23/11/2021
For anyone looking to get a new puppy on the run up to Christmas, here are a few tips and things to bear in mind.
⢠Be prepared to answer lots of questions. Good breeders will be just as interested in you as you are in the puppy as they want to ensure their pup is going to a good home.
⢠Make sure when you first meet the puppy it is in their own home. You should be suspicious if they ask to meet in a different location or deliver the puppy to you.
⢠Ask for a full health history of both parents. Different breeds are pre disposed to different conditions so do your research into the breed and ask for proof of relevant health tests. For example if buying a Labrador you may ask to see the hip score certificate.
⢠Itās important that you see your puppy interacting with litter mates and you should always ask to see the mum.
⢠Ask for proof of microchiping. All puppies must legally be microchipped by the age of 8 weeks.
⢠Ask for proof of vet checks and vaccinations (where applicable). Puppies should not leave their litter until 8 weeks of age. Good breeders whoāll not let puppies go sooner than this.
⢠Crates and sleeping areas should be mostly clean and free from soiled food bowls and bedding. It should be nice and warm and indoors around the family. Never outdoors or in a shed or garage.
⢠Take your time- visit more than once, and donāt feel pressured to to buy the puppy if it doesnāt feel right. If you have any concerns about a breeder, you should report it to the SSPCA.
If you have any further questions feel free to send us a message and weāll get back to you as soon as possible.
Advice follows research that suggests rising number of pets have conditions that may have come from low welfare breeding