The OTHER reasons to visit your breeder before bringing home a puppy
By now, most people understand that the primary reason to visit a breeder is to check on the day to day conditions of the dogs and feel comfortable that they are not buying from a cruel and irresponsible breeder or puppy mill. However, there are a few other reasons that make this step the MOST important one in your dog search process.
First, a reputable breeder will never sell a dog to someone they have not met or vetted themselves
A great breeder considers himself or herself responsible for the life of the dog no matter what. They want to be sure they are placing their dogs with families that will love and care for the dog as much as they would because the last thing they would want is for one of their dogs to end up abandoned, in a shelter, or worse as part of a puppy mill breeding program! Without fully vetting their new owners in person, they will have a much harder time getting to know you and feeling comfortable that you will be a good home for one of their dogs. More to the point, if someone actually discourages you from visiting for whatever reason (i.e. they are very far away, or they can save you the hassle and ship the dog directly to you) they are almost always discouraging you from visiting because they don't want you to see the premises and are actually hiding something very ugly.
Second, this will be your best opportunity to play with the adult version of your breed
Even though you’ve done the breed research and had a long conversation with your breeder about how your new Golden Retriever, Westie, German Shepherd or Chihuahua will fit right in with your family, there is nothing like spending quality time with your breeders’ pack to get a real sense of what your new dog will grow up to be. An 8-week-old, ten pound, adorably fluffed Golden Retriever puppy may be one of the cutest things on this planet, but just ten months later that puppy will be nearly 70 pounds, full of sporting dog energy and likely leaving a trail of his adorable fur all over the house. If the idea of spending an afternoon with one is already feeling a little overwhelming, it may be a sign to expand your search to a few lower energy or lower shedding options.
Third, visiting your breeder and their dogs will be the best way to understand how your puppy will grow and mature
It may surprise some to hear this, but even within the breed standards, breeders can still choose to develop some traits over others making quite a bit of difference from breeder to breeder. For example, a German Shepherd breeder interested in raising therapy or service animals will likely be favoring a different temperament than someone raising dogs for law enforcement K9 units. Alternatively, you could find a breeder who says her poodles are a little more or less high energy than her friend’s line. In any case, if what you had in mind is not lining up with what you are experiencing, you may want to spend a little extra time discussing these observations with your breeder. Don’t be too discouraged if it is starting to feel like the wrong fit. Your breeder will appreciate the honesty and could very likely have a friend in the breed or know of another breeder who will have the perfect puppy for you.
Lastly, uninterrupted in-person time with your breeder means you can get all your questions answered—and then some!
Let’s face it, there is only so much you can cover over the phone, and some questions may not even occur to you until you are face to face with your breeder and their dogs. You may have questions about what it takes to keep up their grooming (especially if you see the dogs have a fancy cut, or they are a hand-stripped breed). You may admire how obedient and well-trained the dogs are and launch into a discussion on how much time and effort it takes to get to that point. Or, you may see a couple of ribbons on their wall for dog events you never knew existed, and realize that you too may have a passion for dock-diving or barn hunt. Most breeders will also take this time to go through their “puppy packs” which can include lots of great reading material on your breed, emergency numbers, do's and don’ts, your puppy's family tree, etc. Remember too, in those first few weeks (and beyond), your breeder will be part of your support network for the new pup and is usually eager to hear updates and give you guidance as you encounter each new stage of his development.













