Buyers Guidelines to Asses Breeders

Some Questions you can ask the Breeders

1. Is the Breeder a member of KUSA? Ask for their KUSA membership number?
2. Is the Sire and Dam KUSA registered? Will the puppies be registered with KUSA?
3. Will the puppy be micro chipped? (Mandatory for KUSA registration)
4. Ask to see the KUSA Certificate of Registration (Pedigree) of both the Sire and Dam
5. Insist on a written purchase and sale agreement, in which all terms and conditions are clearly stipulated. The agreement should be signed by both parties prior to any monies being handed over. Check if the breeder will impose any breed restrictions.
6. Ask if the Sire & Dam have been health screened for inherited diseases. Do thorough research on what diseases may affect the particular breed chosen.
7. Ask to see the puppy whilst still with its litter mates and mother. Ask to see the Sire to ascertain character traits and conformation. The environment in which the puppy spends its first 6 weeks, plays an important role in the development of its character. If for what- ever reason you are unable to see the puppy at the breeder’s premises, appoint someone else in the area to do so on your behalf. Avoid at all costs – collection of puppies from a meeting point away from the breeder’s premises. The reason for this arrangement could be due to the fact that the breeder’s premises would not stand up to scrutiny.
8. Confirm that the puppy will be inoculated and dewormed. Ask to see the vaccination record of the dam.
9. Deposits to confirm the order of a puppy should only be paid, after you have done all the necessary background checks and satisfied yourself that all is above board.

NB. Responsible breeders only breed when they are certain that they will be able to find good homes for all their puppies and thus it may be necessary to place your name on a waiting list and to pay a deposit.

Beware of inadvertently supporting indiscriminate puppy farmers and/or scam artists that advertise on certain websites or on their own dedicated websites.

Unfortunately, there are irresponsible breeders that are more interested in making profits than in caring for their puppies’ health and welfare. Be very wary of breeders that have a wide variety of puppies available all year round and that sell “pedigreed” puppies at below average prices. 

Be discerning and take great care when choosing the breeder from which you buy your puppy. Prior to parting with any money, it is strongly recommended that the KUSA office is contacted to verify claims made pertaining to KUSA membership or registration.