Hi, I just put a deposit on a puppy and then found out that it has an umbilical hernia. The breeder says that her vet said it can be left alone or repaired during spaying for $200. I don't know much about hernia repair but did Google it and it seems it would actually cost a lot more to repair. Would it be in my best interest to look elsewhere in your opinion? If I decide to not spay, will there be a big cost difference to repair?

I would not buy the puppy. You want to buy a healthy puppy and not one that will cost you extra when being spayed. Also this puppy will not be suitable for breeding as umbilical hernias carry a hereditary risk. It is relatively easy to fix a simple umbilical hernia during the spay, however if you chose not to spay your puppy, fixing the hernia will cost almost as much as a spay, which is why we usually fix a hernia during the spay. That way the dog only has to have one anesthesia and surgery. I think you can find a healthy puppy without a hernia elsewhere, or get one from the breeder that has no hernia.