Please Read - Be careful when buying a puppy

Never buy a puppy as a present or because you feel sorry for it. If you have decided that you can provide a good home, the time to devote to your dog and the finances the next big decision will be choosing the right breed from the right breeder.

Unfortunately this is not always easy, there are many breeders who breed in large numbers purely for profit and the welfare of the dog is of no importance to them. There is nothing more devastating than purchasing your puppy only later to find it is sick and may even die.

There are steps you can take to avoid these unscrupulous breeders and find a breeder who is passionate about the breed and the welfare of their dogs. A good breeder will ask you many questions, they know their breeds, and will make sure the puppy and owner are a suitable match.

Reputable breeders are very careful about the home and families their puppies go to.

Always see a puppy with its mother (and preferably the father)
It is essential for you to see the puppy with its mother, failure to do so should immediately set alarm bells ringing and in our opinion the breeder should be avoided.

Check if the puppy has been vaccinated
Ask to see proof of the vaccination and check that the veterinary surgeon's name and address is clearly shown and is NOT from some overseas location. Be aware of fake documents; if suspicious contact the veterinary surgeon to confirm the details.

Always visit the premises the puppy was born in
This may involve travelling many miles but it is essential to see the puppy in the place it was born. Ensure that the premises are clean with plenty of room and observe or listen to the number of dogs/puppies generally in and around the premises, this will also give you the opportunity to ensure the puppy/mother are well socialised. NEVER accept the offer for the puppy to be delivered or “meet half way” as this may be a sign that the breeder has something to hide.

Ensure you get all relevant paper work
BEFORE completing any financial transactions, make sure you are in receipt of all the necessary paperwork and that you have carried out the above checks. Please do not be persuaded to send any cheques or payments prior to seeing the puppies.

Collect the following with your puppy

• The puppy's pedigree. The Kennel Club registration card - a signed transfer form will follow in the post.
   

• A receipt for your payment. A diet sheet informing you what and how much
  food your puppy is fed.
   

• Ask the breeder if they can give advice on specific care and also some tips on
  grooming your dog.
   

• If in doubt please seek professional advice before purchasing your puppy.
   

What to do if things go wrong

Under every advert on the Puppies-UK website is a link “Report Abuse”, please use this if you suspect any wrong doings. Please give us a much detail as possible so we can take the appropriate action.

If you are concerned about how you were sold the puppy, please contact Consumer Direct 08454 04 05 06 or the local authority responsible for the area you bought it from (details can be found in the phone book or on the internet). If you suspect the puppy may have come from abroad and does not have a Pet Passport it may be in contravention of UK anti-rabies legislation. Please contact either Trading Standards or Environmental health services at your local authority (depending on where you live). Alternatively you can report the matter to your nearest Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Animal Health Office.

For more information about buying a puppy visit the RSPCA’s website

Do be patient with your new puppy for the first few nights. Everything will seem very strange having left his familiar surroundings and family. Lots of love and reassurance will soon make him realise that he is safe with you. If your new dog is a puppy, there are sure to be accidents! Puppies are very quick to learn and they love to please you, so this toilet training period can be easy if approached correctly. Don’t put him outside and then leave him expecting him to know why he is there! Go outside with him and keep repeating a word that you intend to use when he needs to relieve himself. When he does perform, go over the top with praise and he will soon learn what is expected of him. If he has an accident in the house, a firm "No" followed by both of you going outside using your chosen word again. If you take him outside after playing, upon waking and after feeding, you should catch him before the accident occurs.

If you introduce him to as many new faces and situations as possible in the early days, he will form into a confident well-socialised dog. There is an extremely "sensitive" period in the puppy’s life. This is between the age of 8 and 12 weeks of age. Any experience, which causes acute fear during this time, can make a dog anxious, shy or very fearful of similar situations for the rest of his life. Try to ensure that your puppy is protected from frightening situations during this time.

Most dogs will shed their coats several times a year. If brushed and combed daily, you won’t ever have the massive amounts of hair lying around noticed on an ungroomed dog. His skin will be healthier and his coat shiny. Brush the coat thoroughly first, not forgetting tummy, feathering and ears. Then go over with a moulting comb. This will remove all the loose hair and will gently ease out any tangles that may be there. Even if you have a breed that doesn’t moult you should still get him used to grooming from an early age. Follow the advice of the breeder from whom you bought your puppy as to how often clipping or stripping is needed.

A well-kept dog should not have tangles. If your dog has not been used to regular grooming, bribery and corruption works wonders! Praise him and keep giving him the odd tit-bit whilst grooming, and you’ll find he’ll soon be asking for his grooming sessions!

Claws

Do keep an eye on claws. If your dog has constant road walking, then his nails will wear down naturally, but if most exercise is taken on grass or soft ground, the nails will grow at an alarming rate and need clipping regularly. Overgrown claws can make walking painful, not to mention catching in the feathering if scratching. With pale coated dogs, the nail is pale and transparent and you can easily see the quick. With dark colours, the claw is darker and so to avoid cutting into the quick ask your vet to perform this task first time.

Eyes

Some breeds of dogs tend to have weepy eyes, and tear staining on the surrounding hair and skin become sore and unsightly. Wipe the corners daily with moistened cotton wool, and dry with a fresh piece of cotton wool.

Ears