Buying a new puppy or dog is an exciting and life-changing time. But to make sure that experience is as happy and trouble free as possible there are certain steps that you can take, to help ensure that you choose the right dog for you and that it leads a healthy, happy life. This starts at the point when you decide that you want a puppy and continues throughout the rest of its life.

The very first step is to make sure that you are prepared to commit the time, money and care that is needed for owning a dog. A dog is not just a one-off expense and you need to make sure you can afford all of those other costs – such as food and Vets’ fees – that will be ongoing throughout its life.
Furthermore, dogs are pack animals so they need lots of love, exercise and attention – so you need to make sure that you have the kind of lifestyle that means you can promise this to the new addition to your family, throughout its life.

What breed to buy

Now you have decided that a dog is definitely for you, you may be baffled by the extent of the options open to you. With 210 breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, hundreds of cross breeds and the choice between all manner of breeders and rescue centres to go to, it can be difficult to know where to start. It may be that you already have a particular breed in mind or a preference for a puppy or a rescue dog. But it is important to keep an open mind and to ask a range of questions before you make the final decision and bring a dog into your home for the rest of its life. The Kennel Club can offer you lots of help and advice to make sure that the decision you make is the right one.

• Pedigree or cross breed – The Kennel Club exists to protect and promote all dogs, whether cross breed or pedigree. Cross breeds can be registered with us on our Companion Dog and Activity registers and pedigree dogs are registered on our breed register.
  One point to remember is that pedigree dogs have a breed standard, which is an indication of their likely character and health and care needs, whereas cross breeds do not. This means that you may have a bit of a tougher timer figuring out the likely behaviour or temperament of your new dog if you buy a cross, which may not be suitable if you have young children, for example. With a mixed breed, you might also potentially run into health problems that might be common to a certain breed or their ancestry but no one picks up on because that ancestor may not be obvious in the phenotype (appearance) of your dog. In first generation crosses this can be picked up on because the ancestry is known. Likewise, in pedigrees, the ancestry is also known and so you can research the health problems that their breed might be likely to experience. In order to avoid health issues in your own puppy, you can ensure the parents have been given the appropriate health tests for their breed, so that you have a good indication of the likely health of their offspring.
• Pedigree breed standards – If you decide to go for a pedigree dog then remember that the breed standard is the best indication of its likely character and health needs. Once you have a breed in mind that is suitable for you check out the Kennel Club breed standards and talk to the relevant breed club. You can also try out the new find a breed website at www.findabreed.org.uk to find out whether your preferred breed will fit into your lifestyle
• Discover Dogs - You can also find out more about the 210 different pedigree breeds registered by the Kennel Club at Discover Dogs, at Earls Court 1 on 14 – 15 November. This event showcases every breed and is the perfect way to find out which breed would be right for you.

Where to buy

Rescue dog or puppy from a breeder - You will have to make a decision between whether you want a rescue dog or a puppy from a breeder. Buying a rescue dog is perfect for some people and it enables you to give a dog a fresh start in life. If you are buying a pedigree rescue dog it is always an idea to look for a breed rescue centre, who specialise in their own particular breed. The Kennel Club has a breed rescue directory on its website www.findarescuedog.org.uk.

For other people, particularly if you want to know about the health and background of your dog or if you have a young family and need to be sure of its temperament, then buying a puppy from a breeder may suit you better. Finding the right breeder is critical - buying a dog should not be done ‘on the cheap’ nor should a puppy come from a disreputable source. By going to a responsible breeder you stand the best chance of getting a dog that will enjoy a happy and healthy life.

• Seek out responsible breeders; the Kennel Club operates an Accredited Breeder Scheme The Kennel Club provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date list of breeders and Accredited Breeders with puppies currently available. Log-on to www.findapuppy.org.uk or you can phone for a printed list on 0844 463 3980 and you will be sent one of our Puppy Packs.
• Kennel Club Accredited Breeders sign up to follow recommended breeding guidelines. They make use of health screening schemes, such as testing for hip problems and eye conditions, which will help owners to predict the future health of their puppy. They will ensure the puppy is seen with its mother, to give an indication of how the puppy is likely to turn out. Any responsible breeder should be prepared to answer your questions about the breed. They will also give new owners written information regarding the socialisation and training of the puppy and will be there as a point of contact throughout the puppy’s life to ensure that the dog and owner have a happy and fulfilling relationship. If a breeder doesn’t follow these guidelines and if the puppies do not appear happy and are not kept in good conditions, then look elsewhere. www.accreditedbreeders.org.uk
• Never go to a pet shop as their breeding stock may have come from puppy farmers – These are breeders out to make a quick profit, at the expense of the health and welfare of the puppies and mothers.

Caring for your puppy

Ensuring the good health of your puppy is ongoing through its whole life so there are also steps that you, as the owner, can take.

• Get advice – By transferring ownership of the puppy from the breeder’s name into your own you will get full access to Kennel Club advice and services.
• Training – A trained dog is a happy dog. Dogs need to be taught boundaries and learn how to behave in the correct way not only in your home, but when they are outside with other people. This not only makes your dog happier – not to mention your life easier – but it also helps to ensure the safety of your dog and those around it. The Kennel Club organises Good Citizen Dog Training Classes to this end, which is the largest dog training scheme in the country.
• Exercise and attention – Your puppy will need regular exercise and you will need to be prepared to clean up after it on walks. Every dog needs care and attention but some need human company more than others – if you are out at work and cant take the dog with you, consider whether a dog is for you, as it may be unfair for it to be left alone all day.
• Activities – Dog walking isn't the only thing that you and you dog can enjoy together, helping you both bond and to keep you both fit and healthy in the process. There are, in fact, a vast array of activities that you can get involved in with your dog and which everybody in the family, no matter what their age, can enjoy.
  • Agility - For example, the fastest growing dog sport in the country, with approximately 24,000 dogs taking part, is agility. A course with tunnels, jumps and weaves, agility requires your dog to be healthy and well trained as well as ensuring that you get your daily workout, keeping up with him! This is great if you have a dog with lots of excess energy – or indeed a lazy dog that you find difficult to get up and moving and is suitable for both pedigrees and cross breeds! There are more than 300 agility clubs offering classes throughout the country, costing between £2 and £6 for a group lesson and competitions throughout the year. To find out more visit www.kcagility.org.uk
  • Dog Showing – Alternatively, why not try your hand at dog showing? Show dogs will have their teeth and eyes checked by a judge and will be in the company of lot of other dogs and people, so they are required to have good temperament. Dogs in the show ring need to be well behaved – so showing is a great way to ensure that your dog displays and maintains all of those good characteristics that you would expect of it. Judges will also be looking for healthy dogs, above all else, so it is a good way of ensuring that you dog stays in tip top form. Showing is a fun hobby, regardless of how successful you are and there is no way of telling how well your dog will do until you give it a go. No dog will succeed in the show ring unless it enjoys it, so there is no point in forcing your dog to get involved, but the majority of dogs absolutely thrive on it and the attention that they receive! People can first try out ring-craft classes and go to a local open show, progressing to championship shows as they win more awards. Although breed shows are only for pedigree dogs the Kennel Club runs Companion Dog Shows for cross breeds, so absolutely everybody can get involved.

To find out more about buying and caring for a puppy visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/buying/index.html

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