Puppy BUyer's Guide
Questions a buyer should ask a breeder.
About Health
Do you have a health guarantee? Many breeders offer a health guarantee. Duration of this guarantee can vary from a few days to years. Be sure ask the breeder what they are willing to guarantee and what they would do in the case of a health problem (i.e. - refund part or all of the puppy's price to pay for theveterinary care, take the puppy back or some other option).
Do you check for internal and external parasites and vaccinate? Breeders and veterinarians all have differing opinions on how soon and how often a puppy should be vaccinated and which diseases require early vaccination, but puppies should have at least one booster shot to get them started by the age of 8 weeks. Take time to read up a little on the topic and make sure to have appointments with your veterinarian for your puppy's first exam and next booster shots. Parasites are difficult to avoid, so a good breeder will take time to both screen for parasites and move to eliminate them. A healthy puppy should be clean and free from parasites. A little dirt is normal because puppies are notorious for getting themselves messy just before visitors arrive, but a puppy should NOT be filthy. Both a vaccine record and record of worming done on the puppy should be provided by the breeder.
Do you screen for breed specific health problems? According to Dr Padgett in his book, Control of Canine Diseases, Cardigan Welsh Corgis as a breed have at least 32 known and documented genetic problems (compared with other breeds like Poodles, American Cockers and GSDs who have over 100 documented genetic problems and mixed breeds which may have over 200 possible genetic problems). All living creatures are thought to have at least 3 genetic defects (in humans, Type I diabetes, back problems, bad knees, poor eyesight and crooked teeth can be listed as common genetic problems and there are many more) and most genetic problems are inherited recessively. It takes a knowledgeable breeder to determine what troubles might occur in their particular family of Cardigans. Health problems can and will occur, but a good breeder will try to screen to eliminate as many of them as possible. A great resource for information about Cardigan specific health issues is the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Health Foundation (CWCHF).
Do you register parents with a health registry like OFA, PENNHip and CERF? Good breeders will health screen and register their dogs with a health registry. Health registries are useful ways to both evaluate dogs, understand how a problem might be inherited and determine if a particular breeding might produce a problem. Some health problems, like hip dysplasia involve several genes, which makes it much harder to predict a problem, so careful selection can help reduce the chances of a problem. Registries like the OFA, which has an on-line database, will provide not only the breeder with useful information, but can aid future breeders and the breed in general. No system is infalible and mistakes can happen, but for the most part registries are a valuable tool and should not be ignored. Remember, health screening is more than just a simple veterinary exam, it involves detailed screening using DNA, x-rays and other screening methods, so it is important to ask which of these tests are being used by the breeder,. List of tests available to Cardigan breeders.
What health problems should I be aware of regarding your line? All living creatures have genetic health problems and Cardigans are no exception. A good breeder should know and be willing to discuss any health problems they know might occur in their particular line. Advance knowledge of a potential health problem can help pet owners identify and get treatment before it becomes serious or even lethal. Sharing knowledge between breeders also helps reduce the chances of doubling up on a problem. Any breeder who denies having problems in their line may only be fooling themselves and ultimately hurting the breed if they sell dogs for showing and breeding without full disclosure.
About Temperament
Do you temperament test or evaluate temperaments in some way? There are many ways to evaluate puppies for acceptable temperament and every breeder has their own method and standards. What may be acceptable temperment to one breeder may not be to another. Using a puppy temperament test is one way to evaluate a puppy's tolerance of different situations, adaptability, energy level and trainability. Cardigans, as a breed, should be friendly towards people and reasonably tolerant of other animals, but unlike breeds with reputations for outgoing personalities, not all Cardigans will be everyone's instant best-friend. A temperament test will help determine the best match for you and your family.
Do you evaluate for working ability as well as conformation? Some breeders only breed for conformation and some for additional qualities. Although they are listed primarily as cattle dogs, Cardigans were used on a varitey of livestock and as general purpose farm dogs. As a result, Cardigans are both intelligent and adaptable to a variety of canine sports. Some breeders may not only do temperament testing, but might also evaluate how a puppy reacts when exposed to livestock or to other training situations if they are interested in other performance work like agility or obedience. Even if the Cardigan will only be a pet, trainability is important. Many animals end up in shelters each year because they were untrainable in some unacceptable way.
Do you try to match a future owner with the puppy to ensure compatibility? Dogs that are not compatible with their owners are more likely to be rehomed or surrendered to rescues or shelters. Individual dogs, just like people, have differing personalities and activity levels. Take time to tell the breeder anything that might be helpful in finding a good match. Make sure the entire family is available to meet the future family member when going to see the litter. As nice and as personalizing as it might seem, don't let children make the final choice and listen to the breeder's recommendation. Take time to discuss every concern you have before arranging to bring the puppy home.
