Buying a Pedigree Dog

10 pointers to help you through
1 Always buy from a reputable breeder.
2 Once you have decided on the breed, talk to a number of breeders and if possible go and see dogs from their breeding at dog shows.
3 Speak to people who have purchased dogs from these breeders, find out about their temperament especially if introducing the puppy into a household where there are children or other pets.
4 Ask for a copy of the pup’s pedigree, certificates of hip scoring and eye testing, if these are recognised problems with the breed.
5 Also ask for a copy of the breeder’s ‘puppy contract’, this will tell you if the breeder has made provision for taking the puppy back if you are unable to keep it.
6 However tempting it may be, don’t necessarily buy the first puppy you see go and look at a number of litters.
7 Visit the selected breeder(s) kennels, see the mother and pups together (and father if resident), be wary if the owner of the mother has a number of different breeds with litters.
8 Do not agree to meet a breeder with a puppy other than at their breeding establishment, a reputable breeder is unlikely to suggest this approach.
9 Speak to and if possible visit the father’s kennel or home.
10 Ask for the breeder’s veterinarian and contact them if you have any health concerns.

What to expect from a reputable breeder
  • A reputable breeder will always show you the puppies available at their breeding kennel. This will allow you to see the environment that they have been reared in. Never agree to meet someone "at a location near you for convenience" as a reputable breeder would not suggest it.
  • If some time after buying a puppy, circumstances change and you can no longer keep it, will the person you purchased it from take it back? A reputable breeder will and may put this in writing for you.
  • A reputable breeder will also be able to provide you with information on the pedigree of your puppy and in a lot of cases will have both the mother and father there for you to see. If there are known health problems in the breed you have chosen e.g. Hips (Dysplasia) and Eyes (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) ensure that the sire and dam have been tested for these problems and have the required documentation. If the breeder does not have these certificates, it is probable that they have not been tested and hence the risk of an affected puppy is much more likely.
  • Reputable breeders often refer to themselves as ‘choosy’ of prospective owners of their puppies. This is simply because they are concerned that their puppies should be going to someone that has the right sort of home environment (size of garden/children/time to exercise) with an understanding of the needs and requirements of that breed. A reputable breeder will probably interview you as much as you interview them.
  • When you collect your puppy from the breeder, you should be given a pedigree certificate, a Kennel Club registration an insurance certificate, which is free for the first six weeks.


 Bringing Puppy Home

Before you bring your puppy home find out from the breeder what brand of food it has been fed on and do not change this immediately. Once your puppy has settled in its new home you can gradually start to change its diet. When you bring your puppy home at about 8 weeks of age it will be fully weaned and will require feeding 4 times a day, this being gradually reduced to twice daily by the time he reaches his first birthday and don't forget to give them fresh water.

As puppies can be very destructive, an expensive new bed may be inappropriate until he is a little older. It does not matter what the bed is made of, as long as it is big enough for him to stretch out, is really warm and cosy and deep enough for him to snuggle his back against the back of the bed. Puppy’s kidneys are vulnerable to draughts, so the bed should be placed in a cosy place.

Start toilet training as soon as possible. Always take them outside immediately after waking up and after each meal. They should be taken to the same place so the puppy learns to use the same spot every time, and use a command e.g. "be quick or good girl/boy". If accidents do happen in the house say "no", and take the puppy outside immediately, puppies learn very quickly and will soon get into the habit of going to the door to be let outside.

Puppy Farms

A Puppy Farm is the term used for Breeders who produce litter after litter of puppies purely for financial gain whilst paying little attention to breeding healthy dogs. They are keen to sell to whoever will buy, regardless of the puppies likely home environment and the potential owner’s understanding of the breed. A puppy farm may or may not be dirty but it is usually overcrowded and the dogs may be neglected or abused because the breeders can't practically handle as many dogs as they have. This type of breeder will often bring the puppy to you or meet you halfway avoiding the need to show you the conditions at their breeding establishment. It is puppies sourced in this way that are in poor health, undernourished, with a lack of socialisation and a much lower survival rate than puppies from reputable breeders.

REMEMBER – A puppy is for life