Questions to address the breeder when choosing to buy a puppy

If you decide to add a purebred Caucasian Shepherd to your family, the process of choosing the most appropriate breeder is very important. You should try to get to know as much as possible about the purebred dog you are planning to get, so we put together a list of questions to address your breeder when deciding to buy a puppy.

What can you tell me about the parents of the puppy?

This is one of the first questions you should address your breeder. The parents, their history and pedigree are really relevant for the pup you are going to have. You should ask about their main characteristics, if they tend to be more aggressive or more sociable, about their training and competition history and also about any possible diseases or conditions they might have gone through.

Do they have their vaccines and parasite prevention schemes?

Depending on the country you are and where you get your puppy from, you will receive him or her at a different age, between 8 and 12 weeks of age. Your breeder should get at least two vaccines done for the pups, depending on the age of the pup when delivered. Normally, you should receive a passport with all the health details from the breeder, including the anti-parasite treatment schemes.

Have the puppies been socialized?

Another important question regards the environment in which they grew up. You should know from your breeder how much the puppies from a litter have interacted with humans and how social they are. Also, regarding housebreaking, although it is a common question that many future owners ask, it is very hard for a puppy to be housebroken in the company of his mother and brothers from the litter. Caucasian Shepherds are outdoors dogs and if you decide to keep them indoors also, the housebreaking part goes entirely to you.

What are you feeding the puppies and the parents?

Premium food makes healthy dogs, so you should try to find out more about the diet of the pup and of its parents. First of all, it is important for you to know how to make the gradual switch from one diet to another so that the pup doesn’t get diarrhea. Secondly, a breeder knows best what type of food matches the needs of a certain breed, so taking advice in this direction would be a really good input.

Did the parents win any prizes?

In case you are planning to attend dog shows with your pup, you could also find out some details about the history of the parents in competitions. It is an amazing experience to prepare and participate with your dog in such a contest, bringing lots of satisfaction and bonding for both.

Are you a certified breeder?

Being a certified breeder is important, as certified breeders belong to kennel clubs and have a rich background in raising healthy animals. It helps getting a pup from a certified breeder, both because you get to know more about the pup and also because there is a continuity, the breeder keeps contact with the owners and offers support further on.

Do you have any references?

It would help to get some references from other people who bought puppies from the same breeder and maybe connect to a community of some kind, to get more info and advice. We have a social media group where there are both people who both Titans Family puppies, people who want to become dog owners and breeders. We also have plenty of references from happy Caucasian Shepherd owners from our family.

Do you offer a contract?

If you feel the need of closing a contract with the breeder, you can do that. Any breeder should have a standard contract which is approved by the local kennel club the breeder belongs to. 

Do we keep connected after receiving the puppy?

Any experienced breeder will be keeping the connection alive for at least a few weeks after a puppy has reached a new owner. We are very happy to receive feedback, pictures and videos from our clients and see how the puppies are growing and adapting to their new homes.

Are you part of a kennel club?

Experienced and certified breeders belong to their local kennel clubs and also to international kennel clubs. This helps both in the breeders’ experience and for the dog owners it helps in having a good reference and reassurance that your pup comes from a quality breeder.

We hope this was of great help for you and wish you the best in raising your Caucasian Shepherd pup!