Do you socialize your puppies? A good breeder will not only select for the best temperaments, but will do all they can to ensure a puppy grows up to be a well adjusted and happy adult. Socialization is an important need of every developing puppy from birth to 12 weeks and on into adulthood. The most crucial time between 4 to 8 weeks helps the puppy develop normal behavior toward other dogs and people and affects how they learn to handle stressful situations. Careful exposure to a variety of positive experiences, interaction with littermates and regular human contact gives a puppy the best start. Be wary of any breeder who places puppies before the age of 7 weeks. Just because a puppy is weaned enough to be able to eat solid food on it's own is no indication of it's readiness to leave the security of it's mother and littermates. Many behavior problems stem from puppies being placed at too early an age, before they have developed well enough emotionally to handle all the stress of such a dramatic change.
About Registration
Does the puppy come with AKC or (if not in the US) other breed club registration papers? All purebred Cardigan Welsh Corgis should be sold with proper registration. In the USA, two primary breed registries are the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC). If you are in another country, there may be other national all breed registries that accept Cardigans. A recent change in AKC's stud and litter registration rules has caused some puppy millers to try starting their own registries, so don't be afraid to avoid puppies that do not seem to be properly registered, even if you just want a pet and don't care about papers. Be suspicious of any breeder not offering proper registration papers and never buy puppies from petstores or on-line sources advertising all-breed and mixed breed availability.. Also be aware of a recent trend known as Retail Rescue. Money is the biggest concern to many of these sources rather than the well being of the animals or ensuring the right match is made. Also be careful about buying from someone who "just wanted to breed a litter" or breeds "designer" dogs. Many of these people, usually termed "backyard breeders" (BYBs) may be well meaning, but often know very little about their dog's pedigree, have poor undertanding of correct structure or the breed standard(s) which can be critical for more than just the show ring if it involves a potential for crippling structural issues, (particularly when crossing two different breeds) and these breeders rarely test for known health problems beyond doing a veterinary exam. Puppies from BYBs may or may not be socialized, vaccinated or checked for parasites and very rarely are their parents health tested and submitted to a health registry like OFA. Be sure to ask questions before committing to a purchase and don't be swayed by a cute face or the feeling that you are 'rescuing' a puppy. The money from purchasing these puppies only funds the cycle of suffering on the dogs kept for breeding. Always buy from a reputable breeder and make sure the puppy comes with proper registration papers!
What, if any, other breed club(s) is the dog eligible for registration? The UKC is another breed registry that has been growing in popularity in the US. It was a club founded over a hundred years ago by hound fanciers and has since grown to accept many other breeds and some rare breeds. Because the USA shares borders with Canada and Mexico, some dogs may also be eligible for registry in these countries. In the UK, Ireland and many European Union and Eastern European countries, dogs are frequently known to be internationally registered and shown to gain multiple titles. Dogshowing is popular in Australia and New Zealand, with dogs often registered and titled in both countries. Japan, China and some other asian nations also have registries with a growing interest in showing purebred dogs in conformation and performance events. If you are interested in travel as well as dogs, international showing can be a fun way to visit other countries and make new friends.
Do you provide limited registration for puppies sold only as pets? Puppies sold as 'pet only' should be sold with a limited registration. This sort of registration is intended to certify that a dog is purebred, but not eligible for breeding. A good breeder knows that for every great show champion seen in the ring, there are many other good puppies living simply as family companions. Providing a limited registry is one way to help ensure a dog will not be used for breeding. The adaptable nature of cardigans means that they be show dogs and great family pets at the same time and even dogs sold on limited registry can still be shown in obedience, agility, flyball and herding events. The AKC and UKC both offer limited registry options. Other national purebreed registries may have their own rules for limited registry.
Additional Registration information.
Be aware that there are other registries founded by puppy mill interests or others who are dissatisfied with their national registry. Often these are intended to circumvent limited registrations or to register mixed breed or poor quality purebreed dogs under the guise of being reputable and there is even one registry which uses a similar name to AKC's to fool buyers into thinking they have an AKC registered puppy. The AKC provides a fact sheet to help identify correct registration papers. The AKC also has an on-line database which can be used to search for dogs already in their registry, research breeding information and show awards. Accessing this database does require a log-in with a password, but is free to join and can be used for up to 25 searches per day. Please note that even if both parents are registered as purebred, if the parents of a puppy are from different breeds, the puppies cannot be legally AKC registered, so if someone claims they are selling 'purebred' AKC registered dogs of this sort (labradoodles, cockapoos, maltipoos, puggles, etc), what they are really offering is expensive, but unregisterable mixed breeds. If there is any question about the registration papers being provided by the breeder, be sure to contact the kennel club where they should be registered to confirm.
