There are so many dog breeds to choose from that sometimes the choice can seem overwhelming. There are also Dog Pounds in most cities where you will be able to choose a stray, often bitches may be abandoned if they are in pup, so there could be adorable mixed breed litters to chose from.
Points to Consider
- Do you have time and the availability of space to exercise a dog who is very active? A bored dog can soon become very destructive.
- Do you have the time to spend grooming a dog, or could you pay someone else to do this?
- Can you afford the cost of caring for a dog, routine feeding is just the beginning, you will also have to budget for insurance, vets fees etc
- Do you have children? If so it is essential to be sure you are choosing a puppy from a breed you know is reliable around children.
How to find a Puppy
The Kennel Club will be able to provide you with a list of breeders of the breed you are interested in, or alternatively you can look out for advertisements in the local press. If contacting a breeder you should be prepared to wait, sometimes for months until a puppy becomes available. When you go to look at the puppies you should expect to see them with their mother. If she is not there it is likely that the litter has been bred elsewhere and they are being re-sold by a puppy dealer. You may not see the sire, this is not unusual as the breeder of the litter may not own him.
While the stress of motherhood may have caused the bitch to not look at her best, she should look well and be friendly. If she shows any signs of aggression when you go to look at the pups don’t even consider buying one of them. A bad temperament is hereditary and the pups are already being taught bad manners by their mother.
Young puppies are very vulnerable to disease so don’t go from one litter to another without changing your clothes and washing your hands as you could unwittingly be carrying a disease which could be harmful to the puppies.
Puppies should be full of confidence and curiosity. You should have trouble getting them to stay still enough for you to have a look at them because they will be scampering around all over the place and playing with each other.
When you do finally get to catch hold of one of the puppies they should have bright shining eyes, be clean around their hind quarters and smell pleasant. Good breeders will keep the puppies surroundings clean too and will have provided toys for the puppies to chew and to stimulate them mentally and physically.
Don’t be tempted by the shy puppy who is hiding at the back. It may not have the confidence to cope with life as well as the others. Puppy behaviour is usually a good indicator of how the puppies will be when they are adults. Watch how they relate to their mother and to their siblings. They should look as if they are happy and confident and of course interested in what is going on around them.
Ideally the puppies should be reared in a home environment, this way they will become used to all the everyday noises of a house, such as the vacuum cleaner, washing machine, television and the hustle and bustle of people. Some breeders may not find this possible and the pups may be reared in their own outside quarters. When you are looking for a new puppy be aware that it may take a few weeks to acclimatise a new puppy if he is not used to all of this noise.
Reputable breeders will have had the litter of puppies checked for hereditary defect which may be relevant to that breed. Ask to see clear certificates for the puppy and for its parents.
Reputable breeders will not allow a puppy to go to a new home until it is eight weeks old. They should be eating well by then and ready to make the break from home. The critical learning and socialising period for puppies is between four and fourteen weeks, so eight weeks old is usually the perfect time. This may alter with different breeds and individual litters, so be prepared to be guided by the breeder.
Bringing your Puppy Home
When you get to take your chosen puppy home the breeder should provide you with a full list of diet instructions, plus a little of the food they are eating. You should also be given a full record of the puppy’s worming programme, vaccinations they will have had and a chart of any follow up treatment. The breeder will also give you the puppy’s pedigree and their registration documents, plus an open invitation to get in touch if you have any problems or queries.
Reputable breeders will generally see a litter of puppies as an extension of their family and will be concerned about the well being of the puppy. If things don’t work out with the new arrival the breeder would prefer to have the puppy back rather than for it to be abandoned, or rehomed into unsuitable surroundings, so don’t ever be afraid to contact the breeder.
When you get the new arrival to his new home for the first time he may be frightened and very bewildered. Reassure him, but don’t over stress him by too much attention. A warm hot water bottle and ticking clock or the radio set on low, may just reassure him during the first night. Be prepared for a long night if the puppy begins to howl, he will eventually settle!
jacqui broderick - Jacqui Broderick is magazine editor and the published author of numerous magazine and newspaper features, three novels and a biography. ...
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