During lockdown there has been a surge in people looking to give a home to a new puppy. Having the time to be at home and look after the puppy in the important first few months was one of the main reasons for this boom in puppy buying. If this is something that you are considering and have never owned a puppy before, here are a few things to remember before you bring your new puppy home…

Remember that the Puppy may be Scared at First – If you are worried that this is not the same bouncy puppy that you saw playing with its siblings and mum, remember it has been taken away from its family and is only a baby so its perfectly normal that the puppy may be nervous for a few days.

 

There will be accidents to start with -Whilst a puppy is young and hasn’t yet learned to go out to toilet, you will have to regularly take pup out to see if it will go. You might want to think about your flooring in your home – flooring like this engineered wood flooring is a lot easier to clean up than carpets and rugs, so do consider where pup will be when in the toilet training phase!

Communicate with the Breeder – A good breeder will always want to help new owners and will have a lot of good advice if there is something that you are worried or unsure about, so don’t be afraid to contact the breeder if there is anything you want to know.

Choosing a responsible breeder

Before thinking about food, beds or a good vet, spend time researching where your puppy will come from. High demand for puppies has pushed prices up sharply, and that has encouraged more unethical breeding, where buyers are misled and have no idea of the conditions the puppies came from.

Breeders with poor standards and little regard for animal welfare often produce puppies that are unhealthy and poorly socialised. That can lead to vet bills, behaviour problems and real heartbreak for a family that has already fallen in love with their new dog.

A good starting point is the Kennel Club’s list of breeders. Breeders on it must meet the club’s standards, so they are far more likely to put the health of their dogs ahead of profit. They are also required to health test their animals for the hereditary conditions that are common in certain breeds, which gives your puppy a much better start in life.

Spotting a responsible breeder

One of the most important pieces of research comes before anything else: where the puppy comes from. The surge in demand during lockdown led to more puppy farms and unethical breeders looking to take advantage of buyers.

These places do not care about the welfare of their dogs. Animals are often kept in squalid conditions with little or no socialisation, and mothers are used as breeding machines. Puppies raised this way are much more likely to have health and behavioural problems, which can end in heartbreak.

Talk to the breeder and ask plenty of questions, including which health tests have been done and whether you can see the certificates. A good breeder will be happy to answer and will ask about you too, to check you are a suitable owner. You should be able to see the mother with her puppies, in a clean area, with both looking healthy and happy.