[puppy_Love08]

Thanks for all the responses. A local vet and his wife breed Yorkies. I have stopped by their office on several occasions, and their older puppies (the ones that they are keeping) are often there to greet visitors.

I have presented them with two different "contracts." One doesn't stipulate a time frame for the detection of genetic defects. The other says "within 2 years." When I first mentioned the idea to them, they were open to signing something and asked to look at the contracts. The last time I was there, she said she had skimmed the first one and would look over the second. I'm not sure they will sign these. However, the wife did tell me that they returned a purchaser's money after a puppy was diagnosed with a heart murmor. The owner's got to keep the dog, and he ended up living 10 years anyway. They have said more than once that they want the puppy owners to be happy with their dogs so that they can provide good referrals.

We are going to go look at the puppies Monday, although they are not ready for homes. I have seen the father and will see the mother Monday. They are too young to come into the office, so I will go visit them in the vet's home.

I think they may agree to some form of guarantee, but I was curious as to what's the least guarantee I should accept. Most breeders around here, even those who offer only a guarantee that says the puppies are healthy now, charge $1200 and up for a puppy. The vet I'm buying from charges $700 for males.