Asking a breeder questions

[skittledoo]

ok... I'm getting a Toller hopefully next spring or summer. I had a voicemail on my phone from a breeder in southern Virginia regarding their Tollers. I decided to write myself a list of questions to ask them before I call back. Here's my list of questions. If anyone feels any changes should be made to the list or any questions should be added please let me know. Apologize for using the word bitch in here, but I want to use the correct terms. Thanks!

Questions to ask Breeder

How long have you been breeding Tollers?

How long have you owned Tollers?

How long have you been showing your Tollers?

Do you test for PRA? (like tunnel vision in dogs/night blindness)

What optigen pattern (A,B,C) do your bitches carry?

How often do you intend to breed your bitches?

Do you show your dogs? What kind of shows?

What kind of titles have your dogs won?

Do you socialize your puppies with other dogs? kids? cats?

What kind of food do your dogs eat? Why did you choose that method?

How do you select a stud to breed with one of your bitches?

How old are your pups when they are able to go to their new homes?

Are your puppies whelped in your home?

What vaccinations do your pups have already when they leave your facility?

Can I see a copy of your puppy contract?

Do you offer a puppy guarantee? i.e. uncontrollable health issues that may come up

What are things you expect out of a new owner that takes home a pup?

Do you hand select a puppy for a prospect owner or do you allow new owners to choose your pups?

What kind of price range do you have on your pups (taking in factors such as male/female/breeding quality/show quality/pet quality etc?

Do you make yourself available to the buyers throughtout the lifespan of the dog?

What other tests do you do on your dogs to make sure their lines are in good standing health?

How many dogs do you currently have in your breeding program?

What kind of temperments/personalities do your dogs have?

What do you consider to be the most important single characteristic of a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

What health issues have you seen in this breed?

What criteria do you set for your breeding stock?

How would you describe the ideal Toller home?

What advice would you offer to someone who is new to the Nova Scotia Duck Tollers?

Are you able to answer any training questions a potential owner may have?

[adojrts]

Hi;
Good list!!

Off the top of my head I can come up with a couple more..........maybe others once I think on it a while lol.

Proof of Testing/Titles etc?
Are the pups home raised?
In what conditions?
Does the breeder, start the pups on house training and crate training, if so at what age and how?
What other training does the breeder do with the pups? Recalls? Off leash walks? Clicker Training?? Leash training? Socializing to people (who/where) to other dogs?
Do they do Puppy Aptiude Testing? at what age?
How many litters do they have a year in total?
Do they have a waiting list?
What genetic issues are they aware of within their lines? (if they tell you none, RUN away, they are either lying or they don't know, both are dangerous).

lol That is it for now

Lynn

[skittledoo]

Thanks Lynn. I added those to my list... haha every breeder I'm interested in is going to be hounded with many many questions.

[HoundedByHounds]

Did you ask for referrals? If not...add that in. Now you know only good one's are going to be given but still...nice to have.

[skittledoo]

you mean asking the breeder if they can give me referrals of people who know their dogs or have gotten pups from them??

[adojrts]

Amber,
A good responsible ethical breeder wont mind.......actually they will welcome it. The more informed, knowledgable (at least proving they are trying and doing research, asking questions etc) and knowledge seeking a person is, it goes down as a check mark on my list of possible prospective owners list.
If you have to continue with your search for a breeder of Tollers, I happen to know a couple here in Canada, which I can put you in contact with. PM if you need that info.

Lynn

[HoundedByHounds]

yes. I have a list, and so should anyone unless this is their first litter...and then they should still have vet references and mentor references.

[FrenchKissed]

I honestly don't think a "list" is the way to approach a breeder. I know that a lof of breeders will gladly answer the questions but then promptly tell the person asking them they don't have anything available.
A "list" marks you as a complete novice who comes off as trying to "out think" the breeder. Seasoned long time breeders can (but not always) take this kind of questioning as insulting.
Instead of a "list" why not just talk to the breeder? Why not ask for a couple of "dates" where you two can get together? Meet at the dog shows, meet at their kennel. If the breeder is not available then ask WHO they recomend near you to meet up with and talk too. Alot of the questions you have can be answere if you educate yourself. You need not sit down and ask them one after the other because you will be able to observe and know. Once empowered by knowledge you will know, if and when you do ask a question, whether or not it is being answered truthfully and the breeder will be more comfortable around you and more willing to talk without having to face an interrogation.

[Xerxes]

I like your questions. The best thing about a good many of them is that you can begin a good dialogue with the breeder.

One thing I am always wary about is breeders that don't ask too many questions. I want to feel that the breeder treats her pups like her grandkids and doesn't really want to let them go.

One more question I would add is this: Have any of your pups ever been returned to you? How old were they and for what reason?

I want to know that the breeder will take responsibility for the pup for it's life.

[malmo]

I honestly don't think a "list" is the way to approach a breeder. I know that a lof of breeders will gladly answer the questions but then promptly tell the person asking them they don't have anything available. A "list" marks you as a complete novice who comes off as trying to "out think" the breeder. Seasoned long time breeders can (but not always) take this kind of questioning as insulting. <snip> more willing to talk without having to face an interrogation.

I disagree. I personally would not do business with anyone who wasn't willing to answer all of my questions, no matter how they were delivered. I agree that the questions can be answered in more of a conversational format than an interview one, but I still think that if someone became annoyed at my questions, it would be a huge red flag for me. Taking a new puppy or older dog is a huge commitment for both the breeder and owner. For myself, I am very inquisitive and a little anxious. Questions help me settle down and feel good about my decision.

I guess I would expect the same of a breeder. (Okay, not necessarily the anxiety but...)

