A dog is a lifelong companion and can provide many benefits to your life, but there are also drawbacks. The following article will help you make an informed decision about whether or not purchasing a new puppy is the right step for you.
We will provide insightful considerations for when you are purchasing a new puppy, as well as helping you with understanding some important questions you will need to know when meeting with breeders.
What type of dog is right for you and your lifestyle?
Dogs are great pets. They provide companionship, protect your family and home, and they can be trained to become a great life partner. However, not all dogs are right for every family. Different breeds have different temperaments and need different things from their owners.
To choose the best dog for your family. you should consider:
- the size of the dog,
- what type of work it will be doing,
- how active it is, recommendations range between 30 minutes and 2 hours of activity time and intensity vary significantly because different dog breeds have distinct exercise needs
- whether it is good with children or other animals in your home or not,
- and any allergies that you or members of your family may have.
Buying from a breeder
The use of dog breeders is a controversial topic. Some people believe that buying from a breeder is the best option because they get to choose the dog's characteristics and personality while getting to see how the breeder cares for their animals. On the other hand, some people believe that buying from a breeder is not worth it because they think it promotes unhealthy breeding practices.
However, the benefits of buying from a dog breeder are that they typically have more experience with the breed, they can give dogs with better temperaments, and they often have more information on the breed than other sources. The drawbacks of buying from a dog breeder are that it can be expensive and hard to find one in your area, and some breeds may not be available to you.
There are many alternatives to purchasing from a breeder including shelters, rescues, and adoptions. Adopting or rescuing an animal will likely cost less than purchasing one from a breeder.
Finding the right dog breeder for you
Choosing the right breeder is of utmost importance. The breeder is the one who will be taking care of the dog and making sure that it’s healthy and happy. There are many reputable breeders out there, but it’s not always easy to find them. The Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme can help you find a breeder that meets all their standards. They have a list of criteria that they use to assess the suitability of a breeder and if they meet these requirements. If in doubt check their membership status here
What should you ask your breeder - Our top 5 questions.
Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions, if the breeder is responsible, they will be happy to answer any questions you might have, below we will give a list of some important questions to ask your breeder before purchasing your new puppy.
1. What are the health conditions of the parents and their puppies?
Understanding if there are any health problems that either the parents or puppies have had to date and understanding if any hereditary conditions exist, this a good time to know their vaccination history.
2. How old is their mother and can I see her?
The mother should not be mated under 12 months of age, and no older than 8 years old. Included in this the mother should not have had more than 4 litters in her lifetime.
You will also want to see the mother interacting with the puppies, if possible, it’s great to see the dad as well, but a stud is often used by dog breeders.
3. Can you see the entire litter?
Meeting all the puppies will help you decide which one best suit you.
4. What are the ages of the puppies?
It is advised that a puppy should not be rehomed any younger than 8 weeks old
5. Is there a contract of sale in place?
It is the responsibility of both breeder and purchaser that terms are in place, in there ask if the puppy can be returned if there are any problems.
If at any stage you feel the breeder is being dishonest, walk away – avoid irresponsible and illegal breeders, they are just in it for the money without any regard for the welfare of the mother and her puppies. Learn more from the RSCPA
Are you prepared for a new puppy?
Buying a new puppy is a scary thought and a life-changing decision, once you’ve chosen your new puppy from the breeder, before taking them home make sure that you’ve made all the appropriate considerations a puppy isn’t just for one summer some breeds can last up to 15 years.
Owning a dog is an incredibly rewarding and fun experience but that doesn’t mean it comes with no drawbacks. Make sure you are 100% committed to owning and caring for this new puppy.
Bringing a puppy home
Preparing with puppy food [what should I feed puppy blog] and toys for your new puppy is an important factor, knowing what your breed needs for effective growth while keeping it from getting bored. This is a good time to make sure your house and garden are puppy safe, no escape routes or places your puppy can hurt itself.
Adopting a Puppy
If you decide that buying a new puppy is not quite what you are looking for, there are other options available. Rehoming a dog is an exciting experience, giving love and affection to a pup in an unfortunate circumstance can be much more rewarding to some.
Similar to buying a new puppy rehoming a dog comes with its own benefits and drawbacks of adopting that need to be considered, don’t just jump into a decision on a whim, use the mass number of resources out there and make the best decision for you and your lifestyle.
Regardless of your choice, make sure that you are happy with your decision. Do your own research, understand the breed you are going for, make sure you’re getting the right information and know what to look for when visiting the puppies. Don’t rush into any decision make use the mass number of resources on this topic.