What paperwork should I ask for when buying a new puppy?

Question

I am about to buy a shih tzu puppy. This is my first time buying a puppy and would like to know what i should ask for in the way of paperwork. I want the dog to be purebred and have all the shots/worming etc. I have heard some people say AKC or other registered but is that enough to show the dog is purebred or do i need some other paper work to show he is. I may want to start breeding them down the road and don't want to run into complications with not having proof they are indeed purebred. Also, is there other paperwork i need to get if i intend to breed them in the future?

Answer 1

PAPERWORK:

You should get the puppy's AKC registration papers. AKC registration shows the puppy is purebred, a puppy can only be registered if it's parents were both AKC registered and of the same breed. (Although you will make sure you are dealing with a reputable breeder. There have been instances of unethical breeders falsifying the papers with incorrect information.) Many breeders will also give you copies of the sire's and dam's pedigrees.

You should also get the puppy's shot records to-date.

A good breeder will also go above and beyond the minimum. For example, my dog's breeder knew I was interested in agility, so she printed out tons of information about agility for me. She also had information such as tips & tricks, what the puppy's schedule was (what food & how often), etc..

If you are dealing with a reputable breeder, there is also a contract that you will get a copy of and the breeder will get a copy of. Both of your signatures will be on it. It states things like if the dog must be altered, what to do if you no longer want the dog, health guarantees, etc..

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BREEDING:

You likely won't even have the opportunity to breed this dog. Reputable breeders have a contract that all dogs sold as pets must be spayed/neutered. Only the show-prospect dogs will be placed intact. (And sometimes, a show-prospect quality dog gets placed as a pet. So that dog will be sold with a spay/neuter contract as well.)

But as far as breeding goes, here is some information:

Here's an easy way to evaluate if you should ever CONSIDER breeding your dogs: http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/skatekitten2288/Petneuter.jpg

There is a lot more to breeding than just sticking two dogs together. The following website is great (although some of the links are broken, the information that is there is very good).
http://www.learntobreed.com/

Also, a few more questions (there are many many more, this is just the tip of the iceberg!):
- Is/are the dog(s) AKC or UKC registered [or your country's equivalent] ? (Not Contenential Kennel Club, APRI, or any other of those non-legit/non-reputable/scam registries)
- What is the dog(s) pedigree like?
- Are you planning on showing the dog(s) in confirmation to prove that they is a breeding quality specimen?
- Have you had any breeding experience or have you found someone that is a reputable breeder to be your mentor with this?
- Are you willing to keep all the puppies if suitable homes cannot be found? If you find homes and the new owners at some point cannot care for the dog, are you willing to take it back?
- Do you realize how much it will cost? If you do things right, even if you sell the puppies for $1000 each, you will likely still be "in the hole".

Here's a good place to start (yes, the same link for above, it's a good website):
http://www.learntobreed.com/
(Some of the links are broken, but what is there is good information.)

Also, learn everything you can about your breed. You should know the breed standard inside and out.

If you are serious about dog breeding, start showing in confirmation and join the breed club. You will learn a lot, and also be able to find a mentor or multiple mentors that will help you and guide you through choosing which dogs to breed, etc. It takes a long time to become a good, responsible, reputable breeder. It will likely be years before you have your first litter of puppies.

Answer 2

1. You should ask the breeder for references of puppies they have sold in the past year. i.e. the owners' names, addresses, so that you can call them and ask them about the quality of the pup they had gotten. 2. You should ask to meet the parents- are they social and gentle, or are they aggresive? Aggresion often means that they have been raised poorly, without enough socialization with other dogs. Hence, the breeder doesn't know the trade well enough to realize that socialization helps a dog mature. This is a bad thing. 3. You should ask if the breeder if the puppies themselves have been socialized- see above. 4. You should ask for a copy of the vaccines that the puppy has had. 5. You should ask if the puppy has been dewormed- this procedure is highly recommended. 6. You should ask for the number of visits the pup has had with the vet, and is it has been deemed "healthy." 7. You should ask if the breeder has a guarantee on their dogs. For example, a good breeder is so confident of her litter that she may give a guarantee that if you are not satisfied, she will be happy to give you a replacement or refund he money, no questions asked. 8. You should ask if the breeder is willing to take back a defective puppy- genetic problems, aggression, et c... 9. You should ask the breeder of the family history- the parents' and grandparents' health, a 5-generation pedigree (which ensures that the puppy is purebred), et c... 10. You should ask the breeder what the puppy is currently eating- this is important so that you can do your research comparing that food to others and what might be beneficial to your dog. 11. If you plan to show your dog, ask the breeder for the pick of the litter- a good breeder should be able to identify this dog. Have you started looking at breeders? If not, I'd be happy to give you the name of the breeder I got my fantastic Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from- she is very reliable and backs up her puppies vehemently. Good luck finding the perfect addition to your family!

Answer 3

Things you should ask for:
1.) Copies of each of the parents' 5 generation AKC pedigree, any reputable breeder should be able to supply this with no problem
2.) Copies of all vet visits to date (you can talk with the local vet you will use to see what the pup should already have gotten)
3.) Copies of at least the parents' (further back is preferred) health clearances (this is where research comes into play as you will need to know what heritable diseases the breed is susceptible to)
4.) Copies of the achievements both parents and their ancestors have been awarded, any reputable breeder will be bursting with this knowledge
5.) If you are serious about future breeding, get involved with the local and national breed club. Ask around about the breeder you are interested in purchasing a pup from to make sure there are no concerns regarding that breeder.
6.) The breeder you receive the pup from should be just as concerned about finding the pup a GREAT home as you are about finding the BEST pup for you. Having said that, if the breeder is selling you a "show-quality" pup, there is also a contract as to the future quality of that pup (i.e., clearance from heritable disease, free of malformations, etc.). If a breeder cannot offer a return-clause on a "show-quality" pup, STAY AWAY!!
7.) Also, serious breeders are looking to better the breed, not make a quick buck. This "betterment" comes from showing the dog to a championship before breeding. If the pup shows any signs of being a bad example of the breed, a reputable breeder does two things:
a.) informs the original breeder of the problems and seeks advise on how to proceed (i.e., potential for spay/neuter or returning the pup to the breeder)
b.) does not proceed with breeding said pup, since this would not be for the "betterment" of the breed

Good luck and do not be afraid to say no, as a dog is for life!

