Buying a puppy should be a joyous event but it can be marred with pitfalls and difficulties. This article is intended to help those people who not only want to add a pedigree puppy to their family but who also need or want help in finding a puppy from a safe and reputable source. Having read the information, you will hopefully be in a better position to make informed decisions when it comes to choosing your puppy.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Before you even begin to think about which breed of dog suits your lifestyle please be ultra critical about what you can offer the dog!

There is no breed of dog that likes to be left alone all day whilst everyone is out to work and there is no breed of dog that is happy to have a long walk at the weekends (when you have plenty of time) and a quick 10 minutes around the block every other day. Owning a dog is a long term commitment - hopefully, at least 10+ years. Rescue centres are full of dogs that were bought on a whim and outlived their owner's interest.

Even if you have already done plenty of research into which breed you want to own, you should still try to meet as many dogs of that breed as possible. Attending Breed Club shows is a great way to see a lot of one breed in the one place and to meet owners and breeders. If you live within travelling distance of London, then the Kennel Club's "Discover Dogs" held in November at Earls Court, is another wonderful way to meet different breeds.

Please be realistic, deciding on a Wednesday that you want a puppy and thinking you can pick one up on the Saturday probably isn't going to happen. You may have to wait months for the right puppy from the right breeder.

The very worst place to find a puppy is at one of the puppy retail outlets or pet shops. These puppies will never have come from reputable breeders. Reputable breeders never sell their puppies through dealers or third parties. Many of these puppies will have been transported long distances from "Puppy Farms". Never ever buy a puppy for someone who offers to deliver the puppy - there is always good reason why they don't want you to visit their home.

WHAT IS A PUPPY FARMER?

A Puppy Farmer breeds purely for profit. They care very little for the animals which are dependant on them, beyond the absolute minimum required to keep their breeding stock "functioning". Dogs are often kept in appalling conditions, spending their entire lives producing litter after litter in cramped, filthy, dark conditions. When they can no longer produce pups they are either abandoned or killed. These, the very worst breeding establishments, do not, for obvious reasons, sell directly to the public. Because raising puppies properly, with good nutritional food, costs money, puppies who are often far too young and barely weaned, are transported, sometimes hundreds of miles, to retail outlets. Many of these puppies have or will develop serious health and behavioural problems.

Pet stores are obvious and easily avoided if you care about where your puppy comes from. It can be much more difficult to be sure of the small kennel or even the private home that is used as a "front" to dupe the unwary buyer. Puppy farmers and unscrupulous breeders have received a great deal of bad publicity in recent years and the smart ones amongst them have become very adept at fooling the public, it's well worth the effort when you consider that this scale of breeding is generating hundreds of thousands of pounds.

If you want more information on Puppy Farmers then go to http://www.puppylovecampaigns.org/

FINDING A PUPPY FROM A REPUTABLE SOURCE

The Kennel Club, http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/ has a national Puppy Register. It is worth noting that anyone registering puppies with the Kennel Club can use this service although those breeders belonging to the Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Scheme are expected to uphold the higher standards that the Kennel Club requires of members of this scheme.

One the best way to find out who has puppies available now, or a litter planned for the future is to contact the Secretaries of the various Breed Clubs. Only members of these clubs can go on their Puppy Lists and almost invariably, they will be known to the Secretary. Simply enter your chosen breed, followed by "Breed Club" ie. Labrador Breed Club - into an Internet search engine and you will have plenty to go on!

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A PUPPY

Getting to know the breeder, perhaps even before the litter is born is ideal. However, in reality you may have to make important decisions and choices in a short period of time. Here are some points that you may find useful.

    If you are visiting an unknown breeder for the first time, you should seriously consider not taking any children you may have. If you have to leave without a puppy it will be all the more difficult if children are present.

    Always see the puppies with their mother - accept no excuses such as - "she's been taken for a walk," or "she lives with my daughter." If you can't see them with the mother, leave straight away.

    Try to be sure that the bitch you see with the pups is actually the mother. A sociable brood bitch can be used "front of house" if the puppies are "imported". A much bred from bitch will always look as if she's just had pups, with a perpetually low-slung undercarriage. How does she react to the pups and how do they react to her? Bear in mind that no mother will be keen to feed even her own pups once they are weaned. As in humans, there should be some family resemblance, although in some breeds the colour of the puppies and mother may be totally different.

    Alarm bells should ring if there is only one "mother" but there seems to be a big difference in the size and development of the puppies.

How do the puppies react to the breeder and vice-versa. Is there confidence and affection coming from both sides?

A good breeder will ask you many questions about yourself and your family. This isn't idle curiosity, it is for the benefit of all, the puppy, the breeder and you, making sure that you are well suited to dog ownership and understand all the responsibilities.

A healthy puppy has -

    Clean, bright eyes. No discharge from the eyes, ears or nose.
    The coat should be clean, sweet smelling and "loose fitting," positively rippling with good health. There should be no sign of parasites on the coat or in the ears.
    Healthy puppies are plump but not pot bellied - this is a sign of worm infestation. Well cared for puppies will have been wormed by the breeder at 3, 5 and 7 weeks.
    Puppies have naturally happy, curious, outgoing personalities. Avoid any puppy that appears fearful or nervous. Never buy a puppy because you feel sorry for it or because it appears ill. It's very hard to walk away from a sad case but that's exactly what bad breeders rely upon. A good breeder does not produce bad puppies.
    When you buy your pedigree puppy you should also (at the very least) receive the following:
    A full pedigree of at least four generations.
    The Kennel Club registration documents.
    A full information pack giving details of diet, exercise, worming, vaccination and general care.
    Enough of the puppy's food to get you started and preferably a piece of towelling or soft toy that carries the scent of the puppies bed to help him settle into his new home
    The promise of a life time of help and support. A good breeder will take back any puppy bred by them (at any age) if the circumstances in its new home should change.
    If this article seems to make getting a puppy a lot of work - GOOD - IT SHOULD BE!

If you make the effort and get it right, the rewards are incalculable.

Lesley Rootham raises & shows Beagles in Wales, UK. Contact via http://www.korbell-leads.com