When you decide to purchase a puppy you want to insure that you are getting a healthy baby, one that will live a long life, and one that has a sweet personality. And of course, you want to choose a puppy that appeals to you personally.
Some people simply want a cute loveable pup that is happy and healthy. Whether the bloodline is pure does not matter in the least. But for others, only a pure breed dog will do. These people often want show dogs or even plan to breed dogs themselves.
But how can you best insure that they will be healthy and from a good bloodline. The best way is to buy from a breeder that has a good reputation. Knowing which breeders are ethical and breed with integrity is not always easy. How will you know if they have been treated the way you would want your new puppy to be treated?
One of the first steps should be visiting the website (if one is available) of the prospective breeder. Expect to find descriptions of the type of home-raising the dogs get. Ideally the puppy will be raised in the home around people. Some websites actually have photos available of the environment the dogs are raised in. Socialization of dogs should begin as soon as possible.
Learn all you can about the breeder: how long they have been breeding, or if new to the process, how they are learning. An ethical breeder will be happy to talk with you about some of these basic things, but you should also expect to be questioned.
The best breeders are very selective about where their puppies go to live. Some do checks to insure that the puppies will have a nice home and that you are who you say you are. This is one way to insure the puppies are not going to a pet shop or going to be resold.
Never purchase a puppy from a pet shop because you cannot be sure of anything about the puppy. Although the pup may be registered that is not a guarantee of the quality of the dog.
Puppy farms should also be avoided. You can recognize a puppy farm by offers of several breeds of dogs. Breeding is obviously a primary source of income and little regard is given to the dogs themselves.
When you go to get your puppy you should meet with the breeder, the person that has raised the puppies. This provides you with an opportunity to see how the puppies are kept and how they interact with littermates as well as the adult dogs.
Ideally puppies should not be sold before they are 8 weeks old. If a breeder is willing to sell puppies younger than 8 weeks you can be sure they have less than high standards regarding the well-being of the babies.
Reputable breeders are willing to discuss the dog’s ancestry and all medical history, including any genetic screening, vaccinations given and de-worming. Furthermore, reputable breeders are available to answer questions at the time of purchase and in the future. These breeders will have the parents (or at least the mother dog) available for you to see.
And many of the best breeders will supply new dog parents with instructions and a welcome package. These packages often include a blanket or toy that has been used by the momma dog and the littermates as well as a starter pack of the food the puppy has been eating.
If you get the feeling that the money is more important to the breeder than knowing where the puppy is going and how you plan to care for it – leave. By purchasing from such breeders the cycle is perpetual. They will continue to breed and sell puppies for as long they can find buyers.