Answer 4

when you get a puppy that is purebred akc, the breeder gives you a set of papers that you fill out with your dogs registered name (ie: queen of sheba's moonlight doll) and you call it sheba, that is an example, not a real name. you have to pay i think 20 dollars to register your dog. the breeders papers will have the akc number for the male and the female dog on them. when a breeder has a litter they are supposed to register the litter with the akc, that is how they get papers for the puppies. don't let any breeder tell you they "don't have the papers yet because the akc is taking its time" or what ever excuse they use. it is not the akc, it is the breeder. when you send in the paperwork to register your pup, you should receive the papers back within 2-4 weeks. some breeders just don't bother registering the litter, thus taking months to get papers for your puppy. make sure you are not buying from someone who has 4 or 5 litters a year, puppy mill. check out the breeder thoroughly before you buy. make sure that the puppy comes with shots, health guarantee, ect. take your pup to the vet within 24-72 hours after taking possession to make sure the pup is healthy. and as for breeding, most reputable breeders sell pups with a limited registration. that means you cannot breed the pup. i mean, i guess you could "have puppies" but you would not be able to register them. i think some breeder will sell a pup for breeding purposes, but you have to have some sort of contract with them, not sure. just do your homework before buying.

Answer 5

A RECEIPT.That's the single most important piece of paper you'll need.
Next the pups papers so he can be registered with whichever kennel club the parents are registered with and a record of shots.
If you plan to breed down the road I'd get a written guarantee from the breeder that states the pup was vet checked and is healthy.
Put all these papers where you'll not lose them.If some health issue pops up in the first year then you have rights you can exercise legally.Lose that receipt and you're screwed.

Answer 6

If you want to get started right, ask for the AKC registration, it would be a numbered litter registration. Look at the parents names, see if the parents have received any titles or points.Ask your local shelter how much it will cost you to license the puppy if you do not intend to nueter or spay. Get a book on that particular breed first. Look at the confirmation guidelines first. You don't want to get a puppy that will only be of pet quality when you buy it. Try to look for the right body structure. Otherwise you will end up with a backyard bred pet quality puppy.And always look on the AKC registration and see if the box labled "pet only" is marked. If it is, you cannot show that dog. Read up on your breed first, then shop. Good luck.

Answer 7

Buying A New Puppy

Answer 8

I am going to see this from a different angle here....
As a consumer you are entitled to what you pay for. If these dogs are represented as AKC then make sure you get the AKC paperwork. If these puppies are represented as wormed and first shots then get the verification of this. Keep all your paperwork together for future references. And check the laws in your state about warranty of merchantibility and the validity of contracts. You have rights as a consumer. Any and all contracts... be they oral or written... are invalid if your state law says they are invalid. Simply put--make sure you get what you pay for papers and all. Keep all documentation and receipts. If you feel you have been taken advantage of in anyway, see the state's atty and file a complaint with the attorney general's office in your state. When a person sells you a puppy, it is yours and anything you paid for (papers, vet certificates) are yours. If you don't get them it is a criminal act on the part of the breeder. Do not let anyone intimidate you or take advantage of you.
If you want an AKC dog then specify that when looking for one. If you want a dog that has all shots with a health guarantee then specify that. Do not be taken advantage of in this.
Good luck in finding your breeding prospects. Take excellent care of your dog and love her. She will love you and adore you.

Answer 9

the paperwork you require is akc it means your puppy is registered with the American kennel club.You should also ask the breeder about the lines of the puppy and to tell you about the sire ask if there is any champions in the lines , dogs from showing lines attract show exhibitors, and also you can enjoy showing you r dogs and meeting new people. .You can not breed from brother or sister from the same litter , as it could lead to genetic defects in your puppies. Also breeding successfully is an immensely expensive experience , ask the breeder who breed your puppy , hopefully they are kennel club registered. A good breeder will always offer you valuable advice as they see there puppies as Representatives of there breed and in the show ring as they carry the breeders affix will help promote there kennel ,they have worked very hard to achieve good healthy well socialized puppies . So will always offer you good advice they really care where there pups end up and like to help new owners find there way

Answer 10

A breeder with CREDENTIALS who shows their dogs...and has references as well as records (about a bazillion show pictures of the dogs that make up the pedigree is good). See this: http://www.hickoryberners.com/volmar_picture_pedigree.htm

AKC registered
5 plus generation pedigree with at least 2/3 of the dogs Champions (which is the first indicator of possible quality)
Health Certificates for OFA, CERF, Heart and Thyroid on the parents- http://www.offa.org/display.html?appnum=726924#animal
Contract that gives you a guarantee for health AS WELL AS QUALITY if you plan on breeding... ie) the dog should be able to finish its championship in X number of shows...

You'll need to be sure to work with a breeder who will tell you what issues there are in the line... be sure the breeder is someone you can get along with on a long term basis as THAT is crucial when you are going to be breeding.