Nagging Questions:
The Stuff You HAVE to Know
About This Breeder's
Contracts and Puppy Guarantees

Do you have a written contract and puppy guarantee?

There is no other acceptable answer here than yes.

With that, your next question is a request to see them. Make sure that the breeder is acting as a safety net for the lifetime of the dog. If you were unable to keep it, that they would take it back regardless of age or even if its been neutered (plenty of bad breeders will take back the intact ones, it serves as breeding stock for them). Make sure all the terms are reasonable. Doing research will help you assess the quality of the puppy guarantee. For example, if the guarantee is only for 60 days but the breed has a serious health problem that shows up around 6 months, would you feel better with a 6 month agreement? What are the terms, if the puppy has a health issue is the guarantee simply that you have to return the dog for your money back? How likely is that? Won't you be too attached by that time? Plenty of breeders make such a guarantee knowing it is unlikely to be exercised. Instead the breeder should be offering assistance and support, usually financial, up to the amount of the total purchase price, to assist in the care of the dog in the event of a serious health issue (of a type that would be specified in the document).

Of course any additional questions you might have on this topic will be enthusiastically fielded at DigitalDog's Forum .

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