Can anyone give advice on what to ask Maltese breeders before I buy a puppy?
— What are the congenital defects in this breed? The breeder who says “none” or “I don’t know” is to be avoided. That’s a person who’s not screening for what she doesn’t know about, and you don’t want to pay the price for her ignorance. A good breeder tells you every remotely possible problem in the breed, from droopy eyelids to deafness to epilepsy. — What steps have you taken to decrease defects in your dogs? You want to hear words like “screened” and “tested” and “certified.” In breeds with the potential for hip dysplasia – that’s almost every large breed — look for PennHIP or Orthopedic Foundation for Animals certification. These are expert, unbiased evaluators who know exactly what to look for. Insist on documentation on both parents. And their parents, too. — Do you have the parents on site? May I see them? This is a bit of a trick question. You should always be able to see the mother — unless she died giving birth — but reputable breeders often don’t have the father on han
