return the puppy. Most conscientious breeders will take back puppies if the new owner is unable to care for it.