New doodle - what questions should I ask the breeder ?

[Kim kennedy]

We will pick our golden-doodle puppy up Christmas week. We are meeting withe the breeder on Sunday - what types of questions should I ask?

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Health certifications on the Sire and Bitch, vaccinations that have been already given to puppy( when and what kind/ brand if the Breeder dosed), has puppy been wormed, food given, AKC papers on parents if F1. You might want to know personality traits of parents and individual puppies. I'm sure there are more...these just a few off the top of my head.

[Kim kennedy]

I would have never thought to ask about the AKC papers. Thank you

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

You are very welcome. They should be able to supply you with copies.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

AKC papers have not much to do with the health of the parents. Anyone can get papers if they pay money :( It will show lineage but not much else. Sadly, it is not a valuable tool.
Instead, I want proof of the hips, eyes, thyroid, and other other tests done on the parents. For that, I want papers! Proof of the genetic health.

[Kim kennedy]

The breeder is offering a 2 year health agreement - but I don't know what that actually means. I need to ask.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

A two year health agreement is so important. What does that mean?  Does it mean that after a year, your dog has bad hips so...

-Your agreement says to return the dog you already love and they will give you a new puppy?   You get a new puppy but they destroy the dog you have loved for a year. 

That's a bad one and too many heartbreaks on here with that one. 

Could you possibly give a dog back because it has bad hips after a year of love?  Nope.  Hips cost nearly $5,000 each.  Are you prepared to pay that? Or would you return? 

The guarantee should offer to pay the costs of genetic diseases and you keep your dog. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Oh, which reminds me.  Get pet insurance as soon as you can!  

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Here is what is recommended:

all breeding dogs used are health tested with scores that the OVC, OFA or PennHIP suggest as being viable for breeding. More testing in encouraged (CERF, heart, thyroid, vWd, etc.)

• a minimum of a 2 year health warranty covering genetic defects including HD (mild, moderate and severe).  The warranty should offer some financial compensation, preferably a 100% refund or Vet bills up to the price of the pup.  As genetic defects are not contingent upon food supplements, neither should the warranty be (although their use can certainly be encouraged).  The warranty should not be contingent upon the return of the original pup.

http://goldendoodles.com/breeders2/criteria.htm

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Excellent points!

[Kim kennedy]

Oh my - I could never return a dog you love as family! I will ask about the details and my work offers pet insurance, I have it for Elroy.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

I sometimes wonder if anyone has actually returned a pup they have raised for a yr. It is beyond me, how anyone could. Enzo could could go deaf, dumb and blind, and I couldn't return her. We felt that way 10 minutes after she entered our household.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Here is the most important article you could read today

What to Look for in a Breeder