Ok, all you breeders out there, let's discuss how you qualify and select homes for your puppies.
I'm not a breeder (at this point), but I have very strict requirements for people who adopt my foster dogs and puppies, so I thought I'd share.
Do you use a questionnaire? Yes, an extensive one which is the first thing I send people when they inquire about a dog. For those who qualify on the initial questionnaire, I then follow up with a phone interview and a veterinary check. If things go well at this point, I then schedule a "meet and greet" where I bring the dog to the prospective adopter's home. I require all family members and pets be present. We then spend the afternoon chatting and observing how the family and other pets interact. I also make sure that the fencing and indoor environment are safe for said dog. I require at least a four foot fence
attached to the house for anyone who wishes to adopt one of my fosters (regardless of breed).
Do you keep a waiting list? I keep a list of people with paper approved applications.
If you have a breed with special considerations, such as a working or high energy herding breed, how do you make sure the homes you select are prepared for such a dog? Often I require that they have owned such a dog before. I have many questions on my questionnaire regarding exercise needs, grooming needs, prey drive, and I also talk about it extensively with the prospective owner when I do the home check. My home check consists of an entire afternoon (often 4-5 hours) where I bring the dog and meet the entire family and all other pets. This is a great time to see how everyone interacts and if it is a comfortable environment for my foster.
Does what has happened to the previous dogs of prospective buyers enter into your decision making process? Yes, it does. Not only do I require written permission to speak with the owner's veterinarian, but I also want to know how all past owned animals have been kept, trained and what became of them (rehoming, lost, deceased, etc).
Do you or have you sold dogs to persons who are not of legal age? No, I have not, nor would I. I have adopted to families with minors living in the household, but the primary owners have always been the adults. One of my most meaningful adoptions was an Alaskan Malamute I rehabilitated and fostered for just over a year. She was adopted to a home with two other Malamutes. The parents had an autistic child, and when I first brought my foster dog into their home, the boy wrapped his arms around the dog and she just wagged her tail and licked him. The mother and I were both in tears. It was simply amazing, and they are the best of friends today. I talk to them often and they tell me that my foster has really connected with the boy, even beyond how their other two Malamutes have.
Why or why not? Often times, minors do not have the financial capabilities nor the knowledge to properly care for a dog in and of themselves - especially one who has temperamental or physiological rehabilitation needs.