Is it okay to visit a dog breeder's facility before buying a puppy?

I believe this is actually a good sign. This breeder has he health of the puppies in mind above all else. It is less likely that they contract something from your visit then form interactions with other dogs. It is still best practice for them to be left alone with their mother until the weaning process begins. To ensure no disturbances to their bond and the mother's milk supply. Perhaps you can ask the breeder for pictures of videos until then?

Its important to do research prior to purchasing a purebred or designer puppy. I recommend to tour the breeder's property and see how the dogs are kept. Also make sure the meet at least the mother but ideally the father too. Red flags are 'breeders' asking/offering to meet at a gas station or some other location, not allowing you to see where the dogs are kept or offering multiple breeds/having MANY dogs. If you find a breeder who only has a few dogs and likely only one breed, especially if they allow you to visit the property, its highly unlikely they are a puppy mill. Please post again if you have any further questions.

Most importantly I would check that your puppy is coming from a reputable breeder. You should be able to see at least the mother with the puppies and if not this would be a major red flag. When visiting the puppies should look bright and in good condition. The breeder should be able to tell you when the puppies were wormed. You can also ask the breeder about whether there is any history of conditions such as elbow or hip dysplasia in their dogs. If you are unhappy about anything I would walk away. In terms of feeding I would recommend feeding a good quality food specifically for puppies such as Hills science plan.

Yes, there are things that you should look out for when you go to see this puppy. I've linked websites with questions to ask, and warning signs for puppy mills: http://www.buyingapuppy.com/index5.html http://www.buyingapuppy.com/index4.html

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! A lot of breeders are very intense and protective of their puppies and reputation. I don’t think it’s an abnormal reaction from a breeder. I agree that it isn’t medically founded. The puppy should be safe in a new house and being current on its puppy vaccines. Unfortunately if you want THIS puppy you will have to go along with what the breeder wants. I hope this helps and I wish you the best!

The breeder is correct that Edith should avoid contact with other dogs if you do not know their vaccination status, but she can have contact with dogs who are fully vaccinated. Parvovirus can be carried a person's shoes and clothes, which is why the breeder implied avoiding contact with people who have dogs. That being said, as long as the dogs at the home where your father is staying are fully vaccinated, there is no problem with him coming to see you :-)

I think the best thing you can do is see if the breeder will let you take the puppy to the vet to have this checked out for yourself. The vet will be able to tell you if there will be problems in the future or not. Should the breeder not allow this (and I would ask to do it when the puppy is a bit older, around four weeks), then do not get the puppy. Any reputable breeder would allow a potential owner to do a vet check. I hope this helps!