What to ask puppy breeders
So, you’re ready to welcome a Border Terrier into your life, but where do you even start? The internet is full of adverts, waiting lists, and promises, but how do you know who to trust? What makes a breeder truly ethical? Why is an ethical breeder important? And how can you be sure you’re giving your pup the very best start in life? While most breeds have their genetic quirks, border terriers are quickly becoming one of the most expensive dogs to run and insure due to their ever increasing numbers of health conditions. More dogs are getting sicker, younger, so what do the breeders have to do with that?
Let’s break it down together.
Health First – But Is Testing Really Happening?
When you look at an advert online, and check out the breeder, do you ask: Are they health-testing both parents and screening for known and emerging genetic conditions? Ethical breeders make health a priority. Not just for the litter in front of them, but for the future of the breed. If a breeder can’t show you health certificates, is that really a risk you’re willing to take with the ever spiralling cost of vets bills?
Some breeders are hobby breeders - they just breed ‘because’. Because money, because they want a dog from their pet, or because they haven’t properly managed the dogs they have. So these litters come from poor management of fertile house mates - not health and behaviour tested homes. Some breeders are big in the showing world - so looks over health and substance. Some sport dog breeders breed for training and speed like agility or flyball. And some breeders breed from working stock. Ratter farm dogs and hunt kennel puppies who will have a stronger prey drive - they may be more prone to running off and being more independent.
Many of these breeders - professional and recommended breeders may say they have health tested - but they may not be aware of all the health concerns and tests available. They may even be vets, but medicate dogs, masking symptoms of genetic issues with things like Cytopoint or Apoquel. They may raw feed, reducing the visibility of some issues and you won’t even know.
They may be medicating the parents with flea, tick and worm treatments. They may be vaccinating every year. These are all important things to be aware of.
Did you know that you can check the inbreeding coefficient of a litter before it’s born, and even look into the blood lines (and how inbred) by putting the parents kennel names into the Kennel Club website and / or Borderterrier.org.uk
Know what you’re setting yourself up for in the next 15 - 20 years
What tests should they be doing?
Professional (and hobby breeders) should have paper results to show you for:
SLEM shaken puppy (a single genetic test) - this is a hereditary disease where puppies don’t live long.
Juvenile Cataracts (annual testing)
Gluten sensitivity -Gliadin test - (one off blood test)
Breeding pairs should also be hip and elbow scored and have their inbreeding coefficient kept as low as possible for health genetic variety. ‘Line breeding’ is rarely done well and is a huge red flag.
Known issues should always be registered (no matter what age in a dog’s life they occur) at the borderterrierhealth.org website.
What About Socialisation?
We all want a well-rounded, confident pup. But how do breeders help give pups a head start in life? Do they use early socialisation methods like Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Introduction (ESI)? Do they introduce their puppies to new environments, sounds, and even public transport before they head to new homes? Early experiences matter – ask the breeder whether they’re giving pups that vital foundation? And which things do they do?
Welfare Over Profit – Or a Puppy Machine?
Here’s a tough one: Is the mother a beloved family dog first, or just a means to produce litter after litter? Hobby breeders who raise occasional litters often give their dogs the best quality of life. Are you choosing someone who breeds for love of the Border Terrier – or for the money? You can check how many litters a breeder has had recently on the Kennel Club website and also check on BorderTerrier.org.uk. The Kennel Club has a quarterly magazine listing every registered pup born to breeders. So you can find this out.
Commitment Beyond the Sale
What happens if life throws you a curveball and you can’t keep your dog? Because it happens. Couples split, family gets ill. Life happens. Does the breeder you’re looking at have a contract in place that ensures the puppy returns to them, not a rescue? Ethical breeders commit to their pups for life. Does yours?
Knowledge, Guidance, and the Right Match
When you speak to a breeder, do they ask questions about you? Do they try to understand your lifestyle, experience, and needs? Some breeders even help match puppies to owners based on personality. They will get a feel for a litter from their experience, because not every pup will thrive in every home. Is your breeder more interested in finding the right fit, or just making a sale?
And beyond the sale, will they be there to support you, answer questions, and guide you through the highs and lows of puppyhood?
Transparency Is Key
Finally, does your breeder share openly about their values and practices? Do they use social media to show how they raise their dogs? A window into their world can say a lot about who they are and what they stand for.
They should be able to give contacts (with consent) or social media profiles of people / dogs they’ve brought into the world, to show off their health and vitality. How friendly they are, and maybe how great they are at a specific sport or showing.
Know what to ask when choosing a puppy - it’s important for their longevity and wellbeing as well as your financial support.
Questions to Ask a Breeder Before Buying a Puppy
Health & Welfare
Can you show me the health certificates for both parents?
What vaccinations will the puppies come with?
Are the puppies vet-checked, wormed, and microchipped before leaving?
Have you ever had or produced dogs with tummy issues, allergies, or other health problems?
What steps do you take to ensure the long-term health of the dogs you breed?
How many complications have you experienced with whelping (birthing) or puppies?
Breeding Practices
How many litters have you ever had in total?
How often do you have a litter, and why?
How many dogs have been returned to you, and why?
Why did you choose to breed this particular litter, and what qualities were you aiming for?
What kind of lifestyle do you think best suits this breed?
Environment & Early Life
Are the puppies raised at home (with family/children) or in a barn/kennel?
How do you socialise the puppies in their first 8 weeks?
Do you use programmes like Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) or Early Scent Introduction (ESI)?
Contracts & Puppy Pack
Do you provide a written contract of sale?
If I can’t keep the dog, will you take them back?
What will be included in the puppy package (food, blanket, records, toys, insurance, etc.)?
Do you provide ongoing support and advice once the puppy has gone home?
Do you keep in touch with families you’ve sold to over the years?
Transparency & Trust
Can I visit and meet the mother (and ideally the father, if available)?
Where are your dogs kept when not with puppies?
Do you have references from previous puppy owners?
Do you share updates or show how your dogs are raised (e.g. on social media)? Are the puppies exposed to everyday life – handling, car rides, grooming, noises, and different environments?
Puppies are gorgeous and it’s the hardest thing in the world to walk away, but know what you’re looking for and set yourself and the dog up for a successful life together.
It’s up to us as guardians of the breed to ensure that the puppies being produced are of the best quality, and know what to spot if they’re not. Don’t trust an advert title for an expensive dog. Humans lie, they hide the truth for financial gain - be that from sales or just not keeping an unwanted litter. This is why Kennel Names and registrations matter. The Kennel Club is no longer registering dogs who have been bred too closely. While this may not deter breeders from breeding them, its a red flag if your pup is unregistered.
Finding an ethical Border Terrier breeder isn’t always easy, but asking the right questions makes all the difference. At the end of the day, isn’t it worth taking the extra time to ensure your pup has the healthiest, happiest, and most supported start in life? That’s not to say that dog’s can’t be happy and healthy, or managed, but this is to empower new pet parents to be able to make decisions in their own and the dog’s interest. When we ask the right questions, poor quality breeders will need to step their game up. The future health of this amazing breed is in your hands.
If you have any questions about bloodlines or breeders, please contact me. I’d love to be able to help you.
