What to look out for when viewing a puppy?

It’s important to look into the health of your pup's parents, to be aware of any potential health issues. When you visit a breeder, we recommend giving them a call first to ask them some preliminary questions. Learn more about what you can expect from your visit, what to ask the breeder and what warning signs you should look out for.

When buying a puppy, do your research not just about the breeder themselves, but also the breed. Many brachycephalic dogs such as pugs, french bulldogs and shih tzus will have respiratory problems throughout their lives. Always read up on the breeder’s background, do a ‘Google’ search on their name and see what comes up. Never buy a puppy without viewing, instead, call the breeder and ask lots of questions before visiting them in person. Always visit the puppy at their house and ensure the mother and litter mates are present. Take a digital or printed list of questions you want to ask the breeder when viewing the puppy, such as when was the puppy weened, if the puppy is over 8 weeks old, where and when did they have their first vaccination, and does the puppy have a microchip. One of the questions you ask should be if the puppy has any paperwork, it’s common practice for puppies to go to their new homes from 6 to 8 weeks of age, and it is a legal requirement for puppies to be sold with microchip paperwork. Buying a puppy is a big decision so take your time, it’s better to miss out on ‘that’ puppy than to bring home one that may only last a few weeks or have a life-long condition. If you’ve perfectly executed our top 5 tips and something still doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not.