Buy a dog – Where do I buy it?

There are many traps potential owners can fall into, so be careful. Selling puppies and young dogs is now a multi-million dollar business and sadly there are some unscrupulous breeders, dealers and retailers out there waiting for the gullible buyer.

Most people have heard or read about ‘puppy farms’. However, these are not farms in the true sense of the word, but rather facilities where puppies are raised without thought of their well-being, physical or mental. They feed on cheap and inferior food without veterinary care or socialization. They are bred solely for profit and their breeders do not care where they go or what happens to them after they leave their facility. Puppies may be sold directly to the public through misrepresented newspaper advertisements or may go to dealers who will sell them by any method. Alternatively, they can be sold in pet stores.

It must be emphasized that these puppies do not have a good future, and it is very unlikely that sellers will offer ‘endorsement’ or that a puppy can be returned if it develops any problems. Therefore, it is always advisable to buy a puppy directly from a breeder, who must be recognized by the Kennel Club, or from a registered charity.

Go online and log on to the Kennel Club website for a list of breed and breeder clubs. Many breed societies run their own rescue organizations to find good homes for unwanted dogs or pets that have been abused or whose owners have died.

A responsible breeder will breed from healthy dogs, without genetic defects and with good temperament. They will keep the puppies and their mother in a healthy, stress-free home environment where they can be well socialized to everyday sounds and smells, other dogs, and people. They will play with the pups and give them toys, and encourage them to go potty away from their nest area.