Buying a puppy safely and responsibly.

Choose the breed before choosing the puppy

Start with the realities of adult dog ownership rather than choosing mainly on appearance. A puppy grows quickly and its exercise, grooming, training and veterinary needs can remain with you for well over a decade.

• Research adult size, temperament, exercise and grooming requirements.
• Consider your working hours, housing, children, other pets and access to suitable outdoor space.
• Budget for food, insurance, routine veterinary care, training, equipment and unexpected treatment.
• Research breed-specific health conditions and recommended health testing for the parents.

Ask the seller detailed questions

A responsible breeder or seller should be willing to answer sensible questions and should usually ask you questions too. They should care about where the puppy is going and whether your home is suitable.

• Ask the puppy's date of birth, sex, current weight and veterinary history.
• Ask who bred the litter and why the litter was bred.
• Ask about the mother's health, temperament and previous litters.
• Ask what socialisation the puppy has received and what noises, people and environments it has experienced.
• Where applicable, ask for the breeder's local-authority licence details.

Always meet the puppy in person

Visit the place where the puppy has been raised. For a puppy bred by the seller, you should normally be able to see it interacting naturally with its biological mother and, where still present, its littermates.

Check the puppy carefully

• Look for clear eyes, comfortable breathing and a clean, healthy-looking coat.
• Watch how the puppy walks, plays and interacts with people and other dogs.
• Check that the environment is clean, appropriate and gives the dogs enough space.
• Do not ignore coughing, discharge, extreme lethargy, obvious pain or serious fearfulness.

Check the paperwork

Documents should support what the seller has told you. Where possible, verify important information independently rather than relying only on photographs or screenshots.

• Confirm the microchip number and ensure ownership details can be transferred correctly.
• Review vaccination, worming and veterinary records.
• Check relevant health-test results for the parents.
• Verify licensing information with the issuing local authority where licensing applies.
• Obtain a written receipt or agreement recording the puppy, seller, buyer and amount paid.

Never let urgency replace your checks

Walk away if the seller becomes aggressive, refuses reasonable checks, changes their story or demands immediate payment. Missing out on one puppy is far better than supporting poor welfare, illegal breeding or fraud.