Finding a puppy from a good breeder is no easy task.
Earlier this year the UK Government passed new legislation regarding the sale of puppies and kittens. Breeders are now required to be licenced and follow tighter regulations which make them accountable for the puppies they breed. Despite this we’re still seeing news reports of poorly bred puppies dying days after arriving with their owners.
The hope was that this legislation would reduce the number of unreliable breeders and make it easier for potential owners to find well-bred puppies. But it’s still a minefield of secrets and crafty tactics with money-making at the centre.
There are many reports of puppies being sold at inflated prices, especially since Covid-19 when demand for puppies appears to have rocketed. Research the average price of the breed you’re looking at and avoid any breeders who are selling at much lower or higher prices. When money-making is the driving force behind breeding, the puppies are simply a commodity, bred for their sale-ability with little care for their health or temperament.
At the very least, you should see the puppies with their mother in a home environment, but this isn’t really enough. Even well-meaning breeders make mistakes or neglect some vital areas and there are so many aspects that must be considered when choosing a puppy.
The Key Ones
Health tests – different breeds are prone to different genetic conditions. Responsible breeders will be knowledgeable and open about potential health issues in their breed. They should be able to provide evidence of health testing and breeding from generations of dogs with clear histories. Certain breeds will be more prone to health issues so research thoroughly and be prepared for this if you choose a more susceptible breed. Go onto your chosen breeds breed club website to discover which health tests are recommended for your chosen breed and look for these in puppy adverts. It's a very quick way to rule out 95% of puppy adverts. If there's no health testing, or very little compared to the recommended tests, you can rule out that breeder. If you find a breeder who hasn't done all of the relevant health testing, you should be concerned about what other corners they are cutting
Health records – your puppy should have a record of vaccinations, flea and worm treatments, make sure the breeder is able to provide a history of this and all vet visits. Microchipping is now a legal requirement so never choose a puppy who hasn’t been chipped. And remember it’s illegal for puppies to leave the breeder before 8 weeks, a puppy being sold under this age is a huge red flag.
Registration – looking for a Kennel Club registered breeder can give you more assurance that they are following full health testing requirements. KC registration allows breeders to track the history of their dogs, including vital health and genetic issues, as well as ensuring a wider gene pool. For non-KC breeds, make sure they are a member of a respected breed club. However, being a registered breeder or part of a club does not guarantee everything so you still need to do thorough research and choose carefully. A breeder who is willing to sell you a KC Registered puppy 'without papers' should be avoided
Two puppies? - A responsible breeder is very unlikely to allow you to take 2 puppies home from the same litter unless you are active within the dog world competing in dog sports and have shown you have the time and knowledge to raise 2 together. Personally I would walk away from any breeder offering you two puppies. Two puppies is twice the work. They need to be walked separately, trained separately, played with separately, toilet trained separately and have rest time separately. Plus double the vet bills, double the food bills, double the training class bills. You'll need to ensure each puppy is bonding with you more than they bond to each other so that you don't simply end up with two puppies who love each other and completely ignore you. Puppies also teach other puppies bad habits, so their unwanted behaviours will grow stronger together. It's a lot of work and not for the faint hearted, and definitely not recommended if you're considering two puppies just so your puppies have a friend
Cross breeds - Avoid seeking out a cross bred litter, unless the breeder is part of a breed club whereby they are advocating health testing and temperament testing, such as a Labradoodle or a Cockapoo and are breeding in order to improve the breed (and not just for the cash). A good Cockapoo or Labradoodle breeder for instance will ensure both parents are fully health tested, will have put careful planning into breeding their litter, and will breed for temperament. Responsible breeders will not cross any old dogs together, as they want to protect their breed and continue to improve the breed on the whole in terms of health and temperament. With a random cross breed, you have no way of knowing what health or genetic issues are being passed over to the puppies, and unless the breeding has been done for a specific purpose, it's likely that very little thought has gone into the breeding of the litter. There will be no genetic health testing, no thought into the temperament of each parent, no knowledge of the temperament of grandparents or health problems, and most likely zero early socialisation. You also have no idea what temperament or breed traits your puppy will have and what breed they will take after. If you are looking for a hypoallergenic dog, then selecting a cross breed is risky. You won't know how many traits of each dog your puppy will have, so there is no guarantee the puppy will have a hypoallergenic coat. With Labradoodles for instance, as little as 1 in 10 of a litter could have a non shedding coat.
Neutering - there is no reason for any breeder to neuter your puppy before you collect them. Sadly this is a common practise within Australian Labradoodle breeders, and for this reason we strongly recommend walking away from these breeders. There is zero benefit to neuter a puppy so young and it can create lifelong behavioural issues.
Breeding – look at how many different breeds are being bred and how many dogs are owned by the breeder. Offering puppies of a variety of different breeds may not be a good sign and could indicate that they are simply 'supplying to demand'. Consider how many litters are there too. If they have two or more litters on-site it could be a red flag to a less responsible breeder. Check how many litters the breeder has from each dog – if they are breeding frequently or having many litters from each female, it’s never a good sign. Aim to find a breeder who lives with their own dogs in the house and raises the litter indoors. A kennel raised litter is unlikely to have receive the proper socialisation that will get the puppies used to household noises, handling and novelty.
