10 Questions breeders should be asking buyers

As a responsible breeder, you want to be very upfront with your customer, and hope that they will be upfront as well. A great breeder has the best interests of their puppies in mind, not whoever has the money. To work out who is the perfect fit for your new litter, it is important to ask the potential buyer a number of questions, either face to face, over the phone or by email.

You want somewhere for your puppies to go and feel loved and be safe, so if the potential customer is getting annoyed or dismissive when you’re asking them questions, maybe they aren’t the right fit for your pups or kittens?

Petcover have compiled the 10 questions you should be asking:

1. Why do you want a dog/cat?

You will begin to understand their intentions and hopefully find a right companion for one of your litter. Use your common sense to assess their intentions and make sure that this pet is suitable for them.

2. Why have you chosen this breed?

Once you have clarified their intentions and reasoning for a pet, you can begin to narrow down why they have chosen this specific breed. As you will know your breed thoroughly, you will be able to evaluate whether or not this breed will be suitable to the owners needs and lifestyle.

3. Do you have the time to meet the demanding needs of the breed for feeding, training and exercise?

Some breeds will require more exercise than others. The potential customer should be told of what is expected of them when it comes to feeding, training and exercise.

They also need to understand that it is not the bare minimum that is expected, they need to be socialising their new friend, making sure they enjoy feeding times, and mixing up their exercise so they continue to play and have fun.

4. Are there any children? If so, how old are they? How would they be instructed in the care of the dog/cat?

Children and animals can be a fantastic combination, however the customer needs to know that young children need to be aware of how gentle to be around the new addition and what is expected of them. You should also assess how they would handle a possible situation of the pet becoming aggressive towards young children and how they would handle that situation.

5. Does anyone in the household have allergies?

The potential customer should know by now if they or anyone in the house is allergic to dogs or cats, although it is always good to mention it. If there are some allergies, always suggest other breeds that are hypoallergenic that may suit their needs.

6. Are you committed to the grooming and health maintenance?

Grooming is an essential part of any pets life as it allows the owner to not only tidy up their friend, it gives them a chance to check their pet for any new lumps or bumps or anything that may need treatment.

7. What is your attitude toward training and obedience?

Whether you are selling a small apartment pet or a cattle dog, you need to assess the potential owners training plan. If you have any tips, share them; if you have warnings, warn them.

8. How often is someone at home?

Be sure that these new owners will give your litter a loving home and the attention that they need. Most people will work through the day and that’s ok, however they will need to get their pup or kitten used to this from day 1.

If they are with their owner every second of the day for the first 2 weeks and then the owner returns to normal work hours, it will leave the pup or kitten distressed and anxious. Give them tips on how to deal with this and how to make up for time they miss when they are around.

9. Will you have time to walk and play with the dog?

Being with your pet is completely different than playing with your pet. Walking your dog may not seem exciting to do every day, however it is a necessity. They need to be continuously stimulated regardless of the weather and your motivation levels.

10. Are you aware of the costs involved in veterinary care, buying quality dog food, boarding the dog when away, etc?

Make sure your potential buyers are aware of the vet costs, dog insurance, food, and general start up items including toys, bedding and collars.