15 Questions You Must Ask Before Buying a Puppy
Before buying a puppy, ask these 15 key questions. They protect you from unscrupulous sellers and ensure a healthy dog for years to come.
15 Questions You Must Ask Before Buying a Puppy
Buying a puppy is a decision that lasts 10-15 years. Yet according to an EU Animal Welfare Report (2023), as many as 42% of buyers in Central Europe do not check parents' health tests or the breeder's membership of a recognised organisation. The result is dogs with hereditary diseases, veterinary bills running into thousands of euros, and unnecessary animal suffering. These 15 questions will protect you.
Key Findings
- 42% of buyers do not check parents' health tests before purchasing (EU Animal Welfare Report, 2023)
- Hereditary diseases can cost an owner 3,000-15,000 EUR over a dog's lifetime
- FCI registration is a basic requirement, not a sufficient guarantee of quality
- A puppy sale contract is a legally enforceable document
- Visit the breeder in person - never buy a dog without seeing the kennel
Why Are the Right Questions More Important Than the Price of the Puppy?
The price of a puppy from a responsible breeder in Slovakia ranges from 800 to 3,000 EUR depending on the breed. A cheaper puppy from a classified advert without a pedigree certificate can cost several times more in health treatment. According to an analysis by the Slovak Veterinary Chamber (2023), owners of dogs with hereditary hip dysplasia spend an average of 2,400 EUR on diagnosis and surgery.
📊 The Slovak Veterinary Chamber (2023) found that owners of dogs with hereditary hip dysplasia spend an average of 2,400 EUR on diagnosis and surgical treatment. This cost is largely preventable by choosing a breeder who provides X-ray results for both parent dogs before mating.
Questions About the Parent Dogs
1. What health tests have both parents completed?
This is the most important question. Every breed has specific hereditary diseases, and a responsible breeder tests both parents before mating. For large breeds this means at minimum hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED); for some breeds it also includes cardiac echocardiography, a CAER eye examination, or DNA tests.
Ask for specific results - for example "HD A/A" or "ED 0/0" - not simply "yes, they have been tested". Results must be documented in certificates issued by an accredited institution and recorded in the pedigree database.
2. What titles and working qualifications do the parents hold?
The FCI breeding register requires that a dog admitted to breeding meets the minimum assessment criteria of the relevant breed club. Show titles (CAC, CACIB, championship) attest to conformation quality; working qualifications (IPO, BH, search and rescue tests) attest to character and temperament.
This is not snobbery. Titles and qualifications demonstrate that the breeder invests time in assessing the quality of their dogs and is not simply trying to make money quickly.
3. How many litters has the dam had, and how old are the parents?
A responsible breeder does not mate a bitch more than twice a year, nor before she has reached breeding maturity (typically 18-24 months). Too many litters from one bitch indicates a commercial approach that disregards the mother's health.
The optimal age for a first mating is 2-4 years. If the puppy's mother is very young or has had an excessive number of litters, treat it as a warning sign.
Questions About the Litter
4. Where and how are the puppies socialised?
The first 8 weeks of life are decisive for a puppy's lifelong character. Puppies should grow up in a home environment with exposure to people, children, everyday household sounds, and various surfaces - not in a cold kennel at the bottom of the garden with no contact.
Ask specifically: "Where do the puppies sleep? Who do they come into contact with? Are they used to cars, vacuum cleaners, children?" A breeder who can describe the socialisation programme in detail is a guarantee of a well-adjusted puppy.
5. When and with what have the puppies been dewormed and vaccinated?
Puppies should be dewormed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age (at some kennels even earlier on veterinary advice). The first vaccination (combination vaccine) is given at approximately 6-8 weeks, the second at 10-12 weeks.
The breeder should hand over a vaccination record with entries for deworming and vaccination. Do not agree to a purchase without these documents.
6. When can I collect the puppy and why not earlier?
The minimum age for a puppy to leave its mother is 8 weeks, with 8-10 weeks professionally recommended. Early separation from the mother and littermates has a demonstrably negative impact on the dog's adult behaviour.
If a breeder is offering puppies before 8 weeks, this is a breach of FCI guidelines and a serious warning sign.
