Where do you buy a puppy?

by Jane Johnson

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- Jane Johnson, email address: janej@tpg.com.au
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One of the difficult decisions you need to make is where to buy your dog from. There are a variety of different places you can get a puppy or older dog from, and this page hopes to help give some suggestions on what you may expect:

Decisions, decisions, decisions!

Who and What

Good Breeders

Other Breeders

Pet Stores

Have puppies
Sometimes Sometimes Usually always

Have waiting lists
Usually always Sometimes Probably not

Vaccinate puppies
Yes Perhaps Perhaps

Health Information
Yes - comprehensive Perhaps Rarely

Health Stats
Yes - will be honest with the problems in their breed Perhaps - many will tell you their dogs have no health problems, because they either don't know, don't care, or want to hide the truth from you No - they do not collect this information, many preferring to let you think that there are no health problems (when you know that every breed has health issues and that you should know the statistics)

Have health tested the parents
Yes of course, and will provide you with copies of the health certificates Probably not. More likely to tell you that their dogs have no health problems (and of course, you know that all dogs are at risk of problems) They wouldn't know. Some will tell you "yes" even though they don't know. Others will tell you health testing is not necessary

Will have health tested puppies
Yes, of course, and then tell you what health testing needs to be done over the course of the puppy's life Usually no. Many will tell you that the pups are "vet checked", but at best, if this is actually true, it usually indicates that no really apparent health problems are present at that moment, on that day Usually no. Many will tell you that the pups are "vet checked", but at best, if this is actually true, it usually indicates that no really apparent health problems are present at that moment, on that day

Will tell you what health testing needs to happen
Of course! - many will insist that you get the health testing done Probably not No - would have absolutely no idea why this would be important

Will give you info on diet
Will have comprehensive information available for you. Some will even require that you agree to feed a specific diet before you even get on the waiting list
(Hint: this is usually a very good sign that this breeder really cares about the health of their dogs Probably not Perhaps will try and sell you something from the store, but will not have an individual plan for your dog

Price
Will be a reasonable price. Breeder lucky if they break even Usually charge more than registered breeders Usually charge significantly more than registered breeders

Understand temperament
Yes - comprehensive, and will carefully select which pup goes to which home Perhaps Rarely - more interested in the pup as a "commodity" rather than a special being that needs to go to the right home

Advertise
Sometimes - best way to hear is by word of mouth, so you need to do some research usually to find these guys Usually Usually

Will provide a health guarantee
Yes 1-2 years Probably not Will probably offer 1-14 day guarantee

Will provide on-going support
Yes - usually comprehensive Usually not No - well unless you are buying more products from their store.

Will take back your puppy or dog if you cannot keep it
Yes. Some breeders will demand that you can only return the puppy/dog to them.
(Hint: this is a sign of a good breeder) No No

Will require you spay/neuter your pup
Usually. Those pups left "intact" are those that present the absolute best of the breed, that are worth producing more pups from. The breeder stays in very close contact with these. No No

Has registered puppies
Yes - all their puppies will be registered with the Canine Control body Usually not No

Will provide training advice
Yes - and provide on-going support Perhaps, may also suggest unsuitable training methods Rarely

Can prove the "worth" of their dogs
Yes - will be able to show you full pedigrees, comprehensive health reports, and show ribbons and trophies No - at best perhaps one distant relative may be a champion; unlikely to have any health testing No

Will tell you about the faults in their dogs. All dogs have good points and bad points. A good breeder knows this.
Yes - will be open and honest about the faults in their dogs More than likely would not have a clue No - some will tell you the dogs are "perfect"

So after reading all this, have you finally decided where you are going to get your puppy from?

The decision to get a puppy should not be taken lightly, and you should work to find the right breeder for you.

Remember, a puppy is not a commodity.

Feel free to email me.

Where to from here?

Feeding your dog

The basics about showing dogs

Handling your dog in the ring

Some basics about breeding dogs

Where to buy a dog from

Bluegrace Home Page

Who and What	Good Breeders	Other Breeders	Pet Stores
Have puppies	Sometimes	Sometimes	Usually always
Have waiting lists	Usually always	Sometimes	Probably not
Vaccinate puppies	Yes	Perhaps	Perhaps
Health Information	Yes - comprehensive	Perhaps	Rarely
Health Stats	Yes - will be honest with the problems in their breed	Perhaps - many will tell you their dogs have no health problems, because they either don't know, don't care, or want to hide the truth from you	No - they do not collect this information, many preferring to let you think that there are no health problems (when you know that every breed has health issues and that you should know the statistics)
Have health tested the parents	Yes of course, and will provide you with copies of the health certificates	Probably not. More likely to tell you that their dogs have no health problems (and of course, you know that all dogs are at risk of problems)	They wouldn't know. Some will tell you "yes" even though they don't know. Others will tell you health testing is not necessary
Will have health tested puppies	Yes, of course, and then tell you what health testing needs to be done over the course of the puppy's life	Usually no. Many will tell you that the pups are "vet checked", but at best, if this is actually true, it usually indicates that no really apparent health problems are present at that moment, on that day	Usually no. Many will tell you that the pups are "vet checked", but at best, if this is actually true, it usually indicates that no really apparent health problems are present at that moment, on that day
Will tell you what health testing needs to happen	Of course! - many will insist that you get the health testing done	Probably not	No - would have absolutely no idea why this would be important
Will give you info on diet	Will have comprehensive information available for you. Some will even require that you agree to feed a specific diet before you even get on the waiting list (Hint: this is usually a very good sign that this breeder really cares about the health of their dogs	Probably not	Perhaps will try and sell you something from the store, but will not have an individual plan for your dog
Price	Will be a reasonable price. Breeder lucky if they break even	Usually charge more than registered breeders	Usually charge significantly more than registered breeders
Understand temperament	Yes - comprehensive, and will carefully select which pup goes to which home	Perhaps	Rarely - more interested in the pup as a "commodity" rather than a special being that needs to go to the right home
Advertise	Sometimes - best way to hear is by word of mouth, so you need to do some research usually to find these guys	Usually	Usually
Will provide a health guarantee	Yes 1-2 years	Probably not	Will probably offer 1-14 day guarantee
Will provide on-going support	Yes - usually comprehensive	Usually not	No - well unless you are buying more products from their store.
Will take back your puppy or dog if you cannot keep it	Yes. Some breeders will demand that you can only return the puppy/dog to them. (Hint: this is a sign of a good breeder)	No	No
Will require you spay/neuter your pup	Usually. Those pups left "intact" are those that present the absolute best of the breed, that are worth producing more pups from. The breeder stays in very close contact with these.	No	No
Has registered puppies	Yes - all their puppies will be registered with the Canine Control body	Usually not	No
Will provide training advice	Yes - and provide on-going support	Perhaps, may also suggest unsuitable training methods	Rarely
Can prove the "worth" of their dogs	Yes - will be able to show you full pedigrees, comprehensive health reports, and show ribbons and trophies	No - at best perhaps one distant relative may be a champion; unlikely to have any health testing	No
Will tell you about the faults in their dogs. All dogs have good points and bad points. A good breeder knows this.	Yes - will be open and honest about the faults in their dogs	More than likely would not have a clue	No - some will tell you the dogs are "perfect"