As much as it feels like Mr Stork drops them off in a bassinet at your doorstep, there’s a lot of research to be done when bringing a new dog into your family. It begins with a pretty big question - whether you adopt a rescue, or buy a pup from a reputable breeder.
You’ll probably encounter many conflicting opinions, pros and cons during your research, which might make the initial decision quite difficult. We’re here to summarise all the information you need to help make the best decision for you. Either way, the result should be a happy and healthy pup bounding into your life!
Buying a puppy from a breeder
One way you can find your new furry best friend is by choosing your breed, tracking down a reputable breeder and purchasing your new pup.
A recent survey found that a whopping 58% of dog owners across the UK found their pup via a breeder or private seller, making it a common route for most people to take.
Like other methods, buying a puppy from a breeder comes with a list of both pros and cons - it’s just a case of working out what works best for you, and what will make the best scenario for that future pup of yours!
Buying a puppy: The pros
Buying a puppy brings forth a wide range of pros that could potentially prove that this is the right route for you.
These include:
Health information and family history. When buying a pup from a reputable breeder, you’ll gain access to all of their health information, previous vet treatments and vaccination history. You’ll also get to know your pup’s parents for further peace of mind about avoiding genetic and hereditary diseases.
Raising a puppy. Buying a puppy from a breeder means their development and training are all in your hands! So whether you’re looking for a chill pup to keep you company whilst working from home, a highly trained dog with skills to impress, or even a hiking companion, how you train them and set them up for life is down to you.
Socialisation training has started early. As a pup being brought into the world by a reputable breeder, they’ll already have had exposure to other dogs and a family home from the get-go. Meaning they’ll already be accustomed to the lifestyle they’ll have after coming home with you.
Toilet training has started early. Puppies from a breeder will often have already come into contact with puppy pads and other methods of toilet training. Many new pup owners will find that this will transfer to the home and aid their toilet training.
Assistance and support from the breeder. Breeders who are dedicated to breeding healthy and happy pups will often provide expert support and advice about your pup’s health and well-being, even after you’ve taken them home. This can be great for first-time pup parents or if you’re after breed-specific information.
Puppy packs. Great breeders will often send you home with a puppy pack. This is a useful pack of information that will allow you to begin your pup’s life with their best paw forward! Learn everything you need to know about puppy packs and what you can expect to find in them in our article, Puppy Packs: What should be included?
Buying a puppy: The cons
Many of the cons of buying a puppy stem from coming into contact with disreputable breeders. But trying to spot all the red flags can be hard, and can land you in some sticky situations. That said, the potential cons of buying a puppy from a breeder should always be considered and approached with caution.
Possible cons of buying a puppy from a breeder include:
More expensive. Buying from a breeder, especially a breed-specific one is going to cost you more than any other adopting method. The average cost of a new puppy from a breeder can be anything from £400 to £3000 upfront, and this doesn’t include any treatments they may need once home, or monthly puppy insurance fees.
Potential unethical breeding. Purchasing a pup from a breeder without much research may result in contributing to unethical breeding. Some breeders breed puppies for profit alone, rather than to bring happy and healthy puppies into the world. Not only does this mean your pup may come with a long list of unknown health problems, but it increases the demand for the breeder to produce more puppies.
Tonnes of extra research. Before getting a puppy, it’s common knowledge that in-depth research is a must! Especially when looking into breeds, food and training. However, finding the right breeder adds even more thorough research as you need to ensure you’re working with one that’s certified and reputable. This can be particularly tricky and frustrating, especially when trying to keep an eye out for scammers, fraudsters and general bad eggs.
May be supporting selective breeding. Due to there being a demand for specific breeds, disreputable breeders may take unethical actions to make sure pups are born with certain characteristics. This is usually done without paying attention to potential health risks either when born, or further down the line.
Rigorous puppy training. Depending on what you’re looking for in a pup, this can either be a pro or a con. But with getting a pup straight from a breeder, all their training and development is down to you. So how you raise your young pup could potentially lead to nervous, anxious, over-excitable behaviour, if you don’t get it right from the beginning.
Information is never guaranteed. We’ve spoken about how a good breeder will often provide you with plenty of information about your pup, including a well-stocked puppy pack. However, this information, guidance or support is never guaranteed.
What makes a reputable breeder?
How do you spot a good breeder? Here are a few signs you’ve hit the jackpot:
- They make you feel at ease and welcome any questions.
- They arrange a first meeting with the litter and the pup’s parents.
- The first meeting is where the pups have been born and raised.
- They welcome setting up more than one meeting, especially if you’d like to arrange a meeting with your other dog.
- Will show any licensing and certificates when asked.
- Provide a puppy pack and all the necessary documents and information about your pup including vaccinations and a microchip certificate (which is a legal requirement).
- Puppies are kept in a hygienic area and are visibly well taken care of
- They’ve put effort into handling and socializing the puppies from a very young age
Spotting red flags in a breeder
For the safety of the dog’s mum, puppies and other puppies to come, it’s always good to not give breeders your business if you have any doubts.
Some potential red flags in puppy breeders may include;
- Have little to no contact with you unless discussing payment.
- Don’t arrange a first meeting with the pup’s mum and her litter.
- Offering to hand-over the puppy before they turn 7-8 weeks’ old and before any vaccinations or vet checks.
- Pressuring you to take other puppies having only shown interest in one.
- Refusing to show certificates and proof of licensing when asked.
- Disregarding any health issues that you suspect.
