Buying a Puppy

Once the decision has been made to have a puppy, consideration must be given to the breed that best suits your lifestyle. Dogs come in hundreds of shapes, sizes and personalities and choosing the best one for you is the first step to securing a happy long-term relationship. The choice of breed depends on what you require of the dog. Is the puppy intended to be a working dog, protector or companion? Consideration should then be given to the requirements of the breed such as preferred levels or exercise, space, company and interactions with other dogs.

Once the breed has been chosen you need to find your puppy. This can be done through newspapers, advertisements at pet shops or veterinary practices, animal welfare shelters or, most commonly, breeders. Going to a certified Kennel Club breeder provides a high level of security, precautions should be taken when looking at puppies from other breeders:

Always ask to see the mother and ask for details of how to contact the owner of the stud dog so you can confirm the information they give you. Sadly today there is money to be made from puppy breeding and people operating puppy farms can be very deceptive. Purchasing a puppy from a farm supports the industry and complications can occur in terms of the dog's health and behaviour, often directly related to the conditions in which they were kept. The best way to gain knowledge of the local puppy farms and other unscrupulous breeders is to contact local rescue centres, veterinaries and dog welfare societies. Their knowledge is usually very reliable.
When you are with the breeder always ask to see where they are kept and to see their littermates.
Examine the puppies; healthy puppies should be interested in their surroundings, have clear eyes and ears, have a shiny coat and be of appropriate size for their age and breed.
After choosing the breed and establishing a reliable breeder all there is left to do is fall in love with one of the puppies!