Photos and videos - prior to visiting the litter, ask for photos and videos of the puppies. The litter should be raised indoors in the home. Avoid litters where the puppies are in kennels, on sawdust or on a concrete floor. What else is in the environment? Are there toys available, and enriching areas for the puppies the explore different surfaces and novelty? Always visit more than one litter so that you can make an easy comparison about how the puppies have been raised and the knowledge of the breeder. Never take money with you to a viewing so that you don't place a deposit on a puppy in the spur of the moment
Waiting list - be prepared to go on a Waiting List for a good breeders' puppies. It is unlikely that a reputable breeder will simply have a puppy available for you when you enquire, unless you get very lucky. While you wait, research local training schools and start researching training methods so that you are ready to begin training as soon as you bring your puppy home.
Recommendations - Go to dog shows, meet other owners, chat with trainers and get recommendations for breeders. If you can meet dogs from previous litters to see how they turned out, it will give you a good idea of any issues within the lines.
The Mother – make sure you see the puppies with their mother. It’s easy to make up an excuse of why the mother isn’t there (on a walk, needed a break, doesn’t like visitors etc.), but any excuse is a bad one! Look at how the mother is interacting with the puppies, it’s not hard to make a ‘fake’ mother and replace the real one with a more appealing stand-in. If the mother seems uninterested or uncaring it could be a warning sign of a ‘fake’. Visit multiple times so you can establish a clearer picture of how the mother and puppies behave. Take a close look at how the mother is responding to you as a visitor. Any behavioural traits the mother displays now will likely be imprinting on the puppies, so if the mother is aggressive towards you, the puppies could develop this trait as they mature.
Meeting Place – never agree to meet in a neutral or convenient place. This is a sure sign that something is not quite right. A good breeder will want you to see where the puppies are growing up, they should be proud of their environment and keen to show you around, they should welcome you to spend time there and ideally visit multiple times before taking your puppy home. Don’t settle for less than this!
Pressure – a good breeder will never put pressure on you to take a puppy. They won’t tell you a sad story to melt your heart and persuade you that you need the puppy, or the puppy needs you. They should encourage you to take your time and come to a decision. If you’re having doubts, they should be too so never take a puppy if the breeder is trying to over-sell it! A good breeder will interrogate you to make sure you’re a good match for their puppies. If they don’t want to know about the home their puppy is going to, it strongly implies a lack of care so you should be VERY concerned!
Guilt Factor – it’s not uncommon to hear of people who have bought a puppy to ‘save’ it from an unpleasant environment. While it might seem like worthy action, in reality this simply fuels the wrong industry. Every puppy who is sold makes way for the next litter so by ‘saving’ one, you risk thousands more ending up in the same horrific conditions. If you don’t like what you see, walk away and report it. This is the only way to make a difference and stop the bad breeders.
These are all points most people would think about when choosing a puppy, and a quick Google search will bring up numerous sites which all recommend the same basic things to look for. However, it’s not as simple as that. A breeder who meets all these points is unlikely to be an irresponsible one, or one who is purely looking to make money, but it doesn’t guarantee you’re getting a puppy who has had the best start to life.
There are many amazing breeders out there, and breeding dogs is not easy or profitable when you do it for the love of your breed. But sadly, there is still a huge lack of behavioural knowledge when it comes to breeding puppies. If you’re looking for the best possible puppy, you need to look deeper than the surface level of meeting places and health tests.
Early Socialisation
We all know about the importance of socialisation when you bring a new puppy home, but in reality, at 8 weeks old we are well into the critical socialisation period. Socialisation should begin with the breeder; in many ways they have the most crucial role in your puppy’s development. A breeder who claims it is not their responsiblity should be avoided.
They can’t be taking their litters out in public to meet the world, but they should be gently exposing them to a whole range of experiences, including handling exercises, grooming, noises, surfaces, novel items, normal household activities, and in an appropriate way, other people and animals.
The breeder should also be teaching puppies about sharing from an early age, as well as feeding puppies from separate bowls to avoid the development of resource guarding
Positive Experiences
Socialisation isn’t a case of passing the puppies around groups of people or playing sounds over a loud speaker. It requires careful thought and planning. Choose a breeder who is knowledgeable and thoughtful about their puppy’s socialisation. Ideally, look for someone who is following a socialisation programme, for example, Puppy Culture. The Puppy Culture programme shows breeders the how and why of raising a litter of puppies, giving them protocols to follow to ensure the puppies receive the very best start to their socialisation, confidence building and handling right from birth.
Breeders should be aware of each puppy’s unique personality and any areas of socialisation they needed more support in. All puppies will be different, even within well-bred litters, there will be bolder puppies or more reserved puppies. The breeder should be able to identify each individual and have records of their behaviour in different situations. From this, they should be able to effectively match each puppy with the most suitable home.
