Our new puppy has health and behavioural issues. Can I ask the breeder to foot the vet bill?

‘Given the pet’s young age, it’s unlikely it would be expected the breeder would have trained the pet to any consistent behavioural standard,’ policy expert Kat George writes. Photograph: noowans/Getty Images/iStockphoto

We have purchased a labradoodle puppy with, despite assurances from the breeder, two ongoing problems. One is behaviour, with the pup continuously acting fearfully towards me (male) though not my wife. The second is a genetic class two malocclusion of the jaw which is likely to cost over $2,000 to treat. I fear we will not be supported by the breeder in paying for this. What are our options? Victorian civil and administrative tribunal (Vcat)?

– Ian from Victoria