What to Do When Buying a Puppy

What First?

Well, before you even choose to bring your new puppy home, you have to check that he is well. Many puppies have not been cared for in the way that they should be and as such they end up with diseases before they’re even taken to their new home.

You can avoid all of this by doing the following checks:

• Check the puppy’s eyes. Are they weepy? Are they dull and lifeless? Do they have an off colored discharge? If any of these apply your puppy is probably unwell. Don’t confuse “sleep” with illness. Sometimes puppies have residue from being asleep an it can sometimes be a greenish yellow color. That doesn’t mean they’re ill-just sleepy.
• Check the puppy’s coat. Is it shiny and healthy looking? Or is it dull and stuck up in places? Check under the fur for dandruff or skin disorders such as eczema. It’s not a problem if the puppy has eczema but it’s best to know about it in advance.
• Also do a quick check for fleas! The last thing you want is to end up with a flea infested house when you get home! Check behind the ears and in the neck creases, also along the top of the leg near the tummy. These places are warm and that’s where you’ll find fleas.
• Check the mouth and ears. If there is a problem-you’ll know! Either there will be a discolored wax/discharge or a foul smell that will alert your sense immediately.
• Finally, check the puppy’s vital signs and responses. We all know that puppies should be alert and playful. If the puppy has just woken up it may take a couple of minutes for him to come around but if after a while the puppy is still lethargic or reluctant to play then the likelihood is that something is wrong.

What Next?

If you have children or other pets, you need to see what the puppy is like around them. Ask the current owners what experiences the puppies have had around other pets and children. If there have been any problems so far and if so how did they deal with them.

You will also need to find out what food they have been fed to date and continue to feed them he same way until it is time to increase their amount. The guidance of a vet is best because they will be able to advise you of the best course of action that is relevant to your puppy.

Bear in mind that the majority of puppies contract some form of worms following the birth. This is because the mother carries them in her milk and it is passed onto the puppies whilst they are feeding. This is normal and the worms can be treated with several courses of medication. Again, your vet can advise you of which type to give your puppy based on his age, weight, appetite and type of worm.

If your puppy is pedigree he will come with relevant documents which confirm this. If you are not offered paperwork, ask for it. It should be from the Kennel club and state that the puppy is KC registered with the details of previous generations in the puppy’s family.

This is a good sign that your puppy has come from extremely good breeding and as such will be healthier for it. It doesn’t mean that a dog without a pedigree is not a good dog to have, KC registering sets the standard for the crème de la crème amongst the puppies in the country.

Now on to the niceties. You will need to make sure that you have a comfortable bed, toys, collar and lead, blankets and a constant supply of newspaper. (Obviously you’ll need food too!)

Be prepared for whining during the night for the first couple of weeks. Not just a little whinge, a lot of moaning, whinging an whining until the early hours of the morning. This is because the puppy will miss his mother and the rest of the litter. It’s only natural but it can get quite irritating!

Bear with your puppy and be reassured by the fact that he will settle down within a few weeks. This is normal and unfortunately something you have to grin and bear for a while.

DO NOT under any circumstances take your puppy out of the house for a walk. Your puppy will need to be vaccinated against the parvo virus amongst many other diseases before you can take him out.

Vaccinations aren’t expensive, usually costing around thirty pound each. (Your puppy will need two or three at separate intervals.) Remember that you will also need to pay for several courses of medication to get rid of the worms and to prevent them from becoming a problem.

You may have to clean up some poops with worms in but that’s a sign that they’re dying and are going away. Your puppy may seem very hungry if he has worms. Don’t feed him any more than he usually has because you are just feeding the worms and they will be harder to get rid of. Don’t reduce the food either, keep it at the same level and continue with the medication until they’re gone.