The best breeders will start preparing their puppies for life in their new homes. This could include short durations of separation from the litter, crate training, toilet training and maybe even some basic obedience training!
Separation training is a great one to ask breeders about, puppies who have learnt to enjoy time on their own before moving to their new homes will be much better prepared for the change than those who have never spent any time away from their mother and littermates.
A Relaxed Mother
Research suggests that a mother who experiences high levels of stress during pregnancy will pass this onto her puppies because her body’s hormones and chemicals will affect how her puppies develop. There are fewer studies on dogs, but in people it has been shown that extreme stress in a pregnant mother can affect how a child’s brain responds to cortisol, which leads to high anxiety in response to low level stressors. We can assume the same happens in dogs and these puppies would be tuned to react strongly to stressors, creating more fearful and anxious dogs.
We can’t control every aspect of our puppy’s development, but being aware of the conditions the mother has lived in will go a long way to helping reduce the likelihood of lasting damage.
Behavioural issues can be genetic and hard to change. If the mother or father are nervous, the puppy will be more likely to show similar traits. Puppies are very impressionable and the behaviour of the dogs around them will be influential, so if the parents are barking lots, this is likely to pass onto the puppies too. Never choose a nervous puppy and assume you will be able to build its confidence. A puppy who displays a lot of fear at 8 weeks will likely develop into a fearful adult and even the most dedicated, skilled owner will have a tough time changing that.
Know the Breed
This one may seem obvious, but it’s surprising how many people get a puppy without fully understanding the breed they are taking on. Don’t just get one person’s opinion, speak to as many owners, breeders and dog trainers as possible. For every perfect Labrador you meet, there will be another whose owners describe it as a ‘nightmare’. Never choose a breed based on one person’s experience because the chances are, yours won’t turn out the same.
Visit breed shows or events like Discover Dogs and Crufts, you can connect with people who really know their breed and arrange to spend time with them. People are passionate about their dogs and most will welcome you to meet their dogs. By spending time with them, you can gain an understanding of the breed’s individual traits and decide if they’re the right match for you. There is no denying every breed has specific traits. You might meet exceptions to the rules, but they really are the exceptions!
A good breeder will give you an honest view of the good and bad traits. They should be able to give you a truthful overview of the puppy’s parents and ancestors, don’t settle for only positives, dig out those less appealing traits too. A breeder who wants to sell the puppies quick may not be as truthful or as willing to discuss potentially negative traits.
The breeder should also ask you lots of questions to ensure you are making the right choice for your family and the life you want to offer. If the breeder doesn't ask you any questions, this is a red flag! Likewise, can the breeder answer questions about their breed? Do they know what they were originally bred for? Do they compete with their dogs or go to breed shows? Why have they bred the litter?
Remember what one person sees as a positive, may not be your idea of a desirable trait. If you’re looking for a quiet, placid family member then a breeder selling you a German Shepherd who will ‘take care of your family’ is probably not what you want. That ‘taking care of your family’ probably involves a lot of barking and scaring away any intruders which isn’t ideal in a busy home with regular visitors.
‘Talkative and happy’ could be a positive spin on ‘they bark all the time’ or ‘loyal to their family’ could imply ‘they don’t take well to new people’. Never accept a statement at the surface level, find out what they REALLY mean when they describe their breed.
'Aloof with strangers' often means that your puppy will likely not take kindly to lots of visitors or being fawned over on the school run, and may not be as inviting of strangers into your home
Worth the Wait
Never rush into getting a puppy. Remember it’s a decision that will stay with you for many years. Bringing a new family member home is a decision worth waiting for and something that should never be rushed. If possible, visit several litters and take the opportunity to compare the puppies. Be fully prepared to join a waiting list and don’t choose a breeder simply because the puppies are ready to go.
Choosing a puppy because it’s cheap, quick or easy is a recipe for lifelong behavioural and health issues that could end up costing you thousands of pounds and a whole load of heartache. The longer you spend researching and planning, the better your chances will be at choosing a well-mannered, stable family pet.
There is a lot of hard work to come after you collect your puppy, but choosing the right breeder and the right puppy will go a long way to helping you bring up a dog who suits your home
At Adolescent Dogs we see both sides of the breeding world and we meet countless puppies or young dogs who sadly didn’t get the best start to life. We’ve developed a good understanding over the years and we’re always happy to assist in finding the right breeder and puppy. We’re also here to help if your puppy didn’t get the best start and you want to give him the best life now!
Written by Naomi White
Are you a breeder? Join our Affiliate Programme and offer your litter of puppies access to our Online Academy. The Online Academy provides step by step video tutorials covering early puppy training, socialisation, confidence building, enrichment and a handy puppy shopping list. The Academy covers training from puppy through to adulthood, including basic to advanced training, tricks, scentwork, co-operative care, engagement games, impulse control, lead walking, recall and more! Find out more here: www.adolescentdogs.com/affiliateprogramme
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