Guidelines for Potential Puppy Buyers

Guidelines for Potential Puppy Buyers Now that you have decided on the breed for you, the next critical step is finding the right breeder. It is a two way decision; you as a prospective buyer must like the breeder’s dogs and feel comfortable with your relationship with the breeder, their requirements, and the support they provide to you, and the breeder must feel completely comfortable that you are able to provide the type of home they are seeking for the lifetime of the Viszla that that have worked so hard to breed well. Be prepared to ask questions to make sure this is the right puppy for you, and expect to be asked a lot of questions in return; this is the sign of a responsible breeder. One who is eager to sell you a puppy no questions asked does not have the best interests of their puppies in mind which means they also probably haven't taken the care required to breed a happy, healthy Viszla. All good breeders are concerned about the welfare of their puppies. To help you in the selection process please find a list of questions below that will help you make an informed decision.

Questions to Ask Breeders Before Buying a Puppy

1. Ask the breeder to describe the temperaments of both Sire and Dam. If there are ANY indications that there is aggressiveness in either line, or the breeder downplays this question, then be wary.
2. Ask "Why did you breed these two particular dogs? What do you think these puppies will contribute to the future of the breed?" All responsible breeders should have a series of specific answers to this question, which might be something like "The Dam has a superb temperament, great conformation and movement, and decent field ability. I chose this Sire because... "
3. What are your objectives of your breeding program? Rate the characteristics? (i.e. health, temperament, conformation, field test ability)
4. What do you look for in a prospective owner of your pups? (They should let you know as a measure of their concern for their offspring.)
5. Are your puppies sold with a contract? What does the contract entail? (Contracts should be in place to protect the puppy though out the life of the dog)
6. How long you been involved in the breed have and how many litters have you had? If the number is high then ask, how can you possibly be responsible for all those dogs
7. Why do I have to co-own a bitch with you and breed a litter as stated in the sales contract? How do you know at this age of 7-8 weeks that this bitch is breeding quality? (if applicable)
8. What guarantees do you give on hips, or other health problems that may arise? If my dog fails the OFA x-ray at age two what is your policy on money refunded or help with medical bills?
9. Are you aware of any health problems in your dogs’ lines? (Shows how well the breeder understands the lineage of their dogs and their awareness of health issues in their line and the breed)
10. Can you can rate your puppies and pick one for me i.e. low, medium, high (warp) speed/personality, dominant or submissive etc.
11. Have you ever had a dog returned for health reasons, or other reasons?
12. How long have you been breeding and what type of research did you do to select the sire?
13. Are you involved with breed rescue? (While vizslas are less often in need of rescue than some other breeds, all breeders should be willing to help with placing vizslas).
14. If it is their first litter, what other experienced breeders are helping to evaluate the puppies?
15. Are you going to be a training mentor, help me to find a trainer, or if it is a long distance buy, is there anyone in my area who will do so -- especially important for first time V owners.

The Vizsla Society of Ontario maintains a Code of Ethics that it asks all of its member breeders to abide by. The VSO hopes that it serves as a set of important guidelines for the minimum level of standards for health, temperament, and responsibility in the relationship between breeder and owner.

The VSO provides a list of current member breeders, but this does not imply endorsement or any guarantee; only that the breeders listed are in good standing as members of the VSO (they have paid their membership fees). We encourage all potential puppy buyers to familiarize themselves with the VSO Code of Ethics, click on the links below for more information about Vizslas and guidelines for puppy buyers, and then ask potential breeders about the information that you find here. Remember, the VSO is here to support you, the member, for the lifetime of your Viszla!

Click on the link below to see the CBC Marketplace investigation video: "How NOT to buy a puppy."
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2009/how_not_to_buy_a_puppy/main.html