
That will depend on the breeder. In flatcoated Retrievers the breeders who are genuinely concerned about the puppies they produce will thoroughly check you out. An example of this was when my friend Mrs Presdee had a litter from her bitch. One puppy was sold to a family in Switzerland, as she insists on doing a home check before anybody takes home their puppy, she actually flew out to Geneva to make sure the family home was suitable.
Others feel they can tell what a potential owner is like by chatting to them and asking questions. In flatcoats there have been a few people who have applied to have puppies from our breeders, often these people are dealers or dealers agents, so flatcoat breeders are very wary now. Some of the puppies which have been sold to dealers have ended up sold overseas and we have never heard of them again. I am sure you can imagine how upsetting this is for a reputable breeder, who has done everything in their power to try to find the best homes possible for the puppies.
There are people out there who will breed from their bitch and don't care about the welfare of the puppies, and will sell to the first person to come along. I'd be very wary of buying a puppy from anyone who did not check me out before I took the puppy home, as they might be breeding for the wrong reasons, such as money, or to "let the bitch have a litter because it is good for her", which it isn't.
A reputable breeder will keep in touch with owners of puppies they have bred, and help with any problems as and when they occur.