Some, but not all, reputable breeders offer a health guarantee on their puppies. The health guarantee may be part of the sales contract, or it may be a separate agreement. A guarantee doesn't ensure that a pup will be problem-free, but it does mean the breeder has confidence in his dogs' good health.

The terms of health guarantees vary, from a simple statement that the breeder will take the dog back at any time for any reason to promising a refund of all or part of the purchase price should the puppy develop specified health problems within a given period of time. This time period might be as short as two weeks or as long as two years.

It's important to remember that there are no guarantees in life. Not all health issues are predictable. You can do everything right in finding a breeder, and the breeder can do everything right in screening his dogs, and a puppy can still develop a health problem.

Every situation is different and must be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. If you have fallen in love with your puppy and don't want to give him up, the breeder may offer a second dog at a reduced price, help cover part of the veterinary bills, or offer a partial refund of the puppy's purchase price. Some breeders may pay some or all of the veterinary bills if a puppy develops, for example, parvo after he goes home with you, even though he's been vaccinated.

You need to feel comfortable that the breeder will stand behind her puppies and be a resource for you if things go wrong. You also need to realize that when you buy a living creature, there's always a certain amount of risk. If you have developed a good relationship with the breeder, the two of you should be able to come to a mutually agreeable settlement.