subject: Buying A Dog – Where Do I Buy It From? [print this page] There are many traps into which potential owners can fall, so beware. Selling puppies and young dogs is now a multi-million dollar business, and unfortunately there are a few unscrupulous breeders, dealers and retailers waiting for the gullible buyer.
Most people have heard or read about puppy farms'. However, these are not farms in the true sense of the word but premises on which puppies are bred with no thought to their welfare, physically or mentally. They are fed on cheap and inferior foods with no veterinary attention or socialization. They are bred purely for profit and their breeders are not concerned where they go or what happens to them after they leave their premises. The puppies may be sold direct to the public via misrepresented newspaper advertisements or they may go to dealers who will sell them by any method. Alternatively, they may be sold on through pet shops.
It must be emphasized that these puppies do not have a good future, and it is most unlikely that the vendors will offer a back-up' or that a puppy can be returned if it develops any problems. Therefore it is always wise to buy a puppy direct from a breeder, who should be recognized by the Kennel Club, or from a registered charity.
Go on the internet and log onto the Kennel Club's website for a list of breed clubs and breeders. Many breed societies run their own rescue organizations to find good homes for unwanted dogs or pets who have been ill-treated or their owners have died.
A responsible breeder will breed from healthy dogs without genetic defects and with good temperaments. They will keep the puppies and their mother in a stress-free and healthy household environment where they can be well socialized to everyday sounds, smells, other dogs and people. They will play with the pups and give them toys, and encourage them to toilet away from their nest area.