Anyway -- to the OP. I think your list is awesome and with the addition of the questions other people have suggested, would be something that should be put up on a website somewhere for others to learn from. :)

Definitely ask for references.

[adojrts]

I agree it doesn't have to be an interrogation, but the breeders I know ask just as many questions, keep notes and can either dismiss a prospective buyer within the first phone call, emails or want to continue with more interviews.
Why should it be insulting?? And since when has it become a red flag to a breeder just because a 'novice', asks too many questions?? If someone has gone to that much trouble to start to learn that much about a breed, it should be a plus, not a negative. Many novices that dedicated, often make awesome owners, they often get involved within the breed, they train their dogs and compete with them..........and if you can be a mentor to such a person, isn't that a good thing?

[Xerxes]

I know that I had a billion and one questions for my boy's breeder. I'm in touch with her about 2 or 3 times a month and she always wants to know how he's doing, how he looks, what's going on...etc.

[FrenchKissed]

I agree it doesn't have to be an interrogation, but the breeders I know ask just as many questions, keep notes and can either dismiss a prospective buyer within the first phone call, emails or want to continue with more interviews.
Why should it be insulting?? And since when has it become a red flag to a breeder just because a 'novice', asks too many questions?? If someone has gone to that much trouble to start to learn that much about a breed, it should be a plus, not a negative. Many novices that dedicated, often make awesome owners, they often get involved within the breed, they train their dogs and compete with them..........and if you can be a mentor to such a person, isn't that a good thing?



Right, that's my point not an interrogation. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a novice and breeders know that. But what is annoying is when some one has a "list" and they stand there asking these questions that they already have an expected answer. What this tells the breeder is that the person asking the questions has done little to no research and has probably not cracked much more than a dog-fancy magazine in their research.
I suppose more than anything it is about *delivery* of those questions. It is NOT about NOT asking them. Yes breeders ask tons of questions too, and they should, just as should the buyer. At the same time there are very few black and white answers to some things, which is why any prospective buyer needs to go out and educate themselves by talking to many breeders, observing and listening and actually seeing and experiencing the exact things they are either expecting of the breeder they choose or expect their breeder to know.
Breeders are going to open up and be much more welcoming and accepting of questions if you actually have a very strong interest. A list of questions does not tell the breeder you are serious. This is why I said, GO to the dog shows. GO to the dog competitions. If you can't meet with the breeder at their home or kennel ASK them who you can meet up with that can help educate you on things. Experience it and I GUARANTEE you you will look back at that list of questions in a WHOLE new light. You will have better questions, you will have many answers, and you will have far more understanding about why some answers you did not expect are completely acceptable.

[skittledoo]

Thanks all for your input. Frenchkissed, no worries... I don't intend to just ship them the list like some annoying survey. These are definitely questions that I'm going to want answered before I decide to make a decision on a breeder though. I want to make sure that I get the best pup for me and from a breeder that takes high interest in their dogs, their shows, the health of their lines and breeding their dogs to the standard. I want a breeder who is going to take an interest in me and the pups life should I purchase from them. Xerxes, I like that you speak with your breeder a couple times a month. That is the kind of relationship I want to have with the breeder I ultimately end up choosing. I know that if a breeder isn't willing or isn't thrilled to answer any question that I might have then that will be my red flag to look elsewhere. There are plenty enough breeders of the breed (though Tollers are a rarer breed) to keep looking until I find someone who meets the standards for what I'm looking for in a breeder.

[adojrts]

Those are all valid points, but meeting breeders at shows, isn't always great either. Catching a breeder at the right time is often hard and they often don't want to be interupted while preparing for the ring. One breeder I know is one of the most unapproachable people EVER at a show, very busy, showing lots of dogs, and if she is not grooming one, she is heading to the ring. And she is all business and has her serious face on. You would think she is an absolute *****, but get her on the phone or at home and you have a completely different person....one that is willing to educate and answer questions etc.

Now having said that, I am not saying don't attend shows either lol.
Great way to make connections and hopefully the right ones.

Lynn

[FrenchKissed]

Yes, catching them *at* the show can be hard. But what you do is call the people you want to meet up with ahead of time and make a date. Lots of show people go to dinner after the show where they talk shop and fun. At the show, watch the dogs, don't bother anyone just enjoy the entry. Then after the show, meet the breeder or friends of breeder at an eating place. Sit down and talk. They are more relaxed and more at ease, the atmosphere will spurn conversation and you will get to meet many people at one time and hear the exchange of opinions and more.

[Sapphire-Light]

Contactin them in a show can be better than in e-mail or phone, I guess.

But when you are trying to contact a breeder in other country can be extremely hard. :(

I have e-mailded some breeders I have high interest but they not e-mail back.

I'm guessing some famus breeders get a lot of e-mails and they think some people is only asking for comparing prices, or they are not serius in buying a dog, or sound "too newby" :/

So I'm talking with a handler, he knows some breeders in mexico, so maybe he can help me contact the breeders I want to talk to. :o

Some breeders are just playing hard to get.

[FrenchKissed]

So I'm talking with a handler, he knows some breeders in mexico, so maybe he can help me contact the breeders I want to talk to. :o

Some breeders are just playing hard to get.


Don't take it personally. Breeders have a hard time dealing with many people from other countries. First, you're in another country, which makes sales contracts difficult if not impossible to inforce. Second with all the internet scams if some one so muches as mis-types a sentence many people just delete it.

Yes, contact a handler and breeders in your area and get to know them. Have them recomend other breeders to you then go to those people. By the first group having met you, if the breeder you choose needs some one to verify that you are on the up-and-up they can.