Puppy farms: How to spot irresponsible breeders
Last week Love Island’s Molly Mae and Tommy Fury posted photos of their new pomeranian puppy from Russia, Mr Chai. But just a few days later they announced the devastating news that Mr Chai had died following health complications.
And it’s an all too common problem, when dogs from puppy farms are sold to unsuspecting families.
Vet Dr Scott Miller joins us to make sure you know how to spot the signs of a reputable breeder if you’re thinking of getting a pet, alongside Sadee Slater - the victim of an irresponsible breeder.
What to look out for when buying a dog:
- You should always meet both parents.
- A responsible breeder will be able to tell you about their lineage, the breed and any pre-existing conditions - there should also be paperwork with this information.
- In the UK you can take a puppy home at 8 weeks old after their first vaccination has been done, no earlier.
- Look at the conditions of where they live - is it clean, spacious? How is the dog behaving?
- Look out for sellers who sell multiple breeds. A breeder should be a specialist in their field.
Is adoption more suitable?
- If you get a dog from a rescue centre, it might not be a puppy but on the other hand you haven’t got all the puppy training to do.
- The centre will be able to tell you so much about the dog and its history.
- You are informed of the behavioral and health problems and will ensure it's the right dog for you and your family.
- There is no huge cost, most centres just ask for a donation to the centre.