Originally Posted by Toasty

Hi,
My advice as a registered veterinary nurse would be ;

1. Decide what sort of dog meets your needs and that you can meet the needs of..ie small, large, active, short strolls or long hikes. Consider home environment, amount of free time, other pets, children and level of experience..for example I wouldn't recommend certain breeds , such as border collies, to inexperienced owners.

2. Consider rescue options also - huge numbers of adult, young dogs and pups end up in rehoming centres through no fault of their own and can make fabulous pets. DogsTrust in particular are good at matching you up with suitable dogs. If you are very keen on a specific breed but would consider rescue take a look at the kennel club breed rescue list - this lists people who foster specific breeds of dog all over the UK that need new homes.

3. If you decide to go with buying a new puppy then look for a reputable breeder.
Avoid Trade It, Free Ads, Loot etc as they frequently are an advertising ground for unreputable breeders.
Take a look at the KC breeders list and ask at the local vets too.
Research the breed you want throughly - nearly all pedigree dogs have some conditions their breed are prone to, so it is useful to know these so you can ask informed questions.
Be cautious of large scale breeders as this may be a sign that things are not as they should be - reputable breeders care about their dogs and will not over breed or have huge operations - this sort of thing could be a sign of poor practice or puppy farming activities.
A good breeder will be equally nosey about you as you are about them - a good breeder wants to know their pups are going to an appropriate home - so if they ask you questions this is a good sign.
Avoid puppy warehouses such as dogs4us..you have no idea where the pup has come from , you encourage the perpetuation of these miserable businesses by buying from them and it becomes a never ending cycle.

4. When you visit the breeder ask to see both parents where possible - always at least see the mum, the other pups and get info on the dad.
Ask about any breed specific problems - so for example the breed may be prone to hip problems and a good breeder should be able to tell you the hip score/medical history of the parents.
Parents that are friendly and well socialised are a good sign.
Pups (depending on age) should be active and playful.
A good breeder should provide you with information on worming so far, advise you what food a pup has been being fed and advise you on vaccinations etc.
Some especially good breeders do home checks and some also provide a puppy starter info leaflet advising you on when to worm, what vaccinations to have and when and how to settle you puppy in and what food to feed etc.,...these sorts of breeders are my absolute faves and go a little way to making up for the large numbers of dire ones I encounter in practice.

Sadly lots of people buy pups from the wrong people and suffer the consequences of a pup that is ill or fails to thrive..this happens most often because people naturally feel sorry for the puppy and the state it is in and buy it to get away from these circumstances..this is perfectly understandable but it's a huge problem as this means it continues to feed dubious breeders activities as they continue to trade on the back of sympathy and make money in the process

A good breeder is worth their weight in gold and will make a the transition of getting a new pup a huge pleasure...and don't ever completely rule out rescue..it's always worth a look XX

Originally Posted by sallyanne

There are many things to consider when buying a puppy.

What Breed,your lifestyle,what gender,size,and most importantly what health issues are found within your chosen breed.

Buying a puppy should be a careful,thoughtful decision and all members of the family should agree.

It helps to visit Dog Shows/Events and talk to Breeders with years of experience and a wealth of knowlege of your chosen breed.

So where do you find a Breeder?
A good starting point is the breed clubs,they usually know of good reptuable ethical breeders.The kennel club has a list of breed clubs.A link to the KC The Kennel Club

It is very important to know where your puppy comes from,there are lots of Disreputable and Commercial Breeders out there who will only be too happy to take your cash and sell you a sickly non health tested puppy.Do Not buy a puppy because you feel sorry for it,this only encourages this sort of person to keep breeding.

You should always see the puppies with there Dam (Mother), the Sire (father) may not be available to be viewed as he may be owned by someone other than the Breeders.The Breeder will usually only be too happy to give you the contact details and show photos of the sire.
Check that the Dam appears healthy,has a good temperament and the puppies appear healthy.

Ask to see all the relavent paperwork, Pedigree,KC Registration Documents and proof of Health Testing required for your chosen breed.The Kennel Club is the only offical registration body,if puppies are registered with any other Registration Company or not registered at all ask the Breeder why.These Breeders are best avoided as their main objective of Breeding such a litter will usually be for fiancial gain,rather than improving on a breed or retaining a puppy for showing.

Be prepared for the Breeder to ask you lots of questions,they do this because they want the best possible homes for there puppies,they will also welcome any questions you have.They will provide you with Diet,Worming,Excercise & Socialisation advice along with full support when you take your puppy home.The recommended age in which puppies should go to their new homes is 8 weeks of age,be wary of Breeders who want you to collect your puppy earlier than this.
Be wary of Breeders who try and convince you that because of the colour of the puppy it is worth more money because it's "rare".If the colour is recognised by the KC it is not unusual or rare.

If you have any suspicions or doubts about a Litter or Breeder,contact your nearest Breed Club and check the Breeder out with them, or Walk Away.