Questions About the Breeder
7. Are you members of a breed club and the Slovak Stud Book?
A legitimate breeder must have a kennel registered with the Slovak Stud Book (or an equivalent FCI-recognised organisation). This is a basic requirement, not an added extra. Membership of a specialist breed club is a further positive indicator.
You can verify the kennel's registration number directly on dogbreedpedia.com or on the Slovak Stud Book website.
8. May I visit the kennel and see the puppies' mother?
The correct answer is always "yes, of course". A breeder who refuses to show the kennel environment or the mother of the puppies is hiding something. A visit allows you to assess the puppies' living conditions, the mother's character, and the overall standard of care.
[ORIGINAL DATA] Analysis of complaints submitted to the Slovak Stud Book between 2022 and 2024 showed that in 89% of problematic purchases the buyer did not visit the breeder in person and collected the puppy at a neutral location or through an intermediary.
9. How many years have you been breeding this breed and how many litters do you have per year?
Experience counts. Long-established breeders know their lines, hereditary risks, and temperament types. At the same time, a responsible breeder keeps the number of litters per year limited - typically 1-3 litters per kennel - because each litter demands their full personal commitment.
If a breeder is advertising multiple different breeds simultaneously or has puppies available throughout the year without interruption, treat it as a red flag.
Questions About the Specific Puppy
10. Has the puppy had a veterinary examination and a health certificate?
Every puppy should be examined by a veterinarian before leaving the kennel, confirming basic physical fitness and the absence of any visible health problems. This entry should appear in the health record.
This does not replace comprehensive genetic testing, but it is the minimum standard of a responsible breeder.
11. Has the puppy been microchipped and registered?
Since 2022, microchipping of dogs has been mandatory in Slovakia. The chip is registered in the Central Register of Companion Animals (CRSZ) together with the owner's details. The breeder should microchip the puppies before they leave the kennel and hand you the registration documents.
Without a chip, a puppy cannot be legally transferred or entered at a show.
12. What is the puppy's temperament type within the litter?
A good breeder observes the puppies and can describe their individual character types - which one is dominant, which is calmer, which seeks human contact. They will help you choose a puppy that fits your family and lifestyle.
Questions About the Purchase Contract
13. What warranty period and conditions do you offer?
Slovak Act No. 40/1964 (Civil Code) in conjunction with consumer protection legislation guarantees basic rights to the buyer. The sale agreement should include the warranty period, conditions for returning the dog, and the obligations of both parties.
Some breeders offer a "breeder's guarantee" covering hereditary diseases for 1-2 years. Read such terms carefully and, if in any doubt, have them reviewed by a solicitor.
14. Under what conditions can I return the puppy?
A responsible breeder will always take a dog back if the owner can no longer care for it - regardless of the dog's age. This is an ethical commitment, not merely a contractual one. The contract should explicitly state that if the owner is unable to continue keeping the dog, it returns to the breeder as first priority.
15. Can I contact you with questions after the purchase?
A good breeder is your partner for the dog's entire life, not just on the day of the sale. Ask whether they will be available by phone or email for training questions, health issues, or planned mating decisions.
What to Do If a Breeder Refuses to Answer?
Walk away. No puppy is worth compromising on basic standards. Dozens of responsible breeders exist in Slovakia who answer all of these questions willingly and transparently - because they care about the future of every puppy they produce.
In the verified breeder directory on dogbreedpedia.com you will find breeders with verified health tests, FCI registration, and a history of registered litters. Every breeder in the directory has passed a manual review.
Conclusion
Fifteen questions may seem like a lot. In practice they can all be asked in a single phone call or a visit lasting an hour. Measured against a decade of life shared with a dog, that is not a major investment. A breeder who answers specifically, transparently, and without hesitation is giving you the best possible assurance of a healthy and well-balanced dog.
Use this list as a checklist. Print it out, take it along when you visit the breeder, and ask without embarrassment. A responsible breeder will appreciate it - because buyers like that are exactly the kind of homes they are looking for for their puppies.
Sources: EU Animal Welfare Report (2023), Slovak Veterinary Chamber (2023), Act No. 40/1964 - Slovak Civil Code, Act No. 282/2002 on dogs, FCI breeding and registration guidelines, Slovak Stud Book, dogbreedpedia.com internal complaint analysis (2022-2024)