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Due diligenceVetting a seller: ask for proof, not promises
A confident sales pitch is cheap. Evidence is not. Use these prompts with every professional you speak with.
Reading the word "trained"
| Claim | What to ask to see |
|---|---|
| Obedience trained | Heel, stay and recall around distractions, not only in a quiet lot |
| Protection trained | A live or recorded demonstration, the handler's explanation of how the dog is called off |
| Titled | The title paperwork and who awarded it; a title is one piece of evidence |
| Family safe | Reports from a past buyer with children or visitors |
No honest professional can guarantee what a dog will do in every situation. Treat a promise of perfection as a warning.
Wisconsin-flavored questions
- Has this dog been worked in snow, ice and cold wind?
- How is the dog housed now: indoors, a heated kennel or outdoors?
- What does it do on a slick floor or a frozen lake edge?
- Which rabies and other vaccination records exist, and who signed them?
- Will you teach me the handling cues in person, and for how long?
- If the match fails, what is returned and when?
Deposits
Be wary of a large deposit before you have met the dog. Pay in a way that leaves a record, and keep every receipt and message.
Wisconsin household? Tell K9PN what you need.
Give your ZIP code and a few lines about your home and winters. K9PN passes your request to a professional who works in your part of Wisconsin.
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