You are getting a puppy! 🐶
What an exciting time! You have made the decision to get a dog,
considered the time and financial implications and meticulously researched different breeds. You may have
already chosen a name - all that’s left is to choose that perfect bundle of
fluff to bring home!
Now, having worked with several hundreds of puppies over the last few years, I know that something that is equally, if not more important than choosing the right
breed of puppy, is choosing the right breeder.
I think, by now, everyone is aware of puppy farms and why you should not
be buying your puppy from a puppy farm, as you know how important it is for
your puppy to have the best start in life. However, what if I told you that
your new family member may not have had the best start in life even if they did
not come from a “typical” puppy farm that we imagine when someone mentions it?
Some people get puppies rather than getting a dog from a rescue mainly
because they believe they would avoid potential behavioural issues that an
older dog from a rescue may have. Please, don’t get me wrong, I am by no means
suggesting that you should not get a puppy if it is a right decision for your
circumstances.
But what if I told you puppies are not quite the blank slates we are led
to believe them to be?
Your puppy arrives to you with 8 weeks of life experiences. Those early
experiences are absolutely crucial for the puppy to learn about the world
around them, to create a “reference library” of what is safe and what is
normal, what they should and shouldn’t be fearful of, and so the more
experiences they have had before they even get to you, the easier your life
with your new family member will be. Mum’s stress during pregnancy will affect her
puppies’ resilience to stress - so even the prenatal experiences will play a
part in shaping your puppy’s future.
Puppies coming from really good breeders could be easier to toilet
train, have fewer issues with puppy-biting or chewing. They would have experienced car
rides, separation from mum and siblings (which makes their first few nights in
the new home a lot less stressful), learned that following people is fun (helps
with recall), learned some puppy manners already (for example, sitting instead
of jumping to get the things they want), been introduced to typical household
noises, and are happy to be handled. These are just a few examples of the
benefit of getting a puppy from a good breeder that invests time in their
puppies.
So what to look for in a breeder:
🐾 Good breeders
have waiting lists - most already have prospective buyers lined up before the
mating even happens, so be prepared to wait.
🐾 The breeder
will ask you a lot of questions - about your lifestyle, work commitments, puppy
care arrangements. I would walk away if the breeder does not ask those
questions
🐾 Puppies from
good breeders will come with lifetime backup, and a contract that a puppy is to
be returned to the breeder should you no longer be able to care for them.
🐾 Parents will have
had all relevant health tests (even if it is a crossbreed litter)
🐾 Covid
restrictions allowing, a good breeder will want you to visit the litter, rather
than making excuses
🐾 When you
visit the litter you want to see puppies interacting with mum and siblings
🐾 You want mum
to be relaxed in your presence, and happy for you to interact with the puppies.
If the mum has to be put in another room - this is a big red flag for me!
🐾 You want to
see a lot of toys and different objects in the puppy pen - think “circus threw
up in the puppy pen” [Suzanne Clothier] so puppies have experienced biting
toys, walking on different surfaces, exploring novel objects
🐾 There will be
a defined toileting area in the puppy pen for younger pups (in an ideal world a
litter tray with grass, wood pellets or wood shavings – things that resemble
surfaces in the garden) - and older pups will be taken to toilet outside
frequently.
What I would avoid:
🐾 Puppies
brought up outside in kennels (even if the kennels are “nice”) - puppies do not
get enough exposure to household noises, people, handling
🐾 Mum cannot be
seen with puppies because she is “protective” of them - could indicate that mum
does not have the temperament that you would want for your family dog
🐾 Breeder does
not ask you questions
🐾 Breeder rushes
you to make a decision
🐾 No toys/different
objects for puppies to explore in the puppy pen area, pen area dirty/smelly
🐾 Puppies do not
look healthy (discharge from eyes, dirty bottoms, they smell) - walk away
🐾 Even if the
breeder is licensed with the local council or Kennel Club it is not a guarantee
that they will bring up a litter of well-rounded pups (although it is a good place to start)
Getting a puppy is an
emotional, financial and time commitment for the next 10-15 years. Choosing
your puppy wisely will benefit both of you 🐶🐾
Where would I look for
a breeder? I would start with personal recommendations – if you know someone
who has a dog of a breed that you want with a temperament you like – ask them. Breed
clubs or breed/crossbreed Facebook pages are a good starting point too – where people
share their experiences is another place where I would look.
I hope this helps someone in selecting their new puppy!
References:
Clothier, S. “From 0-63 Days:
Understanding How Early Puppyhood Development Affects Behaviour for Life”,
2020, PPG Geek Week
Barbazanges, A, et. al. “Maternal Glucocorticoid Secretion Mediates Long-Term Effects of Prenatal
Stress”,
Journal of Neuroscience 15 June 1996
Maccari,
S. et. al. “Prenatal stress and long-term
consequences: implications of glucocorticoid hormones”
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, V.
27, Issues 1–2, 2003, pp. 119-127
