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Puppy Advice

How to get a dog

You’ve decided to get a dog – but how do you go about it and where should you go to get one? It all depends on whether you are planning to adopt a dog or get a puppy.

Relaxed golden retriever dog being petted in new home

Reasons to adopt a dog

There are always plenty of dogs looking for new homes. Many are no longer wanted by or able to be cared for by their owners. Others may have been rescued from environments where they were not being cared for.

It can feel very rewarding to adopt a dog and give them a second chance in a loving new home. If you are leaning towards getting a puppy, don’t forget to check out adoption centres or breed rescue societies.

Find dog rescue centres

There are many dog rehoming centres to choose from. This includes the larger charities such as Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, RSPCA, SSPCA and the USPCA – as well as local rescue organisations. Do your homework first and read reviews from other adopters to find a good rescue organisation. A good starting place is Rescue Review – a website where people can leave reviews about their adoption experience.

Reasons to buy a puppy

Many people love the idea of getting a puppy, and who wouldn’t when they are so adorable. But be prepared for a lot of work! If you decide to get a puppy you may get more choice over the breed or type. Beware of puppy scams – sadly lots of people are more interested in making money than breeding happy, healthy puppies.

Find a puppy for sale in your area

Do your homework to find a reputable breeder. Sadly there are dodgy dog breeders who are more interested in your money than finding loving homes for their puppies. A great starting point is to search for a breeder using the Puppy Culture program. Once you find a breeder you feel comfortable with, you may still have to wait a while for your puppy. A good breeder won’t necessarily have puppies available for you to take home straight away. If they do, this could be a warning sign. Here’s five things to look for when buying a puppy:

  • They have been bred and raised in a family home.
  • You can see the puppy with its mother in the place where it was born.
  • The puppy is used to being handled and brushed, is happy having their ears and paws touched, and has been introduced to different people other than the breeder.
  • They are confident and inquisitive and interested in you and their surroundings.
  • The puppy will be microchipped and wormed before going to their new home.

Play it safe and use the Puppy Contract. A good dog breeder will be happy to provide information about your puppy and use the contract. If they won’t do this, it’s best to walk away.

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Monty

Testimonials

What Clients say
about Puppy School

  • “Absolutely loved going to puppy school each week. Alice was always helpful and approachable. Monty has learned so much and I feel we now understand how he learns better for future training. ”
    —   Malik
  • “The training was invaluable in helping me to ensure Toby developed new skills as he grew into the confident, well behaved pup that he is. The training taught me how to be a successful puppy parent, and we are both looking forward to starting puppy college. ”
    —   Mary
  • “Great class, enjoyed the group setting, good venue and friendly knowledgeable trainer. Taught puppy and owner loads, really enjoyed and would highly recommend to anyone getting a puppy!”
    —   Richard
  • “Big compliments to Claire! The way she just understands the dogs and being able to explain that has been a game changer. Her knowledge and expertise makes her a great puppy/dog trainer. I am already recommending Claire to everyone! She loves what she does and that shows. Would recommend to everyone with a puppy :)”
    —   Emily
  • “Sarah was great and very knowledgeable. She took the time to listen to each of our individual queries and was available before and after class (and on email!) to answers any issues or queries we were experiencing with our puppy! ”
    —   Billy