Don't fall for their excuses!

This is not an easy post, but I feel it must be written (and hopefully read!)

Bringing a puppy is a huge commitment, both financially and emotionally, and the last thing you want to find is that the puppy you thought was coming from a loving breeder, that’s in good health and has had a good upbringing, is actually coming from a Master Deceiver, and couldn't really care less about your puppy. We’ve all heard and read the stories of the people that are conned into buying a puppy from dodgy backstreet dealers, and yet the trade is expanding at an alarming rate.

MAKE NO MISTAKE - THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THE PUPPIES WELFARE, THEY JUST WANT YOUR MONEY. Only this morning I read a story of a puppy that was meant to be a Jack Russell, but was actually a Border Collie. It was just 4 weeks old, and not the eight weeks the breeder said he was. Needles to say the puppy died and the new owners were distraught. Not least because the puppy died, but also because they had been made a fool of. How can you avoid making a huge mistake? It really isn’t that difficult. You just need to follow as set of guidelines, and don't be naive to the excuses you will hear when speaking to a dodgy dealer/breeder.

You may be rushed into parting with cash in exchange for a puppy.

• Do not pay a deposit for a pet before you are completely satisfied.
• They may try to fob you off by saying that the puppy’s mother is at the vets, asleep or out for a walk. If the mum isn’t there, then the puppy wasn’t bred there.
• If mum is present she should be interacting with the pups, an unrelated "pretend mother" will not.
• They might offer to deliver a puppy to you or meet you somewhere random – like a car park. Ask yourself is this really appropriate.
• Excuses will be given for why they need to drop the puppy to you – beware of those blaming coronavirus.
• They may say that any concerns you raise about the puppy’s health issues are ‘normal for the breed’ – but puppy farming can lead to major and in some cases lethal health issues.
• They won’t have paperwork or certificates for puppy vaccinations, microchipping (which is a legal requirement), worming and results for health tests where relevant. Do not accept being told paperwork will be forwarded on at a later date.
• They won’t produce a local authority license or any evidence that they are a member of the Kennel Club assured breeder scheme. (neither are legally essential but you could gain a little confidence if you knew they had at least been inspected by the Local Authority and a vet)

You should NEVER buy a puppy on a whim. If you do, you and the puppy will regret it. I could easily post lots of images of the dreadful conditions that puppies have to endure, but they are not pleasant, and frankly I don’t like looking at them myself.

If you have any doubts about any so-called dog breeder, the chances are your gut feeling is telling you not to go ahead. Please heed your feelings!