Choosing a healthy puppy

Bringing a puppy into your family is a big decision. Taking your time to choose a healthy puppy from a responsible breeder gives you the best start, and helps avoid heartache and vet bills later.

Start with the right breed

Before you look at any puppies, think about which breeds suit your lifestyle. Ask yourself:

• What size of dog do you have room for, indoors and outside?
• How much exercise and grooming can you give?
• Does anyone in your home have allergies?

Then read up on the health problems the breed is known for. This helps you decide whether the breed is still right for you, and what health tests to ask the breeder about. It's also worth getting insurance quotes, as premiums vary between breeds.

Ask your own vet to examine the puppy

Before you commit, consider asking your own vet to examine the puppy. You'll need to arrange this with the breeder and pay for it yourself. A responsible breeder should be happy to agree. If they refuse, or insist on using only their own vet, be cautious and think about looking elsewhere.

Check the puppy's health

When you visit, look for a puppy that is lively, playful and looks well.

• Eyes: should be bright and clear, not sticky or full of discharge.
• Nose: should not be runny.
• Body: puppies are usually well covered. A thin or underweight puppy is a warning sign.
• Cleanliness: the puppy and its bed should be clean and free of faeces and urine.
• Toilet: a puppy with diarrhoea may be unwell.

If a puppy has a runny nose or sticky eyes, err on the side of caution. These can be signs of illness, so ask the breeder to have the puppy checked by a vet before you commit.

Check hearing and sight

Puppies copy each other, so a puppy with poor hearing or sight can be hard to spot in a litter. If you can, see the puppy away from its littermates for a short time.

• Hearing: speak, clap or make an everyday household noise and watch how the puppy reacts.
• Sight: watch how the puppy reacts to light and movement, and how it finds its way around objects. Young puppies are clumsy, so the odd tumble is normal.

Watch temperament and the home

Watch how the puppies play with each other and how they react to their mother and to you. An extremely nervous puppy, or one behaving unusually, may have a problem.

You should always see the mother. If she isn't there, ask why, as this can be a warning sign. She should be relaxed with her litter and alert. The home should be clean, comfortable and suitable for the mother and puppies. If it isn't, the breeder may cut corners elsewhere too.

Vaccinations, worming and flea treatment

Ask the breeder for the vet record showing which vaccinations, worming and flea treatments the puppy has had. Your vet will advise when the rest of the course is due. If you're unsure about any paperwork, you can check it with the vet practice named on it.

Microchipping and the law

Puppies in England, Scotland and Wales must be microchipped by the time they are 8 weeks old, before they go to a new home. Ask for the microchip number and make sure the puppy's details are transferred to you on the database.

In England, Lucy's Law means puppies under 6 months old can't be sold by a third party such as a pet shop or dealer. You must buy directly from the breeder or rehome from a rescue centre. Breeders in England who breed three or more litters in any 12-month period, or who breed and sell puppies as a business, need a licence from their local council, and should show the licence number in their adverts.

Lead with your head, not your heart

It can be very hard to walk away from a puppy that seems unwell or neglected. Caring for a sick puppy is the breeder's responsibility, not the buyer's.

Don't be tempted to take the puppy home to rescue it. Report your concerns to the local council or RSPCA instead. Buying a puppy from a poor breeder, even out of kindness, keeps that trade going.