Things You should ask
How long have you been in Crested's?
What others Breeds have you bred?
What kind of defects are present in Crested breed?
What steps do you take to decrease these defects?
Avoid Breeder who says "none", as there are genetic problems that are present . You need to do your research here, and make sure you know what kind of answer you should be getting.
They should be able to tell you what kinds of problems could be present in Crested's and what kind of testing is available to find it. It goes without saying they should be doing those tests on all their breeding stock.
And be able to provide you with copies of the tests done on the Sire & Dam
I can't stress enough that you need to have a good idea of what the correct answers are here. Get any good crested book, e mail the Parent club, find out what to expect before falling in love with that cute puppy !
Are the parents both yours ? Can I see them?
You should be able to see the mother and any other dogs on site when you visit. If the breeder hesitates, you should wonder why - are the dogs kept in clean, healthy conditions? You should be very uncomfortable with any reason not to see the dogs.
remember that you should not be interacting with very young puppies, and might be prevented from seeing puppies that are less than 4 weeks old. This is ok, and is simply the breeder trying to eliminate any chance of illness being brought in to the puppies - they don't know what kind of dog diseases you may be carrying, and don't want the litter to get sick.
What are the good and bad points of the parents? What titles to they have?
Usually, breeders will start to Brag at this point and enumerate all the wonderful qualities of their dogs - and the best you will talk to will also point out their flaws. What you're looking for here is temperament, how they deal with people, how they're not "perfect".
As for titles, reputable breeders show their dogs, and they should be carrying points towards a championship, if not champions already. This is important - while there are many wonderful dogs out there that haven't seen the inside of a show ring, if the breeder is truly trying to improve the breed, they will be comparing their dogs to other breeders Crested's and trying to breed dogs that match the standard. The only way to do that is to show their Crested's.
Many breeders compete in obedience as well, and will have Companion Dog (CD) or other obedience titles for the parents. Often, this is a good benchmark for temperament and behavior.
Can you explain the puppy's pedigree?
A good breeder should be able to tell you something about dogs on your puppy's pedigree. Have them explain the letters and titles awarded, and get a good feel that they know there own lines they are breeding from. At the very least, they should be able to provide you with a 4 generation pedigree and be able to tell you a little something about some the Crested's listed.
You might see the same dogs listed a few times on the pedigree - the breeder should be able to point out any linebreeding and inbreeding and explain the benefits and dangers of both.
Where were the puppies raised? How have you socialized them?
What you're looking for here is an indication of what kind of socialization the puppies have had. Ideally, you want the breeder to have raised the puppies in there house, around the normal daily activities of a household so they are used to the noises and activity of humans.
Socialization is so important to getting a well-adjusted, well-mannered Crested. Puppies should have been exposed to people, other dogs, new situations, normal household sounds and activities in order to learn.
How many litters do you have a year?
Breeders producing more than 1 or 2 litters a year are probably not paying enough attention to the genetics and health of the puppies. If it is a small breeder, even two a year may be too much to be able to make sure that the breeding is going to be successful and produce good healthy puppies.
Definitely avoid anyone who "always has puppies", or who is breeding their bitch every year. Avoid Breeders with more than one litter at a time - If someone has three litters (especially if they note that it was "unexpected") on the ground at the same time, they are certainly not planning these puppies! All puppies should be "expected" and well planned. If they're not, it's a crap shoot as to whether you're going to get a good puppy or a nightmare.
What guarantees do you have for this puppy?
At the very least, the breeder should guarantee the puppy against any debilitating genetic problems, and insure that the puppy is in good health.
A breeder should be prepared to take any dog back for any reason - part of being an ethical breeder is making sure that the puppies have a good home and that it stays that way.
When can I take the puppy home?
Puppies usually go home between 8 and 12 weeks. Avoid anyone sending tiny puppies home. Puppies sent home too early don't have the chance to develop healthy interactions with other dogs, and can be sickly or have problems eating. I often see people with puppies that are five or six weeks old -- these tiny babies are too young to be separated from their mother.