About Identification and other concerns
Do you microchip, tattoo or otherwise permanently identify your puppies and dogs? Permanent identification using a microchip and/or tattoo is the best way to positively identify an individual dog and help lost dogs get returned to their owners.
Are you willing to discuss why my puppy is being sold as pet/show quality? A breeder should be willing to discuss why they are selling a puppy as 'pet only' or as potentially show quality. Most puppies sold as pets have some minor trait that will not affect the puppy as a pet, but minimize it's chances of gaining a show championship. A puppy might simply have the wrong coat length or texture, undesireable markings or some other minor fault. In the case of a show hopeful, the breeder can go over the puppy's virtues and discuss possible ways the puppy might mature.
Are one or both parents available to see how the puppy might look and behave as an adult? Exceptions to this might be if the dam died following C-section or other unforseen problem and the sire is living elsewhere, such as out of state or in another country. In that case, would the breeder be willing to show other related dogs of the same breed in their household?
Will the breeder allow visitors to their kennel facilities? Most good breeders welcome visitors. It is important to remember that it isn't always convenient to have people drop by at a moment's notice, so always call ahead and arrange a time to come see the breeder's facilities and dogs. One can usually expect things to be clean and relatively odor-free, but be aware that dogs can be like kids. If company is coming, it's almost a given someone will find a mud puddle or create a spill of some sort! Be willing to forgive a little dirt and pawprints, but a breeder''s facilities should not be filthy and littered with waste. In the case of visiting a litter, puppies are usually not terribly interesting before the age of 4 or 5 weeks. Before that time, just like a human infant, they do very little besides eat and sleep.
Does the breeder have a return/refund policy? Be sure to ask what sort of return or refund policy a breeder offers. Some will only take back a puppy under certain circumstances while others will take a dog back at any age, no questions asked. Some may offer a partial or full refund and others may not. Go over the breeder's policies and make yourself aware of your state's 'Puppy Lemon Laws' before committing to a purchase.
About Health
Do you have a health guarantee? Many breeders offer a health guarantee. Duration of this guarantee can vary from a few days to years. Be sure ask the breeder what they are willing to guarantee and what they would do in the case of a health problem (i.e. - refund part or all of the puppy's price to pay for theveterinary care, take the puppy back or some other option).
Do you check for internal and external parasites and vaccinate? Breeders and veterinarians all have differing opinions on how soon and how often a puppy should be vaccinated and which diseases require early vaccination, but puppies should have at least one booster shot to get them started by the age of 8 weeks. Take time to read up a little on the topic and make sure to have appointments with your veterinarian for your puppy's first exam and next booster shots. Parasites are difficult to avoid, so a good breeder will take time to both screen for parasites and move to eliminate them. A healthy puppy should be clean and free from parasites. A little dirt is normal because puppies are notorious for getting themselves messy just before visitors arrive, but a puppy should NOT be filthy. Both a vaccine record and record of worming done on the puppy should be provided by the breeder.
Do you screen for breed specific health problems? According to Dr Padgett in his book, Control of Canine Diseases, Cardigan Welsh Corgis as a breed have at least 32 known and documented genetic problems (compared with other breeds like Poodles, American Cockers and GSDs who have over 100 documented genetic problems and mixed breeds which may have over 200 possible genetic problems). All living creatures are thought to have at least 3 genetic defects (in humans, Type I diabetes, back problems, bad knees, poor eyesight and crooked teeth can be listed as common genetic problems and there are many more) and most genetic problems are inherited recessively. It takes a knowledgeable breeder to determine what troubles might occur in their particular family of Cardigans. Health problems can and will occur, but a good breeder will try to screen to eliminate as many of them as possible. A great resource for information about Cardigan specific health issues is the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Health Foundation (CWCHF).
Do you register parents with a health registry like OFA, PENNHip and CERF? Good breeders will health screen and register their dogs with a health registry. Health registries are useful ways to both evaluate dogs, understand how a problem might be inherited and determine if a particular breeding might produce a problem. Some health problems, like hip dysplasia involve several genes, which makes it much harder to predict a problem, so careful selection can help reduce the chances of a problem. Registries like the OFA, which has an on-line database, will provide not only the breeder with useful information, but can aid future breeders and the breed in general. No system is infalible and mistakes can happen, but for the most part registries are a valuable tool and should not be ignored. Remember, health screening is more than just a simple veterinary exam, it involves detailed screening using DNA, x-rays and other screening methods, so it is important to ask which of these tests are being used by the breeder,. List of tests available to Cardigan breeders.
