Some of the things you might want to know (continued):
When will the puppy be available to take home? If the answer is anything
less than 8 weeks, seriously question whether or not to buy a puppy from this
breeder. The puppy learns so much between weeks 5 and 9 from its littermates
that it is vital that it remain in the litter until at least 8 weeks. You've
probably had experience with a dog that doesn't know it's a dog.? That's
generally a dog that has been taken from it's litter too early, doesn't know how
to read dog body language, so is fearful of other dogs. That's not what you want
from your Siberian puppy. Siberians are by nature gregarious with people and
other dogs, so let the puppy stay in the litter at least 8 weeks to maximize
that potential. Will any vaccinations have been given, and will you give me a
schedule? By 8 weeks, the puppy should have been de-wormed at least once and
have at least one set of vaccinations. Puppies need a couple of vaccinations in
the first 4 months of life, so while the breeder will start the vaccinations,
you'll need to know the schedule in order to give the rest of them properly. The
breeder should give you the name of the veterinarian they use, just in case your
vet has any questions.
Are the puppies in the house, or in a special puppy area, or just outside? If there's no interaction inside the house, then those puppies will have a steeper learning curve when they go to their new homes. In general, the more things a puppy is positively exposed to in it's early life, the more well-adjusted the grown dog will be.
Do you require a contract? If the answer is no, you're probably not looking in the right litter. Most good breeders require a contract between buyer and seller, not only to protect both parties to the contract but also to protect the puppy. If the breeder does use a contract, ask for a copy early in the litter-scouting process, so you can read it and ask any questions you might have. There should be a clause in the contract about what happens to the puppy in the event you can't keep it. If the breeder offers to take back the puppy at any time, for any reason, you know you're dealing with someone who cares about the welfare of the dogs they produce.
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