Getting your puppy

​Now you’ve ensured you’re ready for the demands of raising a puppy, the obvious next step is getting one! The process of getting a puppy can differ in several ways, but the initial question is often the same – rescue/adopt or buy from a breeder?

Rescuing a dog

It’s often said by many people that they would rather give a good home to an existing animal than to buy one fresh from a litter – some feel guilty about splitting a pup from their brothers and sisters while others feel like they would be doing more good through adoption.
And to be clear, adopting a dog from a shelter absolutely is a positive thing. Dog Charities like Dogs Trust can receive no government funding, relying entirely on donations which can lead to stretching of resources quite thinly at times and places like Battersea Dogs Home do vital rehabilitation work and animal welfare work that it is always good to support.
But this route has complications that it is important to be aware of and once again, while we stress that it is a good thing to give a dog with a hard past a loving home, it’s only good if you’re ready to deal with that and in many cases this is not the route to go if you are a new dog owner.
The sad truth is the hard pasts these animals have been through can, in many ways, leave their mark in ways you might next expect, leading your dog to be anxious, guarded or even potentially aggressive. This is more prevalent in dogs that suffered for a long time and so would be less so in puppies, but it’s important to be aware that puppies are at a vital stage in their socialization so will still be affected strongly by experiences around them. These issues take time, understanding and resolve to correct and in some cases can never be fully overcome. Without the right knowledge or access to training, you may unknowingly worsen or compound the struggles your pup would face.
Due to this, in many cases, unless the animals are in rescue due to abandonment at birth, we would advise new puppy owners to avoid adopting rescues with hard pasts.
If however you do feel experienced enough to offer a safe and loving home to a dog who desperately needs it, a list of rescues can be found via the kennel club here Find a puppy | The Kennel Club
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Going to a breeder

While many decry it as expensive, a breeder is often a safer option for a new puppy owner. A reputable breeder should be able to furnish you with all the information you need with regards to the pet including a complete medical history. Your experience of visiting a breeder should be a positive one and if you have any reservations about them, do not buy from them.
If you think that a breeder may be a puppy farmer, or is breeding irresponsibly, then never purchase a puppy from them, even if you think you are rescuing the puppy. The puppy may be better off going home with you, but by giving the "breeder" money you are ensuring that other puppies will suffer in horrible and unethical conditions.
The health of the pups should always be your primary concern and among the first things you check/ask. Any worthwhile breeder should pass all of these with flying colours.

• The breeder should give you the opportunity to see and handle all of the puppies in the litter, rather than just the puppy you’re thinking of buying
• The puppies should appear happy, healthy and inquisitive
• The breeder should not be selling puppies that are unwell or show signs of illness (runny eyes or nose, weakness or diarrhoea)
• The breeder should only sell you a puppy once they are 8 weeks of age or older
• The breeder should want to show you where the dogs are kept, where they sleep and where the puppies were born
• You should be able to see the whelping pen, comfortable bedding, food and clean water
• The breeder should have a safe and clean home for all their dogs – both puppies and mum

Your breeder should also provide you with legal documents, information regarding previous vet visits and general information with regards to looking after the puppy in general. You should confirm this will be provided before paying for your pup.
These should include:
- A contract of sale containing information about the puppy, as well as both yours and the breeder's details. It should also contain details of warranty or health claims made by the breeder, and any responsibilities or agreements that you make to the breeder. 
- If the dog is advertised as registered with The Kennel Club, you should ensure that you take receipt of the registration certificate from The Kennel Club. This will contain information and options on how you can transfer the ownership into your name.
- Your puppy’s pedigree (family tree)
- Details about your puppy’s microchip
- Information about your puppy’s vaccination and worming treatments
- Copies of health certificates regarding the puppy's mother and father
- Insurance details if the pet is insured
The best breeders will also provide

• socialisation, exercise and training information
• information about the breed, including advice on grooming
• feeding advice 
• worming regime (when puppy was last wormed, product used and when next worming is due)
• immunisation regime (what vaccinations, if any, have been done or which vaccines are recommended)

This can all seem daunting, but it is worth it to ensure that you are only supporting ethical breeders, as well as ensuring you are getting the puppy you were advertised and paid for.
To find a list of reputable breeders, kennel club offers a fantastic resource here to allow you to search by location Find a Kennel Club Assured Breeder | The Kennel Club

What to ask of a breeder

It is a good idea to bring a checklist with you of questions to ask a breeder if you want to test their quality. A breeder should answer all of these. Some good questions to ask:

Did they breed the puppy themselves?, How many puppies are there and how old are they? Ask to see them when you collect and check the numbers are accurate.
Will you be able to see where they were bred?

Will you be able to see the mum? How old is she and how many litters has she had? Can you see the father? What are the mother and father’s temperament like?

If you have children – have the puppies been seen by other children? How have the puppies been socialised? What does the breeder intend to expose them to before you get them?

Was the birth natural or was a caesarean section required? If a c-section was required, have they had one before and how many times?

Have the puppies had any health problems? Have they been checked for inherited conditions?

What is the puppy’s inbreeding coefficient?

Can you have the registration details of the mother and father?

Will the pups be fully wormed and jabbed before you collect them?

Can the puppy be returned if there are any problems?

At what age will the puppy be microchipped?

At what age will the puppy be allowed to come home with you?

If you’d like to breed from the puppy once they are old enough – will there be any breeding restrictions in the contract?

These are just some of the questions to make sure you ask when you visit the breeder to ensure a good experience. If they are unable or unwilling to answer these questions do not buy from them.

With this advice, we wish you a very successful puppy buying experience.

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The Bounders Hound Says:

Always do your research on a breeder before buying from them.

​Never feel pressured into buying a dog if you’re unhappy – you can always just walk away

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