What health problems should I be aware of regarding your line? All living creatures have genetic health problems and Cardigans are no exception. A good breeder should know and be willing to discuss any health problems they know might occur in their particular line. Advance knowledge of a potential health problem can help pet owners identify and get treatment before it becomes serious or even lethal. Sharing knowledge between breeders also helps reduce the chances of doubling up on a problem. Any breeder who denies having problems in their line may only be fooling themselves and ultimately hurting the breed if they sell dogs for showing and breeding without full disclosure.
About Temperament
Do you temperament test or evaluate temperaments in some way? There are many ways to evaluate puppies for acceptable temperament and every breeder has their own method and standards. What may be acceptable temperment to one breeder may not be to another. Using a puppy temperament test is one way to evaluate a puppy's tolerance of different situations, adaptability, energy level and trainability. Cardigans, as a breed, should be friendly towards people and reasonably tolerant of other animals, but unlike breeds with reputations for outgoing personalities, not all Cardigans will be everyone's instant best-friend. A temperament test will help determine the best match for you and your family.
Do you evaluate for working ability as well as conformation? Some breeders only breed for conformation and some for additional qualities. Although they are listed primarily as cattle dogs, Cardigans were used on a varitey of livestock and as general purpose farm dogs. As a result, Cardigans are both intelligent and adaptable to a variety of canine sports. Some breeders may not only do temperament testing, but might also evaluate how a puppy reacts when exposed to livestock or to other training situations if they are interested in other performance work like agility or obedience. Even if the Cardigan will only be a pet, trainability is important. Many animals end up in shelters each year because they were untrainable in some unacceptable way.
Do you try to match a future owner with the puppy to ensure compatibility? Dogs that are not compatible with their owners are more likely to be rehomed or surrendered to rescues or shelters. Individual dogs, just like people, have differing personalities and activity levels. Take time to tell the breeder anything that might be helpful in finding a good match. Make sure the entire family is available to meet the future family member when going to see the litter. As nice and as personalizing as it might seem, don't let children make the final choice and listen to the breeder's recommendation. Take time to discuss every concern you have before arranging to bring the puppy home.
Do you socialize your puppies? A good breeder will not only select for the best temperaments, but will do all they can to ensure a puppy grows up to be a well adjusted and happy adult. Socialization is an important need of every developing puppy from birth to 12 weeks and on into adulthood. The most crucial time between 4 to 8 weeks helps the puppy develop normal behavior toward other dogs and people and affects how they learn to handle stressful situations. Careful exposure to a variety of positive experiences, interaction with littermates and regular human contact gives a puppy the best start. Be wary of any breeder who places puppies before the age of 7 weeks. Just because a puppy is weaned enough to be able to eat solid food on it's own is no indication of it's readiness to leave the security of it's mother and littermates. Many behavior problems stem from puppies being placed at too early an age, before they have developed well enough emotionally to handle all the stress of such a dramatic change.
About Registration
Does the puppy come with AKC or (if not in the US) other breed club registration papers? All purebred Cardigan Welsh Corgis should be sold with proper registration. In the USA, two primary breed registries are the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC). If you are in another country, there may be other national all breed registries that accept Cardigans. A recent change in AKC's stud and litter registration rules has caused some puppy millers to try starting their own registries, so don't be afraid to avoid puppies that do not seem to be properly registered, even if you just want a pet and don't care about papers. Be suspicious of any breeder not offering proper registration papers and never buy puppies from petstores or on-line sources advertising all-breed and mixed breed availability.. Also be aware of a recent trend known as Retail Rescue. Money is the biggest concern to many of these sources rather than the well being of the animals or ensuring the right match is made. Also be careful about buying from someone who "just wanted to breed a litter" or breeds "designer" dogs. Many of these people, usually termed "backyard breeders" (BYBs) may be well meaning, but often know very little about their dog's pedigree, have poor undertanding of correct structure or the breed standard(s) which can be critical for more than just the show ring if it involves a potential for crippling structural issues, (particularly when crossing two different breeds) and these breeders rarely test for known health problems beyond doing a veterinary exam. Puppies from BYBs may or may not be socialized, vaccinated or checked for parasites and very rarely are their parents health tested and submitted to a health registry like OFA. Be sure to ask questions before committing to a purchase and don't be swayed by a cute face or the feeling that you are 'rescuing' a puppy. The money from purchasing these puppies only funds the cycle of suffering on the dogs kept for breeding. Always buy from a reputable breeder and make sure the puppy comes with proper registration papers!
