Choosing A Puppy

Finding the right pup for and your family should be something that is done with a great deal of research, thought and care.

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Here are a few things to think about before acquiring your puppy:

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• It is important before you go and buy a puppy to think about the level of activity you are prepared
to give your pup and the dog it will become.

 

• Some breeds of dog need more exercise than others.

 

• How much space do you have in your home and garden?

 

• The sex of the dog may be another thing you will want to decide on.

 

• If you are going to buy a cross breed it can be interesting to have a look at any information about
the breeds involved in the cross (if you know what the crosses are).

 

• If the dog is purebred then you want to think about what breed of dog you are interested in and
find out everything you can about the breed The Kennel Club can be helpful with telling you just
what the breed should look like (the breed standard).

 

• Think about the type of coat the dog may have. Will it shed, will it require a lot of grooming, and
will it require professional clipping and/or grooming?

 

• Find out about the health issues related to the breed you are interested in. For example is this type
of dog prone to skin disease or eye problems

 

• With information you have gained about the breed of your choice you should now be prepared to
go and visit the breeder’s home and to ask questions. A good breeder will also want to ask you
questions so that they can decide if you are suitable for their pups.

 

• Breeders should be approachable, willing and able to give you the information you require about
the puppies and their parenting. They should also be able to supply you with information on;
worming, inoculations, and feeding.

 

• If they are Kennel Club registered obtain a certificate or a written document that says they will
forward it to you as soon as it is received from the Kennel Club.

 

• Always visit the breeder’s home. Do not to have the puppy delivered because you will never
really know what the mother is like in temperament nor will you know what type of environment
the pup was brought up in. It is important to meet the mother of the pups and if possible the father.
Visiting also means you have a chance to talk with the breeder, look at any paperwork, see how
the mother is with you and the pups, how the pups are with each other and their environment.

 

• It is not always possible to see the father because they don’t always belong to the owner of the
mother. However, it is necessary to see how sociable they or at least the mother is with people.
Does the mother look like the breed? Are the parents clean, healthy, and happy? Do the parents
have any obvious physical, temperament, or behaviour problems? Are the parents cowering away
from you, are they aggressive or do they run away from you? Are the parents barking at you?
Puppies can grow up to be like their parents so if you see any of the above problems it is possible
that the puppies will grow up with the same problem.

 

The Puppies

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• The puppies should look clean, happy and healthy. Their environment should be clean and warm
with warm bedding and fresh water.

 

• They should be moving around normally and not sitting in an unusual manner (could indicate
underlying hip problems).

 

• They should be eating a well balanced diet.

 

• Find out how often they have human contact; it should be frequent throughout the day.

 

• Are the puppies kept in the house? If not are they warm, dry and experiencing the normal
background noises in a home such as the radio, people talking, and walking, sounds of the kitchen
etc.

 

• Have the puppies been experiencing an enriched environment (this is when the pups are given

different toys to play with and areas to explore)? Puppies need to explore (small areas) and have
things to play with in order to simulate them mentally, which will help their brains to develop
normally. However, they should not be given too many things or too large an area to explore
because this could be over whelming and frighten them. But it is important for them to have a few
objects and small amounts of new experiences, which will stimulate all 5 senses to help them to
develop mentally and physically. New experiences must be given carefully to the new pup.
Remember if you don’t like what you see make your excuses and leave.