Puppy Visit Checklist: What to Inspect Before You Buy

A puppy visit is one of the most important steps in buying a dog. It is your only chance to see the puppy's living conditions, observe their behaviour firsthand, meet the mother, and verify that the breeder's claims match reality. Skipping this step — or rushing through it — is how many buyers end up with a sick puppy, a dog with behavioural problems, or a heartbreak that could have been avoided.

This guide breaks the visit into a logical sequence: what to prepare before you arrive, what to observe in the environment, how to physically inspect a puppy, how to assess temperament, and what questions and documents to demand. Use it alongside our puppy supplies checklist once you have chosen your puppy, so you are fully prepared for pickup day.

Before the Visit: Preparation

Arriving unprepared means you will miss details and forget questions. Spend thirty minutes preparing before you leave home.

• Research the breed's known health issues. Every breed has genetic conditions that reputable breeders test for. Knowing these in advance lets you ask specific questions — for example, hip and elbow scores in large breeds, eye certifications in spaniels, or cardiac screening in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
• Read our guide on how to find a reputable breeder. Understand the difference between a responsible breeder and a commercial operation before you set foot on the property.
• Prepare a written list of questions. You will be distracted by puppies. A written list keeps you on track. See the questions section below for a complete template.
• Bring the right items: hand sanitiser, a notebook, your phone for photos and notes, and a change of clothes if you are visiting multiple breeders. Avoid bringing young children on a first visit — assess the environment yourself first.
• Ask about vaccination status before visiting. Puppies should have received their first vaccinations before meeting strangers. Our puppy vaccination schedule explains the timeline. A breeder who allows unvaccinated puppies to meet visitors is putting their litter at risk.

Evaluating the Environment

The living conditions tell you as much about the breeder as the puppies themselves. A clean, well-organised environment indicates care and attention. A chaotic or dirty one indicates the opposite.

Ask yourself as you look around: would I be comfortable letting a puppy live here for its first eight weeks? If the answer is no, the puppy's start in life has been compromised. Our article on red flags of a bad breeder expands on the environmental and behavioural warning signs to watch for.

Puppy Health Inspection

A visual and hands-on examination will reveal most serious health problems. Ask the breeder for permission to handle the puppy — a reputable breeder will encourage it. Be gentle and calm.

Eyes

Clear, bright eyes with no discharge, redness, or cloudiness. Puppies should make eye contact and follow movement. Squinting, excessive tearing, or a cloudy film can indicate infection, injury, or congenital eye problems.

Ears

Clean, odour-free ears with pale pink skin inside. No discharge, redness, swelling, or signs of scratching. Floppy-eared breeds need extra attention — moisture trapped in the ear canal encourages infection. Check our guide to cleaning dog ears correctly for what healthy ears look like.

Nose

A slightly moist, cool nose is normal. A dry, cracked, or excessively runny nose may indicate dehydration or illness. Some discharge is normal after waking, but constant nasal discharge with coughing is a warning sign.

Mouth & Gums

Gums should be pink, not pale, red, or white. Teeth should be clean and properly aligned. Check for an overbite or underbite that could cause problems later. Bad breath in a puppy can indicate dental or digestive issues.

Coat & Skin

The coat should be glossy and free of bald patches, scabs, or flakes. Part the fur and check for fleas, flea dirt (small black specks), or ticks. Red, inflamed skin or a strong yeasty smell may indicate allergies or infection. Our guide on common dog skin problems explains what to distinguish from normal puppy skin.

Body Condition & Structure

A healthy puppy has a slightly rounded belly, not bloated or sunken. You should be able to feel — but not see — the ribs. Check the legs for straightness and the paws for proper alignment. A puppy who walks with a limp or holds a leg up needs veterinary attention.

Rear & Genitals

The anus should be clean and free of swelling or discharge. Diarrhoea stains or matted fur around the rear indicate digestive problems. Check that the genitals are clean and free of discharge or swelling. For male puppies, both testicles should be descended by eight weeks — undescended testicles require surgery later.

Energy & Movement

A healthy puppy is curious, alert, and playful but settles easily when tired. They should move freely without stiffness or lameness. Lethargy, reluctance to move, or excessive sleeping beyond normal puppy naps warrants further investigation.

Temperament & Behaviour Tests

Temperament is partly genetic and partly shaped by early experiences. You cannot fully predict adult behaviour from a single visit, but you can identify extremes — a puppy who is terrified or aggressive at eight weeks is unlikely to become an easy family dog.

Good temperament signs include a relaxed body, soft eyes, willingness to approach, curiosity about new objects, and quick recovery from being startled. Warning signs include cowering, hiding, growling, snapping, and a puppy who cannot settle even after several minutes. Our guide to reading dog body language explains the signals in more detail.

