Why an In-Person Visit Is Non-Negotiable
A reputable Canadian breeder will welcome — and often require — an in-person visit before placing a puppy or kitten with you. Photos, videos, and even video calls can be staged. Standing in the breeder's home or facility tells you everything: cleanliness, how animals are housed, how the breeder interacts with their dogs and cats, and whether the operation matches their public marketing.
If a breeder refuses to let you visit, insists on a parking-lot meet-up, or only ships puppies, walk away. Reputable breeders are proud of their facilities and want you to see how their animals live. Anyone hiding their setup is hiding something.
What to Bring
Bring a notebook and pen (or your phone) to record observations and answers — you'll meet multiple breeders and details blur together. Bring a list of prepared questions (covered below). If you have other family members joining the household, bring them too: meeting the puppy or kitten as a family helps assess fit and gauges how the breeder's dogs respond to children, men, women, and elderly visitors.
Leave your existing pets at home unless the breeder specifically invites them. Dropping unfamiliar dogs into a breeder's environment is stressful for the breeding dogs and can introduce disease. Wear clothing and shoes you're willing to have sniffed and stepped on; many breeders ask visitors to remove shoes or use sanitizing foot baths.
What to Observe
The mother (dam) should be present and accessible. Walking, friendly, and engaged with her puppies is what you want to see. A nervous, fearful, or aggressive dam suggests both poor temperament genetics and a stressed environment. The father (sire) is often off-site at another kennel, but the breeder should show you photos, health clearances, and pedigree documentation.
The living space should be clean but lived-in — not sterile or hidden. Puppies should have access to a variety of surfaces, sounds, and stimuli for proper socialization. Watch how puppies interact with each other and with the breeder. Look for bright eyes, clean ears, no discharge from eyes or nose, healthy coats, and round (but not bloated) bellies.
Questions to Ask
Ask about health testing on both parents — what specific tests, and request to see written results. For breeds prone to hip dysplasia, you want OFA or PennHIP scores. Ask about vaccination schedules, deworming history, and what veterinary care the puppies have received so far.
Ask what the breeder is breeding for: temperament, conformation, working ability, or health. A breeder with a clear breeding philosophy is thinking critically about each pairing. Ask about their puppy contract, return policy, and what support they offer after the puppy goes home. Reputable breeders take their dogs back at any point in the dog's life if you can no longer keep them.
Red Flags During the Visit
Multiple breeds being bred at the same address is a red flag suggesting a commercial operation focused on volume rather than careful breeding. Puppies in cramped, dirty conditions, or housed in basements, garages, or sheds away from family life indicate poor socialization and welfare. Pressure to make a same-day decision or pay a deposit on the spot is a sales tactic, not breeder behaviour.
If you see medications, syringes, or signs of ongoing illness without the breeder explaining what's happening, ask directly. A breeder who can't or won't answer questions about parent health, won't show health clearances, or claims their lines have 'no health issues' is being dishonest — every breed has predispositions, and good breeders are transparent about managing them.
Frequently Asked Questions
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