Environment
A suitable living environment
Diet
A suitable diet
Behaviour
To be able to behave normally
Companionship
To have appropriate companionship
Health
To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
1
Environment
A suitable living environment
2
Diet
A suitable diet
3
Behaviour
To be able to behave normally
4
Companionship
To have appropriate companionship
5
Health
To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
Check before you buy
Please consider contacting your local animal rescue/rehoming centre
There are thousands of loving dogs and puppies all over the UK who are waiting for a forever home. By rehoming from a rescue centre you are giving an animal a second chance of a happy life. Visit https://adch.org.uk/find-a-rescue/ to find your local rescue centre.
Research before you buy or adopt a dog, and make sure that a dog is the right choice of pet for you
Different types of dogs and individual dogs may have different requirements, personalities and temperaments. Be sure that the dog you are interested in is suitable for your lifestyle and environment. More information about dog breeds is available here: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/Default.aspx
Research the adoption costs before adopting a dog
If you decide to adopt a dog, the adoption cost can include such things as a full veterinary and behavioural assessment, microchipping, initial vaccinations, a collar, identification tag and lead. In most cases your dog will also have been neutered or have an appointment arranged to do so. These costs represent a significant saving on the fees you could pay should you buy a dog from elsewhere.
If buying a puppy, consider going to a Kennel Club Assured Breeder
This is the only scheme for dog breeders in the UK with UKAS recognition. Buying a Kennel Club registered puppy means that you are getting a record of birth and lineage but buying from a Kennel Club Assured Breeder means that the breeder has personally been subject to extensive checks.
The Kennel Club only inspects members of its Assured Breeders scheme. If a breeder is claiming to be a Kennel Club Assured Breeder or inspected by The Kennel Club, you can check the validity of these claims with a quick search on The Kennel Club’s website. All current Assured Breeders can be searched by breed and location here: thekennelclub.org.uk/search/find-an-assured-breeder/.
If the breeder is not listed as an Assured Breeder, they will not have been inspected by The Kennel Club. If in doubt, you can contact The Kennel Club to check.
Utilise The Kennel Club Find a Puppy service
The Kennel Club Find a Puppy service provides contact details for all breeders who currently have Kennel Club Registered pedigree puppies available for sale and Kennel Club Assured Breeders will appear at the top of the search, with a KCAB logo next to their name. If you see an advertisement from an “Assured” breeder in a newspaper or on a website, it is strongly advised that you check with the Kennel Club that the breeder is a Kennel Club Assured Breeder before purchasing a puppy.
Download the Puppy Contract
The AWF/RSPCA Puppy Contract is free to download. It helps you ask the right questions and get the information you need to give you the best chance of buying a happy, healthy puppy.
Research the person (breeder) you are buying from
For more information on what to check before you contact the breeder, when you contact them and then when you visit them, visit https://getyourpetsafely.campaign.gov.uk/
When buying a puppy, you must insist on seeing the puppy interacting with its mother and littermates in the location where they were bred and reared
It is now law that anyone wanting to get a new puppy in England, Scotland or Wales must buy direct from a breeder, or consider adopting from a rescue centre instead. When visiting a breeder, check for signs that this is where the puppy was raised such as a whelping pen, food bowls, bedding and toys and check that the litter appears alert and healthy. You should be able to handle the puppies freely under supervision. Make sure you visit more than once. When you do take your puppy home it should be at least 8 weeks old. See this infographic for more information on what to look for when choosing a puppy.
Always ask for a copy of the puppy’s medical records, including vaccination certificate and records of worming and flea treatment
Certain health conditions are more common in certain breeds, so its parents should have relevant health screening certificates, showing the likelihood of the pups being affected. If you are getting a crossbreed, where the parents are two different breeds, it is equally important to ask for the health test certificates relevant to the breed, for both mum and dad. You can find information on the health concerns to look out for on the Kennel Club’s Breed Information Centre and the Dog Breed Health's guide to genetic health issues. It is also important to look at the health implications of a breed's colourings, for more information visit the Kennel Club website.
Currently in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland anyone breeding three or more litters of puppies a year must be licensed by the Local Authority
If you have any concerns about a breeder you can and should report them to the Local Authority they are based in.
Not only is having your dog microchipped now a legal requirement, it is one of the best ways to increase a lost dog’s chance of getting back home should they go missing
When buying a dog, make sure that it has already been chipped and the microchip has been registered on one of the microchip databases by the breeder. As soon as you collect your dog make sure to change the contact details on the microchip database to your own. It is important to keep your details on the microchip up to date any time your contact information changes, such as your home address and telephone number.
Consider insuring your puppy or dog in case of the need for expensive and potentially life-saving medical treatment
There are many different sorts of insurance available, so do your research to get the most appropriate one for your pet.
Common Scams
Puppies being sold with a ‘fake’ mum to make it look like they are in a family home
Sellers promising to post on medical or pedigree paperwork
Puppies being sold that have been imported from abroad often too young and without the appropriate vaccinations
Sellers offering to meet you ‘halfway’ seems generous but they probably just want to stop you knowing where they live or where the puppies have been bred
People asking for money for pet couriers or deposits upfront without you even seeing a puppy, which might not even exist
Sellers telling you that you can't see the mum because she's at the vet, or out on a walk
Sellers saying "It's normal for the breed" about any health issues such as snoring or back problems - all puppies should be born with the best chance of living happy, healthy lives whatever breed they are
Sellers offering a 'rare' breed colour
