I think a lot of your planning for the dog should be guided by them, in combination with your current life situation.
For example: by 2 years old, they have a feeding schedule that they have decided works for this dog. Wouldn’t change that. Would simply ask for specifics so you can implement the same feeding regime at home: is it brekky and dinner, or just dinner? Is doggo on dry food, raw food, etc? How much, and what brands? (You may not be able to easily access the same brand, but a pet shop will be able to direct you to a par alternative).
Exercise: plan for regular (preferably daily) exercise, but make sure it’s doable. Don’t say you’re going to walk the dog an hour each morning if one of the reasons you’re getting the dog is you can’t leave the house for more than 10 minutes;) I’d ask them about the dog’s current exercise routine, because at 2 years old, some handlers will be tapering down from a program specifically designed to limit injury to the growth plates. So, have a plan, but ask about their current program so that it’s a minimal change for doggo.
Have your preferred vet practice picked out , but ask who they currently use. Even if you can’t attend that practice, if it’s a chain like Greencross, they can transfer records to your nearest Greencross.
Have a few emergency numbers written down (theirs, your vet’s, a 24 hour vet service, and the address of the nearest 24 hour pet emergency centre if you live in a major city).
Dog sleeping area: inside or outside? If inside, have a plan for overnight toileting (do you need to get up, or will you have a dog door, or is the dog potty trained, or do you leave your back door open anyway, etc).
Have a worming & parasite (ticks and fleas) plan ready, but cross check it with the one they are currently using.
To look super ready? Perhaps ask about what dental treats they use, and maybe even home-make some “Canine Enrichment” activities to show that dog’s overall well-being and quality of life are a priority for you.
I’m assuming they’ve already ticked off things like suitability of your home environment (like gates and fences).
If you have other animals in the house, that requires seperate planning.
Paperwork you want to ask for should include council registration, microchip (so you can add your contact details to the database), and vet records (they’ll have a vaccination card with the vac history).
A reassuring question for them? “How often does doggo currently get washed, and can you tell me which shampoo you use?” Some handlers are really big on natural-product only shampoo, but some prefer medicated shampoo. Some dogs need allergy shampoo, etc.
I recently cancelled my pet insurance. I have more set aside for my dog’s emergency medical costs than I was entitled to under the policy, and so far I haven’t found a policy that was any better than the one I had. I have a budget for my pet expenses ready for my NDIS plan, which is also helpful, because “Can I afford my dog?” is not something I need to worry about if I stick to his budget (and because I’m just one of those people, its micromanaged - right down to 3 poo bags per day, and an allowance for new enrichment toys, etc!).
You aren’t supposed to get all these things right first time. But if you’re concerned about whether they think you’re committed and willing to learn? Having considered these things ahead of time, and asking them about what the dog’s current treatment/exercise/bedding/worming/diet regime is so you can reduce any substance changes? That’s rock solid evidence that you’re going to be a committed and responsible handler.
You got this:)
ETA I think I even freaked myself out with all that! You don’t need to reinvent the wheel for this dog. You don’t need to know what food this dog needs/prefers/refuses to eat, what treats they prefer, the exercise this dog needs. Asking them sensible questions and taking notes? Coming from a place of “I’ve done my research, but I want to ask the person who already knows the dog what works best...”? That’s gonna be enough.
