Start with the life the dog will join.
Tell Hans who lives in your home, whether you have children or other animals, your experience with dogs and the work you want the dog to do. Explain your daily routine and the time you can give to handling and training.
Hans’s original answers emphasize listening to the owner and matching the individual dog. A working-line label, a photograph or a title does not complete that picture.
Ask about the individual dog
- What training has the dog started or completed?
- What is known about its temperament and everyday behavior?
- What health records and pedigree documents can you review?
- What will you need to learn before bringing it home?
Puppy or adult?
A puppy gives you a dog still developing, with ongoing training and socialization to do. An adult record may tell you more about its current training and temperament. Adult does not automatically mean fully trained; read the individual description.
Plan the handoff before deciding.
Ask how the dog’s existing commands will be explained, what instruction you will receive and how the dog will travel. Review the written purchase and warranty terms for that particular dog.