Buying a Puppy
Always seek out a reputable breeder who cares about dogs as pets and companions — not merely stock for breeding purposes — and has their animals’ welfare at heart. The breeder you choose should be a source of information as well as puppies and provide support for you as a future dog owner.
Before you visit a dog breeder, think about the questions you will need to ask him or her. In particular, you should discuss with the breeder the characteristics of the chosen breed to make sure that they are compatible with your lifestyle and family circumstances (see Choosing a Breed). Bear in mind that a reputable breeder will also have questions for you. Just as you need to make sure that your puppy has come from a good home and is fit and healthy, the breeder will want to ensure that the puppy is going to a good home where he will be loved and well cared for. Responsible breeders should refuse to sell puppies to people they think would make unsuitable owners.
If you are choosing a mixed breed, go to a rescue mission center in your neighborhood or ask dog-owning friends or colleagues whose opinion you value. Avoid buying in response to newspaper advertisements or from pet shops. If you are considering buying a pedigree puppy, you can obtain a list of licensed breeders in your area from the relevant breed society. You will be able to find the address of their main office on the internet, or there may be a local branch of the society advertising in your town paper. (Before buying a purebred puppy, you will need confirmation that the litter as registered with the relevant organization and that the official papers are available.) You could also visit dog shows, where you can obtain information about dog breeders and observe your chosen breed first hand. Local veterinary offices provide another possible source of advice and information. Avoid puppy farms, where the dogs are often kept in inhumane conditions.
Questions for Your Breeder
Is the puppy socialized?
Ask the breeder how to explain how the litter has been socialized with people as well as dogs. Puppies’ early experiences have such an effect on their future that this socialization is vital if they are to develop into confident adults. For example, have they met other animals, such as cats and rabbits? Are they used to being handled and played with? And if so, by whom? Have they become accustomed to visitors, including children, or have they only met the breeder and his or her immediate family? You will also need to ask at what age the breeder is willing to allow the puppy to go to a new home. The best age is ten weeks (see Choosing a Breed).
Is he used to a variety of noises?
You should try to find out where the litter has been kept. Have they been penned outside or inside the house? Many subsequent behavior problems will be avoided if puppies have had early exposure to normal household sounds. For example, you should make sure that they have become accustomed to the routine of the family and the house and its sounds. Puppies need to be familiar with things such as vacuum cleaner, the refrigerator, the telephone and doorbell ringing, the radio and television, people talking, and so on.
Puppies need to be familiar with the different sights and sounds of their new home environment, especially things like the vacuum cleaner which could confuse or startle any newcomer!
What’s the puppy’s medical history?
Perhaps the most critical question to ask is about the puppy’s medical history. You should expect to receive proof that the relevant tests have been carried out and that the results were satisfactory. For example, has the mother or the litter experienced any medical problems? Was the birth normal? Have the parents tested for hereditary defects such as hip dysplasia (joint abnormality) and eye disorders? Has the breeder started the puppies’ worming program and routine vaccinations, and if so, when? You should ask the breeder for written information about the puppy’s diet, which, to avoid health problems such as stomach upset, you should not change in the initial stages.
The mother's interaction with her litter will tell you a lot about her emotional as well as her physical condition -- a good indication of what the puppies may be like.
What to look for at the breeder’s
You should expect to see the litter with their mother. By observing the mother, her reactions to you — as a stranger — and the way she interacts with her puppies, you should be able to gain an impression of her temperament, and therefor an idea of how the puppies’ personalities may develop. A steady, calm, reliable, and contented mother is a good sign that she is physically well and emotionally well adjusted, so you can hope to see the same traits in her offspring. Ideally, you should ask to see the father as well, to ensure that he shares these characteristics, although this may not always be practical, since many breeders do not own the fathers and they may live far away. Having met the parents, you should also have some idea of the puppy’s eventual size as an adult.
Conduct a thorough physical examination of any puppy you're interested in, so that you can detect any signs of infection or disease.