Meeting the Parents

Ask to see the mother. This is non-negotiable. A breeder who will not let you see the mother is hiding something — usually that the mother is in poor condition, kept in a separate facility, or is not actually on site.

Observe the mother's temperament and physical condition. She should be friendly or at least calm with visitors, in good body condition, and free of obvious health problems. A fearful or aggressive mother can pass on genetic nervousness to her puppies. The mother may be thin after nursing — that is normal — but she should not be emaciated or injured.

If the father is not on site, ask for photos, health test results, and his pedigree. Artificial insemination is common in purebred breeding, so the father's absence is not automatically a red flag — but the breeder should have full documentation. For breed-specific health concerns, see our healthiest dog breeds guide for what to expect.

Ask about the mother's age and the number of litters she has had. A responsible breeder limits a female's breeding career and retires her at an appropriate age. Repeat litters every heat cycle (twice a year) are a sign of commercial breeding rather than health-focused breeding.

Questions to Ask the Breeder

These questions reveal whether the breeder has done their due diligence and knows their dogs. A knowledgeable breeder will answer easily and provide documentation. Evasive answers or irritation at questions are red flags.

• What health tests have both parents had? Ask for specific test results — OFA or PennHIP scores for hips and elbows, eye certifications, cardiac screening, and DNA panels for known breed conditions. The results should be available for the parent dogs, not just the puppies.
• What is the vaccination and deworming schedule? Puppies should have received age-appropriate vaccinations and regular deworming. Ask for dates and product names. Our vaccination schedule guide lists what is appropriate at each age.
• What have the puppies been fed? Ask for the exact brand and formula so you can transition gradually. Abrupt food changes cause digestive upset in puppies. You may want to compare options in our puppy food guide.
• How have the puppies been socialised? Good breeders expose puppies to different people, sounds, surfaces, and experiences from an early age. Ask about their socialisation plan and enrichment routines.
• Do you provide a written health guarantee? A reputable breeder backs their puppies with a written contract that covers genetic health issues for at least one to two years. Read our guide to health guarantees for puppies to understand what is standard.
• What is your return policy? A responsible breeder will always take a dog back rather than see it end up in a shelter. If they have no return policy, ask yourself why not.
• Have there been any health issues in the bloodline? Honest breeders will disclose known issues and explain how they are managing them. A breeder who claims their lines have never had a single health problem is either inexperienced or dishonest.
• Can I see the puppies' records? Ask for the vaccination card, deworming history, and any veterinary records. These should be provided at or before pickup. See our breeder contract guide for what documents should accompany a purchase.

Documents & Paperwork

Before you hand over any money, you should see physical documentation. Do not accept verbal assurances alone.

If the breeder cannot produce these documents at the visit, ask when they will be available. Some records may be with the vet, but the breeder should be able to show you copies or share them electronically before you commit. For more on registration paperwork, see our AKC registration guide.

Red Flags to Walk Away From

Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it probably is. These are situations where you should leave without committing to a puppy.

• The breeder refuses to let you see the mother. This is the single biggest red flag. There is no legitimate reason to hide the mother unless she is in poor condition or not on the premises.
• The environment is unclean or overcrowded. Strong odours, matted fur, and cramped cages indicate neglect or a puppy mill operation. Our article on puppy mill vs reputable breeder explains the difference in detail.
• Puppies are fearful, aggressive, or lethargic. A puppy who cowers, snaps, or cannot be roused is not healthy or well-socialised. Do not let pity override good judgement.
• No health records or genetic testing. A breeder who has not tested their breeding dogs is gambling with your puppy's health. Walk away.
• Pressure to buy immediately. "There's another family coming tomorrow" is a sales tactic. Reputable breeders want the right match, not a rushed sale.
• Multiple litters of different breeds on site. This is a hallmark of commercial breeding. Responsible breeders focus on one or two breeds and breed selectively.
• The breeder cannot answer basic health questions. If they do not know their dogs' health history, they cannot be trusted to produce healthy puppies.
• You are not allowed to see the entire litter or the living areas. Transparency is the mark of a reputable breeder. Secrecy is not.

If you encounter any of these signs, leave. There are many puppies in need of good homes, and choosing the wrong breeder supports operations that cause suffering. Read more about the dangers of backyard breeders and why they should be avoided.

Final Decision Checklist

Before you commit, run through this final checklist. If you can answer yes to every question, you are ready to move forward.

Once you have made your choice, your next steps are to schedule a vet visit within 48 hours of bringing your puppy home, begin house training, and enrol in a puppy training class as soon as vaccinations allow. For information on timing of spaying or neutering, see our guide to puppy spaying timing.

Frequently Asked Questions