north country kennels, minnesota

[doll]

I am considering purchasing a puppy (poo mix) from here, and would like to know if anyone has used them and what their experience has been. Thanks!

[Shineillusion]

Before you purchase a puppy, mix or purebred, there are some serious questions you should ask the breeder.

Start with asking how many litters they breed in a year, and how often they breed their females. Anyone who is breeding multiple litters, and breeds their females every time they have a heat, I'd look elsewhere.

Ask at what age they start breeding their females. If they're breeding from the first or second heat, I'd stear clear of them, also.

Ask them what sort of health testing they do. Are their dogs OFA certified for hips, knees? Luxating patella (slipped knee cap) is common in poodles, is very painful, and the surgery to fix it is expensive. Do they do CERF testing? BAER testing? Do they know if their breeding dogs are clear of epilepsy and hypothyroidism (common in poodles)? If the answer is no, run, don't walk, to a different breeder.

Ask what sort of health guarantee they offer? Is it for 3 days, 3 months, 3 years? If your dog develops a life threatening, genetic illness, what will they do about it? If it develops epilepsy when it's 3, are you out of luck, or will they back you up and help cover medical bills?

Ask them if they're available for advice, day or night. Will they sit all night, talking to you on the phone, waiting for news from the vet, if your puppy is ill? A responsible breeder will. They'll laugh with you over triumphs, and when the inevitable happens, they'll cry with you when you make that final trip to the vet.

Ask if you can return the dog to them if you are unable to keep it for any reason. A responsible breeder will feel responsible for the puppies they produce from birth to death. They should be willing to help you rehome your dog, even when it's old, and even if it means they have to keep it themselves. If they don't feel it's their responsibility, then they're only interested in getting your money.

Here's a good one; ask what they do with the breeding dogs once they are too old to have puppies. Do they kill them? If they say they place them with a rescue group, ask which rescue group. Then contact the rescue people for recommendations. What does the rescue group think of this kennel?

Last, but certainly not least, DO NOT pay an exhorbitant price for a mixed breed puppy. Unless they're one of the top show kennels in the country, if they're asking hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars for a puppy, they're a puppy mill. You can find mixed breed puppies for free or for a small fee in local newspaper adds (most are accidents). You can adopt a mixed breed puppy from a local shelter or rescue group for a minimal fee, and you'll be saving a life, to boot.

If you pay for a Lexus you wouldn't drive home in a Kia, would you? It's the same thing when purchasing a puppy. If you pay a premium price, you should get a premium puppy; healthy, well socialized, guaranteed against genetic defects.