{"id":7031,"date":"2021-03-16T09:59:55","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T09:59:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tails.com\/blog\/?p=7031"},"modified":"2022-03-30T11:48:03","modified_gmt":"2022-03-30T10:48:03","slug":"how-to-choose-a-responsible-breeder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tails.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-a-responsible-breeder\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Choose A Responsible Breeder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019ve set your heart on a new puppy<\/a>. It\u2019s a very exciting time! But before you take the leap, let\u2019s talk a bit about whether your puppy is right for you<\/a> – and how to choose a responsible breeder. Puppies are brilliant, gorgeous and need a lot of attention. They grow pretty fast and demand a lot from you in the early days. So let\u2019s start with the puppy breed basics<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who do you live with<\/strong> – are you on your own or in a busy household?
Where do you live <\/strong>– is it a flat in a city or a cottage in the countryside?
Time<\/strong> – daily exercise, grooming, playtime, training time – it all counts!
Lifestyle<\/strong> – where does your dog fit in with how you live?
Money<\/strong> – dog food, treats, vet bills, training\u2026 can be $$$.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That Great Dane you adore at the park will take up a lot of space, so if you\u2019re in a third floor flat that\u2019s a real consideration. So are Great Dane-sized walkies, food costs, and vet bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going mini? These super-cute tiny furballs need proper early socialisation<\/a> to get them growing up into great adult dogs. There is such a thing as small dog syndrome. You can hear it a mile off!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We love the PDSA\u2019s pet finder match here<\/a> – it\u2019s not just limited to dogs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding your new puppy<\/strong> – breeders, shelters, and more<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The next thing to think about is where to find your new family member. There are lots of shelters, rescues, and fosters across the country<\/strong> filled with amazing dogs of all ages – it would be remiss of us not to include this as we love all our rescue dogs! Many (including couch-potato retired greyhounds) make such happy, grateful companions when you give them a forever home!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do decide to buy a puppy, it\u2019s really important to choose a responsible breeder<\/strong>. When you\u2019ve found your perfect pup online, what next?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at what to look for, what to expect, and what checks you should make to get yourself a happy, and healthy new member of the family!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for a responsible breeder<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are some simple steps on how to check if the pup you\u2019ve found online is the real deal and not from a puppy farm, which is all about profit. Puppy farmers keep dogs in awful conditions, dogs have to reproduce litter after litter with no recovery time, and puppies are taken away from their mothers too early which can lead to behavioural problems, health conditions, and even death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get sleuthing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Search engines are your friend when it comes to sussing out the dodgy doggy adverts from the genuine ones. Look up Google photos, advert descriptions and mobile numbers to make sure this information hasn\u2019t been lifted from elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free insurance!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sadly this isn\u2019t the sign of a legit breeder – neither is offering a puppy pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kennel Club registered breeders – or are they?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Never take Kennel Club claims at face value – ask to see proof and check with the Kennel Club! They have a list of assured breeders on the Kennel Club website<\/a> (as well as breed-specific rescues, too)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vaccinations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Other lies bad breeders (or stolen pup pushers) tell include whether they\u2019ve been vaccinated or not. No puppy gets vaccinated earlier than 4 weeks old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online or in-person<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n