[Castlemaid]

Most breeders will have a contract saying that you have a specific number of days to have your puppy vet-checked for issues, during which they will offer a full refund or give you another puppy. Usually the vet check is required within 2 day to a week. Check your contract. Problem is that once they bring the puppy home, people bond, and cannot fathom giving the pup back, even if they turn out to have health problems.

A responsible breeder should notice any abnormal issues with a pup, pursue vet care themselves, and refuse to sell them to a new owner until they know what the issues are. Or if they do know, then to give full disclosure of the health problems, and give the perspective owner the right to refuse, or to get another puppy.

You have every right to refuse this pup if you have concerns, and if you feel the breeder is not forthcoming about possible health issues. The problem is that you may not get your deposit back, but again, that will depend on the terms of the contract.

Personally, if I had concerns that the breeder I was dealing with was not transparent, and did not feel that they were completely honest and open about the health and development of the pups, I would just walk away, and sacrifice my deposit, and take it as lesson learned.


That said, puppies ARE flexible, and do lie and sit in weird positions sometimes, and it does not mean that there are issues. lying on their belly with their legs straight out is actually supposed to be a sign of good hips, but probably not really indicative of anything in a six week old. I don't even know if it would be possible to diagnose hip displasia in such a young pup, as their bones are still not fully formed.

The six generation pedigree only means that the dogs are pure bred, it does not mean that they are free of genetic health issues. And even if they were, it is still possible for an offspring to pop up with bad hips - that is just the way the genetic dice roll.