Handling puppies

Question
I'm going to go take a look at a potential new puppy.  I believe they are 4-6 weeks old.  The breeder told me that we were welcome to come and look at them, but that she would not allow us to handle them since they hadn't completed their rounds of shots yet.  Does this sound reasonable or is this cause for concern?

Answer
Doesn't seem to be much point since you are already in the house, walking around, and spreading possible germs. I don't allow anyone *I do not know* in my house until the puppies have had their first inoculation. A few days after that, everything changes for them, and people can visit and the puppies go on short trips... everywhere. At 4-6 weeks of age, puppy personalities are not really showing much yet.

Be sure you are dealing with a reputable breeder. There should be a written contract guaranteeing health and against any possible congenital defects. Will the breeder take the puppy back if there is a problem? Are they a member of any breed club, local or national? No puppy should leave the litter before they are 8-9 weeks of age!

To learn more about your potential breed, do a search for ______ (Breed) Club of America, and its national breed club should pop up. You can learn more about what that breed should look like and what health issues the breed tends to have, and what breeders may be in your area.

Get the great paperback book, "How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With", by Rutherford and Neil. And if you do buy a puppy, get it into your vet ASAP to make sure that it is healthy. If anything is wrong, the puppy should be returned.