Puppy
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8 min
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After lots of deliberation, and umming and ahhing - you’ve decided it’s the right time to bring a puppy into the family. Eeeeek, how exciting!
One of the first things that may come to mind is where you’re going to get your puppy from; with a breeder potentially being your first port of call. But with so many scary stories out there regarding scammers and bogus breeders, how do you sift through the bad eggs and settle on a good one?
To ensure the road to your new puppy is a smooth and scenic one, this article will show you how to find the most reputable and responsible breeder, who’ll provide you with the happiest and healthiest pup!
Breeders who don’t prioritise the health of their puppies, as well as the mum and dad, are usually there simply to make money. This creates a disregard for their overall care and general health, creating a cycle of breeding unhealthy and unsocialised puppies.
In terms of animal welfare, various laws have been implemented to avoid unethical breeding, but sadly, this doesn’t stop some people. This is why it’s up to us dog lovers to educate ourselves and not give them our business.
So when starting your search for your new pup, what sets apart the good breeders from the bad ones?
As Pooch experts, we have a dog’s health and best interest in everything we do - and your breeder should do the same!
A reputable breeder often adheres to the following;
Great breeders do exist, but how do you go about finding them?
When on the hunt for a good breeder, be sure to consider the following steps to help guide you to the best possible source:
If buying a pedigree, check out the Kennel Club website. Keep in mind that hybrid dog breeders (e.g. Cavapoos, Pomskis) won’t be recognised by the Kennel Club.
Ensuring you’re taking home a healthy, happy puppy that was raised in the best possible environment should be at the forefront of your mind. So don’t be afraid to ask sometimes difficult questions, to make sure all the right steps have been taken.
Questions you can ask the potential breeder include:
Today, we make so many transactions online without a second thought. However, this does mean we’re more vulnerable to scams. The same goes for when you’re buying a puppy.
If you’ve begun a conversation with a breeder online, make sure to ask for a face-to-face meeting with them, the puppy, the litter and their mother. Especially before you hand over any money.
If they decline a meeting, we suggest it’d be best to look for another breeder.
Seeing where the puppies have been born and raised is a great indicator of their treatment, and the reputation of the breeder.
You should always request to see the puppy where it’s been born, along with their mother, so you can assess for yourself their condition and environment. If the breeder declines your visit or asks for some kind of payment beforehand, we’d suggest looking elsewhere.
When it comes to scoping out a breeder, there are a few clear red flags that you can look out for, that’ll tell you to take your money elsewhere. These might include;
Puppy farming or puppy mills are one of the most dangerous forms of breeding. Licensed puppy farms or mills are allowed to go on, whereas unlicensed ones are against the law. That said, it is never advised to use a puppy mill or farm when choosing your breeder.
Puppy farms that have been rewarded a license have been able to pass a certain level of welfare and care, which as a potential dog pawrent, may settle some of your anxieties. However, licensed or unlicensed, they’ll always remain ethically questionable, and as dog lovers, we will always advise against them.
Puppy farms or mills focus on one thing - breeding litter after litter of puppies to gain maximum profit. This means there is not much focus, if any, on the welfare of the puppies or their mothers - creating a cycle of unhealthy and unhappy puppies.
If you have a suspicion that your chosen breeder is affiliated with a puppy farm or mill, we suggest looking elsewhere and focus on finding those that wave nothing but green flags.
To find out more about puppy farming and how to avoid contributing to them, be sure to check out our article, ‘How to avoid puppy farms’.
If in your search for a breeder you’ve come across one that displays more than one red flag, is clearly putting puppies and dogs at risk, or even showing signs of animal neglect and abuse, you can report them to your local council.
Alternatively, if the breeder’s expressed affiliation with The Kennel Club, you can submit a complaint straight to the board for them to investigate.
Legally, breeders should send you home with a puppy over 8 weeks old that’s had the necessary health checks, worming and vaccinations. Other than that, anything else a breeder sends you home with is just an added bonus, and will differ between breeders.
Many reputable breeders may send you away with the following:
If you’re after some expert resources for looking after your new puppy, look no further than Pooch and Mutt’s very own Puppy Hub. Packed with how-tos, checklists and educational pieces on top-notch puppy care, we’ve got everything you need (including the best food for their hungry tummies!).
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There’s a lot more to consider when searching for your perfect puppy other than how cute they’re going to be (because this is sort of a given). How your pup will grow should be considered, as well as their characteristics, temperament, energy levels, any working needs, and their ideal environment.
To tick ‘perfect puppy food’ off your list, check out our Puppy range here at Pooch and Mutt. With both wet food, dry food and treats all packed with puppy-friendly ingredients, you can make sure your pup’s nutritional needs are tended to.
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