Puppies don’t grow on trees, so you must do your homework before committing. It should include checking out the breeder and observing the puppies and their mother.
The appearance of the puppy is less crucial than its temperament. A good indicator is how they interact with their litter mates and people.
Health Tests
Remember that private sellers who place ads for puppies for sale in local publications or online are not required to offer the same degree of health checks and assistance as a responsible breeder or rescue. If they cannot answer your questions satisfactorily, consider looking elsewhere.
Look at the puppies’ environment – it should be clean, safe, and spacious for the mother and her litter, not cramped in an area where they can’t move around quickly or breathe freely.
Check that the mothers have been health tested and their puppies have had their first vaccinations. Ask to see the results of these tests and request copies of the parents’ health certificates, too (remember, a healthy puppy inherits an equal number of genes from its father and mother).
Look for clear eyes with no discharge, a nose free of discolored drainage or wheezing, and a mouth free of redness, ulcers, or signs of gum disease. A healthy puppy will have a soft spot on the top of its head called the fontanelle, which opens as the puppy grows to create a gap between the plates of bone at the skull.
The way the puppies interact with each other can also give an insight into their personalities. A friendly pup will play with and sniff you and welcome your hand being held over its belly, while a nervous and skittish one may have a more independent nature.
Pedigree
The breeder should be able to provide you with an official pedigree showing the puppy’s family tree. It should include the parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. If they cannot provide you with this information, then it is a red flag that they may not be a responsible breeder.
If the breeder cannot answer your questions satisfactorily, you should walk away. You should also avoid buying a puppy from a pet shop, online (without meeting the breeder first), or in any other circumstances where the puppy’s history could be more apparent, as it could have come from a puppy farm.
It is essential to visit the mother and litter mates before you buy, as this will help you assess the temperament of the puppies. The mother should appear healthy and happy and interact with her puppies appropriately. You will also be able to check whether the puppies are alert, healthy, and of an appropriate weight for their age.
If the breeder can show you the microchip, vaccination, and worming record of both the puppies and their mother, then that’s a good sign, but don’t be fooled by this as it can be faked and is just one of the many ways in which puppy farmers operate. It’s also important to check that the puppy’s environment is being raised in is clean, warm, and safe.
Registration Papers
Whether looking for a puppy to show or to be a family pet, you should always be offered all the necessary papers. It includes pedigree certificates which give you information about the dog’s ancestry and can help spot any issues, such as inbreeding.
You will also want to see the puppies with their mother and father. It is crucial because it will allow you to check that the puppies are happy and healthy. Moreover, it will allow you to see how the puppies interact with each other and that they are well-socialized.
Finally, you will also want to ensure the puppies have been microchipped. It is a standard procedure, and all good breeders will be able to provide you with the paperwork to prove this.
This should be a red flag if the breeder says they have not microchipped the puppies. It is illegal for dogs to be sold without being microchipped, which can lead to severe problems in the future.
You should also be provided with a contract by the breeder, which will outline all of the crucial details of your new puppy. It should include a commitment to spay/neuter the dog (another important marker of a reputable breeder), a health guarantee, and details of how to transfer ownership of the pup should you decide to change your mind or your circumstances change.
Training
Puppies are curious about nature and should want to explore their environment. They should also be happy to come forward and sniff you – a healthy puppy will do this instinctively. Watch how the puppies interact with each other and their mother, too – they should be comfortable around humans and not cower when approached.
The interaction between you and the breeder also indicates how well the puppies have been socialized. For example, if you are told the puppies have played with children, this is a good sign that they have been appropriately exposed to humans early on. However, as vets, we often see puppies from puppy farms who are nervous and nippy because they have never had the level of socialization that was claimed.
When you visit, make sure you can view the entire litter and have an opportunity to interact with them. You should also see the mother dog and the environment they are being raised in – it should be clean, safe, and suitable.
Finally, be wary of any breeder who asks you to pay a deposit before you have seen the puppies. It is a clear warning sign of a breeder who does not care for the welfare of their dogs. If you do not feel comfortable with the situation, walk away and report it to Trading Standards.