Take the opportunity to handle all the puppies one by one. This will allow you to judge their health and temperament. Examine the puppies closely to check their physical condition. A healthy, well-fed puppy feels solid and surprisingly heavy, with firm muscles and straight sturdy limbs. In a young puppy, any signs of redness, discharge, or unpleasant smells should ring warning bells in your mind. Not only are these signs of infection or inflammation, but they indicate that they puppy may not have been well looked after.
The puppy’s coat should be glossy without being oily. Watch out for flakes of skin or loose hairs, especially after stroking. In “wrinkly” breeds, check in the folds of skin for signs of inflammation, irritation, or scabs. Check for redness or discharge, especially from the eyes and ears. The whites of the eyes should be clear, bright, and shiny, and the eyelids should be clean. The ears should be a healthy pin, and there should be no odor or waxy discharge. Gently part the puppy’s jaws to look in the mouth and check that the gums are pink and free of odor. The anal area should clean and dry and free from signs of diarrhea or discharge.
Hallmarks of a Good Breeder
Look for these signs of a good breeder:
- There is plenty of good quality food for mom and the pup’s when they’re weaned.
- The pups have access to plenty of fresh air and sunshine.
- The mother is kept with the pups and not removed for long periods of time.
- The pups are reared in the home where they can hear and see all the aspects of a typical household routine that they are likely to encounter in their new home.
- The pups are regularly and affectionately by the breeder and the family.
- The pups receive regular visitors of all ages who handle and play with them.
- Where the breeder has other adult dogs, the pups have plenty of opportunity to meet with and learn from those adults that enjoy their company. (Some adult dogs are not happy about puppies — the knowledgeable breeder will be well aware of this.)
You can judge the puppies’ temperament by how they react to being handled. Puppies that take an interest in you and in their surroundings are likely to be alert and intelligent. They’re showing the signs of developing confidence. An ideal pet dog should be neither overly shy or fearful or too boisterous. A timid puppy can often grow up into a shy and fearful adult which will not make a good pet, especially if you have a family. The shy dog will find it to socialize, both with humans and other dogs, and could find in a family stressful. Nervousness is a common cause of aggression, so the dog might resort to biting if he is afraid. Beware of overconfidence in a puppy, however, as this can show an overly assertive nature, and may mean the puppy will be difficult to train. Although obedience can be established through training and good relationships with the owner, it will be much easier if the dog’s nature is not too assertive in the first place.
Familiarize yourself with any potential breed-related health problems. For example, short-legged, long-backed Dachshunds may develop spinal and mobility problems.
Questions the Breeder May Ask You
Finally, you should expect the breeder to have plenty of questions for you, and you should worry if he didn’t, since it would suggest that the breeder did not care about the home the puppy was going to. The first question the breeder is likely to ask you is whether you have kept dogs before and, if so, whether you had ever owned dogs of this particular breed. The breeder would need to be satisfied that you had a basic knowledge of the breed’s characteristics and what it was originally bred for (see Choosing a Breed). This should include a discussion of possible breed related behavior problems. If you are a first-time owner, you will need a great deal of support and advice.
Watch Out for Undesirable Physical Characteristics
Some breed-related characteristics can cause health problems, of which, you should be aware. For example, flat-nosed dogs often have breathing difficulties, short-legged breeds may have movement problems, long-backed dogs can suffer spinal complaints, and breeds with long ears are prone to carrying ticks.
The breeder will probably ask you why you have selected this particular breed and what you want the puppy for — as a pet, for show or for sporting competitions, for example. This may well have a bearing on your choice of puppy, as a puppy with one temperament to be a family pet would not necessarily have — or need — the physical perfection of a show or competition dog. The breeder would need to know about your home and yard and may wish to visit before agreeing to the sale. Most of the questions you are asked are ones you should have already asked yourself (see Choosing a Breed). Once you have purchased the puppy, you should keep in touch with the breeder and share news of the puppy’s progress. You will almost certainly need the benefit of further expert advice, and any good breeder would appreciate receiving news about “their” pup.
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