We continue to try and educate everyone on how to buy a puppy responsibly. Especially when they're on a daily basis someone in the world which will of fell for a scam. As we have seen recently our own puppy photos were stolen and put on adverts to sell dogs which don't exist. You have to pay online for the puppy and it does not turn up.
Some people research and start talking to breeders long before they are ready for one. Others decide they want a puppy and go with the first or second advert they see, regardless of the breeder. You should never just buy a puppy because its connienitant for you now. Waiting means you will get to have a relationship with your breeder. They can advise you. You can meet the family or follow them online. Its these people who just buy because it fits the right week or month of the year, who actually keep the puppy farming trade going. You may unknowingly of supported the illegal trade of dogs in the UK. Some people can easily forget what they have done, but Im here to say its you that have continued the poor welfare of animals. You are no dog lover if you help to continue this trade. A good breeder won't have puppies available just to suit your needs on a certain day or month or year. You may have to wait 2 months, 4 months, 6 months a year. In this day and age its time to stop all illegal puppy sales. Their is no place for poor welfare of animals. I would like to think caring people would not support this trade knowingly. Puppy farms or mills are nothing but factories producing puppies of every kind. Mostly these days its the doodle breeds. But our beloved Vizsla is unfortunately on some farms also. Health care and welfare is non existent. They live in cages or crates and don't see the light of day, often raised high so the excrement falls below to be scooped up. In some cases they live in dirt and mothers birth on dirt and your puppy is raised on filth with excrement. Their eyes maybe weeping from infections, they may have parasites and worst of all Parvo virus. They may have to sleep with their own dead puppies around them or adult dogs. This is the life of a puppy farmed dog. When the mums have finished breeding they aren't found lovely pet homes, they are dumped in the countryside, killed or dumped outside rescue centres. Usually they are killed. Let's get down to how you should buy a puppy. Firstly ring a few breeders and talk to them about their dogs. See if there is any passion what so ever behind the puppies that they may have. Is their a website you can see endless photos, or instagram. On the website there should be a license number as by law we have to display it on the websites. Does the breeder do more with the dogs than just breed them. Are they worked, shown, do agility, fun shows, fly ball, scent work. What is the reasoning behind breeding the dogs. Are they looking to breed the next dog for their hobby or are they just churning out endless litters with no real passion to keep any. If you feel unsure ask for a video call for a tour around the areas the dogs are living. Some homes are allowed a maximum of six dogs including their retired dogs. Some day boarders are breeding and they are not allowed too as dogs must not mix. Their are rules and regulations when its comes to dogs. We have someone a mile away from us that is a home boarder and breeds dogs. Do not buy off Facebook or instagram. Buy from a Kennel club advert or champ dogs. If a rarer breed for example like our Bracco then pets for homes is okay, but its not the ideal website as its where all the farmers sell from. Do not buy from free ads, sites which sell other items of house hold things, or from signs off the side of the road. This is the sign of a bad breeder. A bitch should only have 1 litter in a 12 month period. In most cases its longer than 12 months. But if the breeder tells you its the second litter the dogs had this year walk away as that's bad breeding practise. Some of you will say okay so why is that not a good thing?. Simply health, her Body doesnt get the chance to go back to normal, the calcium is stripped from the bitch which in turn causes poor calcium levels in puppies, you may find skeleton issues, growing problems etc. I can go on and on. But lets just say its not a good thing to breed constantly off the same dog. We know of someone for example that breed their dog as a puppy, then every single season It had until the uterus gave up the will to live and dog nearly died. That is over breeder, cruelty of animals. Look at photo graphs in adverts and do not just look at the cute pups. Look behind the puppies. At what age are the pups leaving the mummy dog. If they say 6 weeks if fine you know you've stumbled on a bad breeder. Puppies should stay with the breeder up to 8 weeks. Are the puppies kennel club registered. Even better still is the breeder a Kennel club assured breeder. The assured breeder scheme promotes good welfare of animals and home checks, those breeders have to complete health tests to belong to the scheme. Breeders on the assured scheme are not all big breeders they may have one litter. It is about welfare. Do an online search and find info about the breeder. Are they experienced established or are they just having a litter off their pet to make income. Quite often the pet litters are poorly bred fuelled by a stud trade who do not care who uses their dogs for income. Stud dog owners need to be aware that the councils are now pushing for stud dogs to do contracts with receipts to make a trail of where breeding is taking place. The majority of dog breeders do not submit a tax return on their puppies. The HMRC requires all breeders to be self employed and do a tax return when being a dog breeder. If the breeder is of a large concern staff are then employed and on the books. Be cautious of just imported parents and imported puppies. Their is an illegal trade of dogs that come into the uk on a weekly basis. Does the breeder have just one home, or are the puppies being sold from a second home, the clean one, and not the actual home. Will the breeder send you regular photos so you can see the puppies how they grow up.? Videos. Look at the state of the other dogs. Are the ones that aren't being bred from in good condition ? Make sure the breeder has a breeding license. If they tell you that they do not need one this means they are giving the puppies away for free. All breeders must contact their council. If they tell you that their council do not require them to have one, ask for proof. Remember its your money that fuels illegal trades of puppies. If part with your money you have agreed to poor welfare on animals. If everyone stopped buying from poor breeding you would eliminate puppy farming. Does the breeder have an enrichment plan in place for their puppies? Are they will the puppies all the time? Some breeders work full time, 9-6pm and see their puppies for a couple of hours a day. Those puppies are neglected because for HPR breeds they are such active dogs they need constant attention. Bad habits are developed if living on their own. Dogs make up their own rules which can be very difficult when bringing into the home. If a breeder has a star rating ask what it is. The maximum is 5 stars. If someone has 4 stars it may mean they have not had a license before, or they may not fully agree with the higher rating. For example your only allowed 1 C section for a 5 star license. With a 4 star you can have 2 plus. With a 5 star you can only have 4 litters with any bitch. With 4 star you can have six litter with any bitch. Can the breeder show you photographs of the dogs off the property. As in going for daily walks. their are some breeders who only let their dogs out once a day, in the dark so others can not see the condition of them. Some breeders are benefit fraudsters breeding lots of litters also. Not that you would know. When you go to see the puppy is the home of any concern to you, smelly, dirty, too many dogs. Will the breeder give you information about the breed and support you over the next few weeks ? Or is it hand me the money and clear off. Puppies must always be present with the mum, so ask to see the mum. She may well bark at you protectively of her youngsters and that's normal. Or she may not mind you visiting. She should not be skinny. She must not look lethargic. Can you see Daddy dog? If not can you get his name so you can watch him at a show ? Lets just get it out there that we need people to think before they buy, promote animal welfare and do not just choose a puppy because it suits your timing. Waiting for the right puppy is worth its weight in gold.
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AuthorMrs Rachel Savage Archives
October 2024
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