If you are thinking of getting a puppy........

The dos and don’ts of buying a puppy.

Getting a new dog is an important decision and shouldn’t be undertake lightly. In practice, I see many new puppies that have been bought without much thought, or from puppy farms or bad breeders and the owners aren’t even aware. So, I thought I would write a piece on how to go about researching, finding and buying a new pup.

Do’s;

• Work out what breed is going to be best for your lifestyle and home. Working breeds such as Springer Spaniels are popular family pets but need huge amounts of exercise and stimulation. Smaller dogs and toy breeds such as Jack Russels and Chihuahuas are not necessarily the easy option; they too are very energetic and clever dogs. Also, take care not to spoil a toy dog and ‘baby’ them as this usually leads to a badly behaved pet!

• If you are thinking of getting a pedigree dog, then the best place to start looking for a reputable breeder is the Kennel Club website (www.thekennelclub.org.uk) This will list all the breeders of a certain type of dog in your area, and which ones have litters available.

• Always ensure you see the pups with the Bitch and ask after the Dog as well. Good breeders will be happy to invite you into their home, be able to talk to you about the pup’s pedigree and be happy to discuss their care. Remember the most well adjusted pups will have been born and reared in a home environment.

• Why not consider a rescue puppy or dog, there are thousands of abandoned pets looking for homes. The best charities will ask for a home check, ensure the dog you pick is right for your lifestyle and provide you with on-going support.

Don’ts

• NEVER, NEVER agree to buy a pup which the breeder offers to deliver; this isn’t because they are being nice but because they don’t want you to see where your pup was bred. This is a common tactic of puppy farms, where the conditions for the dogs are dreadful.

• Never buy a puppy from a pet shop. You won’t know any of the pup’s history and they often come from disreputable sources as the shops need a regular, constant supply.

• Never buy a puppy because you feel sorry for it or want to ‘rescue’ it. This will only encourage disreputable breeders and you will likely end up with a sickly pup. The best thing to do is WALK AWAY and report the breeder to the RSPCA or Trading Standards.

• Make sure that you know how much your chosen breed of dog should cost. Puppy farms and disreputable breeders will sell pups for much cheaper than they should be, another clue these dogs will not be well bred or brought up.

• Never buy a dog advertised in a newspaper. Good breeders rarely need to advertise their litters. Also, never use an advert that lists only a mobile phone number. This will usually be a pre-paid phone and thrown away once the litter is sold, meaning you have no comeback or contact if things go wrong.

• If your pup is a registered pedigree, then all the papers will be with them when you take them home. If the breeder claims they don’t have the forms and they will “send them in the post”, don’t expect to receive any! Kennel club pedigrees are printed on official paper, a rough photocopied sheet is not proof of pedigree. Also, if pups have been vaccinated they should come with an official card signed by a vet.

• Never buy a puppy as a present, unless the recipient is fully aware and happy to have it.