buying

Buying a new puppy

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Buying a puppy from a breeder can be a real hit and miss affair if you don’t know what to look for and what questions to ask. If you don’t get it right you could end up with a sick or dying puppy that if survives may be plagued with behaviour and health problems for the rest of his life.

Just because a puppy is registered with the Kennel Club isn’t a guarantee that the breeder is responsible. The best thing to do is to contact the Kennel Club for details of the breed club you are interested in and they should be able to recommend one of their members. Remember that a good breeder may have a waiting list for puppies; a happy healthy puppy is well worth the wait.

A good breeder will not let a puppy go until he is at least 8 weeks old and some prefer to wait until 12 weeks. They may want to meet you and ask you questions before the puppies are born, or a few weeks after, so that they can be happy that you will be a good owner. This is a good opportunity to meet the mum of your puppy and see the conditions he will have been brought up in. Here are some questions you will need to ask yourself and the breeder.

• Can I see the puppies with their mum?
You need to see the mum to make sure that she is a nice friendly dog because puppies inherit their temperaments from their parents. If the breeder does not let you see them interacting with the mum – it may be that they aren’t really her puppies!

• How old are the puppies?
Puppies must be at least 8 weeks old to leave their mum.

• How old is mum?
She should be over the age of 1 year and not obviously very old.

• How many litters has mum had?
She shouldn’t have had more than 6 in her lifetime.

• Are the puppies weaned?
At 8 weeks they will have been weaned. If they have not been weaned by this time, they may be younger than the breeder says.

• Have the puppies been wormed?
All puppies are born with worms. Worming should start with the breeder and be continued in the new home.

• Has your puppy had any vaccinations? If so, when is the next one due?

• Does the puppy look healthy – clean eyes, ears and bottom?
If the puppy is unwell, collect him another day. If he is still ill, then don’t take him and try another breeder.

• What should I feed my puppy and do you have a diet sheet to take away?

• What sort of socialisation or experiences has my puppy had so far?
Puppies should have preferably been raised in a home environment with all the noises and through-traffic of a normal home. Those raised in kennels away from the house will need a lot more intensive socialisation training to make sure they can cope with every day life. If the puppies have already met other dogs, animals and people they will be happier and more confident than those that have not.

• Can I return the puppy if there are any health problems?
You will need to have the puppy health checked by your vet within 48 hours. A good breeder will offer to take the puppy back at any point should you not be able to keep him.

• Is the puppy Kennel Club registered?
If so, make sure you are given the registration certificate and pedigree when you come to take the puppy home.

• When can I take the puppy home?
It is absolutely essential to see the puppies interacting with the mother. Some unscrupulous people who claim to be breeders may in fact be dealers who have brought in puppies from elsewhere. These are likely to have been poorly bred, may be ill and are usually too young to leave their poor exhausted mothers. These puppies rarely make good pets (if they live into adulthood) and you will be fuelling this cruel trade where money is the priority and the welfare of the dogs is completely ignored. This is also why you should not buy a puppy from a pet shop, and should be suspicious of anywhere advertising more than 3 different breeds of dog.

Do not buy a puppy if you have the slightest doubt about the breeder or situation – even if you feel sorry for it and desperately want to rescue it. Contact your local authority or Trading Standards Office to report your concerns. If there are signs of obvious neglect or cruelty, then contact the RSPCA.

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reprinted with kind permission from Rita McHugh
RitaMcHugh@dogstrust.org.uk
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Buying The Wrong Dog