Choosing a puppy
Right, you’ve decided to find a puppy, but where to go? Buying a puppy involves many decisions and some hard work.
You probably will have considered things like the size of dog you prefer, the cost of up-keep and if you’re able to exercise it. However, there are other questions you should ask.
Be mindful of the downside of any breed you are interested in, as they say ‘forewarned is to be forearmed’. A good way to find out about this sort os information is with Breed Rescue Centres, they make sure any potential owners are fully aware of all the down-sides of the breed, the last thing they want is to have to re-home the dog again. Always make sure you are familiar with any medical problems that might be associated with the breed, especially inherited conditions.
Be patient, don’t be too quick to decide on a particular puppy because the breeder seems nice, or the puppy has all the registration papers, this is no guarantee that the puppy will be healthy.
We all want our puppies to grow up happy and healthy and will be around for many years to come, to ensure this you need to buy from a reputable dealer. The Kennel Club has a “Fit for Life” campaign, which reviews all breed standards and avoiding registering puppies that have been born from closely related parents. It also continues to develop it’s Accredited Breeder Scheme (ABS), the ABS was set up to promote responsible breeding and enable owners to buy with confidence from approved breeders.
It’s best to go to several breeders and litters, if you’ve found a breeder you are happy with, and trust, but they don’t have a litter available, be prepared to wait. A good breeder will always have the best interests go the puppies in mind, and will have just as much to ask you as you will have to ask them. When seeing the puppies for the first time, make sure their facilities are clean, and they look healthy and contented with toys to play with.
Never buy ‘unseen’, from someone that wants to hand the puppy over in a car park or deliver to your doorstep. Be wary of puppies for sale in newspaper ads, internet forums or puppies from pet stores.
Have a look at also buying from a rescue centre or animal shelter, this however may mean you’ll need to be prepared for a bit more work. Puppies can be rare and you need to be conscious of the fact that older dogs may have behavioural or health problems, usually due to being badly brought up by previous owners and no fault of their own!
Above all, do your homework, owning a dog can be expensive and the last thing you need are a lot of vets bills. Once you do find the ideal puppy though, they will hopefully grow up to be a friend for life, and what better way to immortalise this friendship than with a pet portrait. A reputable artist will not just paint a lifelike picture but will capture the real character of your dog!
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