Every prospective puppy buyer should interview breeders by asking the following questions, which are intended to provide an overview of how connected the breeder is to their parent breed club, their peers, colleagues, the sport of purebred dogs, and the general Weimaraner community. This is important because you’re not just buying a puppy; you’re supporting the breeder who produced your puppy and you want to make sure your hard earned dollars are going to someone who is a true steward of the breed, instead of someone looking to make a few bucks.
Included here are also answers from Barrett Weimaraners:
Is the breeder a member of the Weimaraner Club of America? Yes. We’ve been general members of the WCA since 2011 and have served on the National Field Trial Committee for the last three years in a row. We also comply with the WCA Code of Ethics.
Is the breeder a member of any other national, regional, or local clubs or organizations? Yes. We are also a member in good standing of the National Weimaraner Association (General Member), North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (General Member), Orange Coast Weimaraner Club (Director), Southland Weimaraner Club (Field Trial Chair and Webmaster), Valley of the Sun Weimaraner Club (General Member) and CalWEAR (Founding Member and President).
Does the breeder provide pedigrees and health information on a litter’s sire and dam? Yes. See here or here for an example of the information we provide with every litter announcement.
Does the breeder test for any inherited genetic traits? Yes. We use UC Davis’ Veterinary Genetics Lab to evaluate DNA on all of our dogs for purposes of identifying genetic traits.
Does the breeder offer health guarantees that are longer than two years? Yes. The Purchase Agreement that accompanies your puppy will stipulate a three year health guarantee. Should your dog develop a serious health anomaly at any time during his lifetime, we are happy to provide support both financially and emotionally.
Does the breeder allow prospective buyers to come see their dogs? Yes. We actually encourage families to meet with all of our dogs. We welcome visitors to come see our adult dogs before they whelp their litter, or puppies at about 5-6 weeks of age.
Where does the breeder raise their dogs? All of our dogs live inside the house with us with free access to a fenced backyard. (We don’t have outdoor kennels.) Our dogs are allowed on the sofa, and two of them sleep in bed with us every night. (Dogs that aren’t in bed with us sleep in their crates overnight.)
Where does the breeder raise their puppies? Every puppy is raised within our home. We whelp our puppies in a guest bedroom upstairs so mamma has some privacy and quiet space away from the others. When puppies are up and moving (around 3-4 weeks), we move them downstairs into the dining room where they have a penned in area all to themselves.
Does that breeder pick the dog for the family? Yes. Every puppy is matched to his or her new family. More on why, here.
At what age does the breeder send puppies home? Absolutely no sooner than eight weeks, but sometimes closer to 9-10 weeks.
How does the breeder socialize their pups? Thoroughly. See here for an example of what goes into socializing a litter.
If purchasing a prospective hunting dog, does the breeder allow visitors to see their dogs work? Yes. You are welcome to come see us at a local training day, anytime!
Does the breeder specify that they want their dogs to come back to them should you find yourself in a position where you can no longer keep them? Yes. This is stipulated in every Barrett Weimaraners purchase agreement.
Is the breeder’s puppy deposit refundable? Yes. Always. Beware any breeder who does not offer refundable deposits, and also those who ask for families to pay for their puppies in full before they are born.
How many litters does the breeder have a year? We average 2-3 litters of our own per year. On occasion, we also co-breed litters with other WCA breeders across the country.
Want to know more?! Click here to see an exhaustive list of what to look for in a reputable breeder.
Best wishes with your search for a new puppy.
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