If you notice any of these signs, something in your gut doesn’t feel right, or you see blatant animal abuse or neglect, be sure to contact your council, the RSPCA or local authorities.
Rescuing a puppy from a shelter
Rescuing a dog or a puppy is another way to find your new fur baby. This would involve choosing a shelter, searching through all available dogs up for adoption, sending in your application and crossing your fingers that you get successfully matched with your dream pup!
As you can see, rescuing a puppy or a dog from a shelter can mean a few more steps when compared to buying from a breeder. But the payoff is worth it!
Rescuing a dog: The pros
Rescuing a pup comes with a whole lot of pros, and it can be a beautiful journey towards giving a pup a forever home.
Some of these include;
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You are giving a dog in need a loving home. Many of the pups you’ll find at a rescue centre will be there due to unfortunate circumstances. Adopting a pup from a shelter means giving them a new loving home where they can start afresh.
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You can pick the best pup for you. Having spent time with the people at the shelter, they would have built up a pretty good relationship and personality profile of the pups, meaning you can easily pick a dog that suits you and your lifestyle.
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Can avoid any chance of funding unethical breeding. Adopting a dog from a rescue centre eliminates the chance of funding or contributing to unethical breeding.
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Countless visits and advice. Those who work at a shelter or rescue centre will do everything in their power to make your chosen pup’s transition as smooth as possible. This means lots of opportunities for visits, bonding and expert advice about your specific pup and their needs.
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You have time and space to make a decision. When adopting, there’s no rush or pressure put on you by the rescue centre, so you have plenty of time to weigh up your options and make an informed decision.
Rescuing a dog: The cons
Any route you take to get your new puppy will always have their potential downsides, but at the end of the day, it’s all relative. Depending on what you’re looking for in a dog and what you have to consider in terms of lifestyle, family life and your home, will determine whether a rescue dog is right for you.
Some potential cons to adopting a rescue dog include:
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Waiting lists can be long. Due to the demand of everyone wanting a new fur baby, some adoption centres usually have a waiting list for puppies. So, opting for adoption may mean that ‘gotcha day’ may require some more patience.
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Applications can get rejected. Even if you get to the application stage, you can be rejected. This is usually due to you not being the perfect match for the pup, whether that’s down to your circumstances or the dog’s specific needs. Either way, you’re likely to be rematched to a new dog eventually, but it does make the wait even longer and can be a little disheartening.
- Do be aware that certain rehoming centres will not consider working owners, those with young children or homes without a garden.
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Dogs may come with traumatic backgrounds. Why dogs end up in rescue homes can be heartbreaking, and many will come from traumatic scenarios that would have impacted their personality and behaviour. Even so, with the right home, training and new dog parents, your pup can have a second chance.
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You’re unlikely to find the exact breed you want. With so many beautiful breeds out there, it’s easy to fall in love with a favourite. But at a rescue centre, pups come in all shapes, sizes, colours and mixes and there’s a chance you won’t find the exact breed you dreamed of. But that said, you’ll often find mixed breeds are prone to less health conditions, so if a happy and healthy pup is your only box ticker, you’ll be in luck!
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You’re unlikely to find a young puppy. If your heart’s been set on raising a puppy from 8 weeks of age, you’re unlikely to find one to adopt. But this should never hold you back, as unfortunately, many dogs do end up in care due to owners getting a puppy and not being able to handle their behaviour as they grow. You’ll find plenty of older dogs needing loving homes, ones that make perfect companions.
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If you have young children at home, or visiting. Due to past trauma that rescue dogs might have experienced, many rescue centres are reluctant to send them to families with young children. Rescues can sometimes be unpredictable (as can all dogs!) from unbeknown triggers - so allowing them to be around children can be dangerous and irresponsible, and is a risk many rescue centres are unlikely to take.
How to choose the right pup for you
If you’re getting teary-eyed by scrolling through the hundreds of pups waiting for a new home, there are a few things you can keep in mind to match yourself with the perfect pup.
- Your lifestyle. If you love having people over, relaxing in a pub garden or sipping on an oat milk latte on a Sunday morning in a dog-friendly cafe, you’re going to need a dog who’s confident and good with people.
A puppy from a breeder can be socialised this way, but it’s important when adopting a rescue dog to assess the dog’s personality before adoption.
- Your work life. If you work remotely, you’ll have to keep an eye out for pups who are okay staying indoors for a while. This will mean opting for less energetic breeds, and ensuring any rescue pups don’t have any separation anxiety, or previous trauma or triggers from being inside for long periods.
On the flip side, if you’re looking for an office dog, you’ll need to opt for a confident, socialised pup that won’t mind travelling or public transport.
- Your family life. If you’re in a large family or are planning to have children, you’ll need to factor this in when searching. You’ll need to opt for breeds known to be good around children, like King Charles Spaniels, Labradors or Shih Tzus, or ensure your rescue pup is happy around children.
- Where you live. Having access to lots of wide open space means you could opt for a more energetic breed that requires lots of walking and enrichment.
If you live in the city, a pup that won’t grow much bigger would be best! When opting for a rescue dog, living in a city means you should opt for a pup who doesn’t have problems with excessive noise.
Deciding whether to buy or adopt is a tough decision. They both come with their pros and cons, but at the end of the day, you choose what best suits you and what would result in the happiest and healthiest pup! Either way, you’ll be welcoming a brand new fur baby into your home, and we’re here to help you every step of the way.
When it comes to their diet, try our specially formulated wet and dry puppy food, and range of treats, that can help aid development and soothe sensitive tummies.
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