What, if any, other breed club(s) is the dog eligible for registration? The UKC is another breed registry that has been growing in popularity in the US. It was a club founded over a hundred years ago by hound fanciers and has since grown to accept many other breeds and some rare breeds. Because the USA shares borders with Canada and Mexico, some dogs may also be eligible for registry in these countries. In the UK, Ireland and many European Union and Eastern European countries, dogs are frequently known to be internationally registered and shown to gain multiple titles. Dogshowing is popular in Australia and New Zealand, with dogs often registered and titled in both countries. Japan, China and some other asian nations also have registries with a growing interest in showing purebred dogs in conformation and performance events. If you are interested in travel as well as dogs, international showing can be a fun way to visit other countries and make new friends.
Do you provide limited registration for puppies sold only as pets? Puppies sold as 'pet only' should be sold with a limited registration. This sort of registration is intended to certify that a dog is purebred, but not eligible for breeding. A good breeder knows that for every great show champion seen in the ring, there are many other good puppies living simply as family companions. Providing a limited registry is one way to help ensure a dog will not be used for breeding. The adaptable nature of cardigans means that they be show dogs and great family pets at the same time and even dogs sold on limited registry can still be shown in obedience, agility, flyball and herding events. The AKC and UKC both offer limited registry options. Other national purebreed registries may have their own rules for limited registry.
Additional Registration information.
Be aware that there are other registries founded by puppy mill interests or others who are dissatisfied with their national registry. Often these are intended to circumvent limited registrations or to register mixed breed or poor quality purebreed dogs under the guise of being reputable and there is even one registry which uses a similar name to AKC's to fool buyers into thinking they have an AKC registered puppy. The AKC provides a fact sheet to help identify correct registration papers. The AKC also has an on-line database which can be used to search for dogs already in their registry, research breeding information and show awards. Accessing this database does require a log-in with a password, but is free to join and can be used for up to 25 searches per day. Please note that even if both parents are registered as purebred, if the parents of a puppy are from different breeds, the puppies cannot be legally AKC registered, so if someone claims they are selling 'purebred' AKC registered dogs of this sort (labradoodles, cockapoos, maltipoos, puggles, etc), what they are really offering is expensive, but unregisterable mixed breeds. If there is any question about the registration papers being provided by the breeder, be sure to contact the kennel club where they should be registered to confirm.
About Identification and other concerns
Do you microchip, tattoo or otherwise permanently identify your puppies and dogs? Permanent identification using a microchip and/or tattoo is the best way to positively identify an individual dog and help lost dogs get returned to their owners.
Are you willing to discuss why my puppy is being sold as pet/show quality? A breeder should be willing to discuss why they are selling a puppy as 'pet only' or as potentially show quality. Most puppies sold as pets have some minor trait that will not affect the puppy as a pet, but minimize it's chances of gaining a show championship. A puppy might simply have the wrong coat length or texture, undesireable markings or some other minor fault. In the case of a show hopeful, the breeder can go over the puppy's virtues and discuss possible ways the puppy might mature.
Are one or both parents available to see how the puppy might look and behave as an adult? Exceptions to this might be if the dam died following C-section or other unforseen problem and the sire is living elsewhere, such as out of state or in another country. In that case, would the breeder be willing to show other related dogs of the same breed in their household?
Will the breeder allow visitors to their kennel facilities? Most good breeders welcome visitors. It is important to remember that it isn't always convenient to have people drop by at a moment's notice, so always call ahead and arrange a time to come see the breeder's facilities and dogs. One can usually expect things to be clean and relatively odor-free, but be aware that dogs can be like kids. If company is coming, it's almost a given someone will find a mud puddle or create a spill of some sort! Be willing to forgive a little dirt and pawprints, but a breeder''s facilities should not be filthy and littered with waste. In the case of visiting a litter, puppies are usually not terribly interesting before the age of 4 or 5 weeks. Before that time, just like a human infant, they do very little besides eat and sleep.
Does the breeder have a return/refund policy? Be sure to ask what sort of return or refund policy a breeder offers. Some will only take back a puppy under certain circumstances while others will take a dog back at any age, no questions asked. Some may offer a partial or full refund and others may not. Go over the breeder's policies and make yourself aware of your state's 'Puppy Lemon Laws' before committing to a purchase.
