Puppies should be ready to go to their new homes at 7-10 weeks, but must be fully weaned before you get them.   

Request to meet the Dam of the litter; this should be viewed as reasonable and sensible and will give you the opportunity to assess her behaviour/temperament and general condition.  Bare in mind that as she has just reared a litter of puppies she may not be at full fitness, however there should be nothing wrong with her, so view any obvious signs, such as lameness, front or rear, dull weepy eyes etc. with suspicion. 

 Ask if possible to meet the sire, he may not be owned by the puppy breeder and sometimes it may be difficult as he maybe lives many miles away, but it is often possible to view the sire by prior request.

The Dam should be calm and steady, possibly curious and even friendly towards you.  She may be reserved, but that is acceptable behaviour as she will be feeling a bit of concern over her puppies.  She should never be openly hostile or shrinking, shy and cowardly.  If she shows these negative traits it is advisable to postpone making a decision about having a puppy from her litter and talking to an expert, such as another knowledgeable breeder, the Breed Club or a VET for advice.

Having met the Dam, you will be eager to meet her pups.  If the presence of the mother distracts their attention, it will be wise to excuse her.  After a brief initial survey ASK YOURSELF if the litter appears to be well-fed, healthy and active, and most of all important are they well socialised to human contact, noise and generally happy in their environment.

Whether they are raised inside the home or outside, if the breeder has done their job properly and you are assessing them in their own surroundings you should expect to find puppies who are bold & confident and who display no signs of nervousness.  The independent, inquisitive pup and the puppies who seek more of your attention are both typical of the character of this breed, although different in their individual outlook.  If when lifted and handled a little rumble is displayed, this can be tolerated for even as puppies the breed has dignity.  Over aggressiveness directed towards human attention should, however, be viewed cautiously.  Sometimes an individual will display a more dominant attitude amidst his littermates, this is acceptable, but this type of dominant puppy will require a more experienced owner.

All puppies are attractive and tempting, it is advisable to leave any small children at home on your first visit, it is sometimes difficult for them to understand that they cannot take a 4 week old puppy away with them immediately.

Please ask questions, read a good book on your desired breed and make a list, it is all too easy to forget that important question when in the company of  these  lovely little bundles. You should also be prepared to have questions asked of you, this is not done to offend or upset anyone, but for the benefit of yourself and the puppy.