Buying a puppy is an exciting time of life, but before you make the final decision and choose your new bundle of fluff, it is important that you have done your groundwork to ensure that you understand what you are getting into. Here is some helpful information for you to consider.
Buying a Puppy
Hundreds and thousands of dogs end up in shelters every year if you spoke to the owners at the beginning of their journey when they collected their scramming little puppy none of them would have wanted to think that they will be the ones to hand over their dog to a rescue centre. So why does it happen? one of the most common reasons for a dog to end up in a shelter is the owners not understanding what they were getting and the commitment it required. Choosing a puppy should be both ahead and a hard decision, you should never buy a puppy based on a cute picture alone. There is so much variety in the dog world, and each breed comes with the unique set of traits that may, or may not, fit in with your lifestyle. It is essential to consider what kind of home you are offering a puppy and therefore, which breed will work best for you and your family. This includes things like how much time you are prepared to devote to walking your dog, and how long they will be left at home alone. Once you have answered all of these questions and decided on a breed that will work best for you, it is time to start looking.
Here’s a handy video from BBC 1 Watchdog, featuring their rescued puppy Gizmo, for some important Puppy Buying Tips.
What to Look for When Buying a Puppy
You should ensure that any puppy you look at is on offer from a licenced breeder, backyard breeding has become a massive problem and dogs that come from these situations often end up with health conditions and behavioural issues. So, what to look for when buying a puppy? Ensure before you visit that the puppies will be with their mother in the place that they were born. If a breeder begins to make excuses as to why you cannot see the rest of the litter or the mother, walk away. You must find out whether the parents were screened for common health conditions before they were bred. Again, this is very much a breed issue as some are more prone to problems like hip and elbow dysplasia than others. Find out how many litters the mother has had, no dog should ever have more than four litters in its lifetime and should be over the age of two and under the age of 6 before they start breeding. Finally, ask what age the puppy will be ready to leave its mother. Generally, this should be eight weeks or older, small breeds like chihuahuas are often recommended to stay with their mother until 12 weeks. Do not buy a puppy that has not reached the age of eight weeks as this can cause many different problems further down the line.
What to Ask When Buying a Puppy
Once you are happy with the breeder, you can arrange to visit the puppies to be able to choose one. Don’t forget to take a “buying puppy checklist” with you, just to be safe. You should ask specific questions of the breeder.
What to ask when buying a puppy:
- Has a vet checked them?
- Are they weighed regularly?
- Have they had flea and worming treatments?
- Will they have had their vaccinations before they leave?
- Are they going to be Kennel Club registered?
- Are they being exposed to many different situations?
This is important, as the younger a puppy is when socialisation begins the better chance, they have of becoming a well-rounded, good-tempered dog. Good breeders who do not have young children will ensure that their puppies can still be exposed to friends and family children, for example. While you’re at the Breeders house, usually own judgement to see if things look clean and healthy and whether they appear to be well looked after. You can then get on with choosing the puppy that you would like to take home. It is crucial you sit quietly and watch the puppies and see how they react around you.
Buying a Puppy Checklist
So, in summary here is your handy buying a puppy checklist.
Can you see mum?
Is the breeder registered and licenced?
Do the puppies seem healthy and happy?
Do you get a good gut feeling?
If you are asked to leave a deposit, which is quite normal, will they issue a receipt?
Can you go back and revisit your puppy?
The bottom line is that if anything feels uncomfortable or not quite right, the best advice is to walk away and look for something different. A reputable breeder will never mind questions, in fact they will encourage them.