Tips For Buying a Puppy

There are, of course, a number of ways that prospective dog owners can acquire a puppy. However, it is advisable that you do some research before bringing a new puppy home. With well over half the population owning at least one dog, it is unsurprising that dog breeding is big business.

Moreover, there is a lot of money to be made from the industry. Unfortunately, wherever large sums of money are involved, there are those who will try to cut corners or break rules to increase their profit margins. Subsequently, before purchasing a puppy, it is essential that you find a reputable breeder who treats his, or her, animals humanely and rears the puppies correctly and safely.

Avoid Pet Stores
The main reason for not buying a dog or puppy from a pet store is fairly obvious: you have no idea where the dog has come from. Most people are aware of the existence of puppy mills and would never consider acquiring a dog from one of these breeding facilities. As it is impossible to tell with absolute certainty where a pet store dog was bred (the likelihood is that it was acquired from a puppy mill), it is wise to avoid pet stores.

Find a Reputable Breeder
As mentioned above, the best place to purchase a puppy is a reputable breeder, but how do you go about finding good breeders? Well, one of the first places to look is a local dog show. Many breeders 'show' their dogs and will be willing to speak with prospective buyers at dog events. Moreover, this gives you the opportunity to view characteristics and behaviors of the parents or brothers and sisters of your prospective puppy. If you would like to find a dog show near you, take a look at the american kennel club website, which lists all events. Alternatively, you may wish to search the internet for breeders who 'show' their dogs.

When searching for a specific breed of puppy, it is advisable to look for the breed club. Almost every breed has a club, which can be found easily online. To become a member of one of these clubs, a breeder must conform to certain standards and ethics. Therefore, you are more likely to find a reputable breeder through these channels.

Finally, speak with friends, relatives and co-workers who may be able to offer tips and recommendations. Again, if you would like to acquire a specific breed, try to find someone who has experience with the breed. He, or she, will probably be able to name a few good breeders in your area.

How to Tell if a Breeder Has Good Breeding Standards and Practices
When visiting breeders, here are just some of the things that you should look out for.

- Number of litters

Ideally, breeders will only breed two litters per year. Moreover, each female should only be used for breeding once per year.

- How many breeds?

Good breeders will specialize in one or two breeds. If you visit a breeder who has a cornucopia of dogs, then he, or she, is best avoided.

- Does the breeder ask questions?

A responsible breeder will want to know what kind of home his, or her, puppies are going to and will, therefore, ask you questions about your family and lifestyle.

- Is there a contract?

Responsibly breeders will also ask customers to sign a contract, which states that should the owner become unable to care for the puppy, he, or she, will return it to the breeder.

Of course, there are a number of other things to bear in mind when searching for a puppy. So, ensure that you ask the breeder lots of questions (write them down if you are worried you'll forget anything) and take some time to think things over before making a purchase.

Samantha Markham is a professional freelance writer from the UK. She is currently writing on behalf of remmeer.com, an online supplier of unique pet products, including puppy beds & dog blankets and dog rugs & puppy pillows.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_Markham
http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-For-Buying-a-Puppy&id=4719625