Where to buy puppies

How and where to buy a puppy or adult dog

There are so many places you can buy puppies nowadays. But not all places that sell dogs are good places to purchase a pup!

Once upon a time, all you had to do to get a dog was go down to your pet store and ask 'How much is that doggy in the window?'

These days, there's much more choice. You can get puppies from:

• pet stores
• pet shelters, council pounds and rescue organisations
• registered breeders
• classified advertisements, online or even from a friend.

So many choices!

But your choice will be easier if you eliminate any possibility of supporting puppy mills. This means going to a registered breeder or choosing to adopt a puppy.

Why avoid puppy mills? There's many frightening and horrible statistics about puppy mills (puppy farms) that mean you won't want to support their activities when you buy puppies - even by accident.

Pet stores - and puppy mills

The best place to buy a dog is from a pet shop, right?

Wrong!

Whatever you do, please don't buy puppies from a pet shop!

Yes, the puppies look very cute sitting in their glass cages but do you know where they come from?

Most of the puppies sold in pet stores around the world are from puppy mills (puppy farms). 

Puppy mills breed hundreds of dogs every year, churning out puppies from their bitches until the poor dogs are tired out. Sometimes the dogs are kept in appalling conditions. Bitches past breeding age are often dumped and another lot bought cheaply (often from backyard breeders) to start the cycle all over again. 

Puppy farmers care only about how much money they can get for a cute-looking pup - they don't care about the health and well-being of their dogs and bitches and they certainly never do health testing to make sure they breed only from genetically sound dogs.

There are many terrible and shocking stories from around the world about puppy mills.

Do your research and don't buy puppies from
these cruel and heartless people.
Try puppy adoption or a registered breeder instead!

Pet shops also often get their puppies from backyard breeders. Sometimes these may be purebred dogs and the pet shop may even sell you 'papers' that show that the dog is a 'registered' purebred - and charge you a hefty price for them.

Beware! These 'papers' are often worthless - to be a 'registered purebred' a dog must have a pedigree that is stamped by your country's kennel council. 

Pet shops rely on impulse buys: 'Oh, let's buy a puppy - they look so cute!' Never buy puppies on impulse. Remember that it is a live being that needs care and attention for many years - not just today while it's looking cute!

So please don't buy a puppy from a pet shop. Consider puppy adoption instead or visit a genuine registered breeder.

Here's a very important video for all puppy buyers to watch.
Please take a look if you're planning to buy a new puppy!

Thanks to the RSPCA (UK) for this link.

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Pet shelters, dog pounds and dog rescue

If you want to buy a puppy adopt one today!

When you adopt a puppy from a pet shelter, council dog pound or dog rescue organisation, you'll be saving the life of a dog who has fallen on hard times. You will even save some money!

It's a sad fact that animal shelters and pounds across the world are often full to overflowing with puppies and dogs that nobody wants.

To find out more about the cheapest and best way to buy dogs, visit our Puppy adoption page.

SHARE your Puppy Adoption tale! Have you adopted a dog or puppy? Want to tell us all about it, - and share a photo too? Join our Puppy Adoption Tales and share your story!

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Registered breeders

If you want to be really sure about what the puppy you're buying will look like and want a good idea of its temperament, buy a purebred dog.

If you've decided you would prefer a particular breed, and you've considered puppy adoption but you can't find what you want at a shelter or dog pound, the best place to buy puppies is from a registered breeder.

Registered breeders are registered with the kennel club in their country to be breeders of purebred dogs.

A registered breeder can provide a certificate of registration showing the puppy's pedigree.

A registered breeder should test either their dogs before breeding or the puppies for inherited health problems such as hip dysplasia, eye disorders, blood disease or heart defects.

Registered puppy breeders are generally passionate about the breed of dog they have chosen and will provide lots of information to any prospective buyer. Some will even take back a puppy if you find it doesn't suit!

The best way to find out about purebred puppy breeds is to go to a dog show and have a look at the different breeds.

You'll also be able to talk to breeders about their dogs and get an idea of what the dog's temperament is like and what it will be like to care for.

When you go out to buy a dog, it's a good idea to take along a list of questions to ask puppy breeders. These questions will be useful even if you do decide to adopt a dog instead.

But aren't registered breeders expensive?

Not necessarily. In fact, you'll sometimes pay less for a well-bred dog from a registered breeder than you will from a pet shop. Most registered breeders breed for love, not money!

But it also depends on what breed of dog you want to buy and what you want it for. 

Breeders will usually charge more if you want to buy the original registration papers with your pup. But you'll only need these if you want to win prizes with your dog at purebred dog shows. Otherwise, the breeder will just give you a copy of the papers.

If you just want a pet that has all the good qualities of its breed but won't win any dog show prizes, you'll pay less.

Some registered breeders are a bit snobby, aren't they?

Well, some might be ... but if you come across one you don't like, don't buy puppies from them! There are plenty of registered breeders out there who love to talk about their breed and are happy to help new owners. 

So shop around and phone or visit a number of breeders before you make your mind up. And if you still can't find a breeder you like - well, there's always puppy adoption!

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Classified ads, online, friends

Be careful if you want to buy puppies through classified advertisements, online or from a friend. It's easy to accidentally support puppy mills this way.

If the advertisement or friend is a registered breeder, that's fine but beware of buying a puppy online. 

Some good registered breeders will advertise online but there are many puppy mills who use the internet to sell large numbers of puppies quickly. 

If possible, go and visit the breeder after you've read their ad and made enquiries. Check to see whether they are registered breeders. Ask to see the parents of your pup - that way you won't get ripped off and you won't accidentally support puppy mills.

Even better, consider puppy adoption and visit your local shelter, council pound or dog rescue organisation.

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So how do I buy puppies?

First of all, start by choosing a dog breed, keeping in mind your lifestyle and needs (don't forget to to check whether you're ready to buy a puppy first).

Then research the different puppy breeds to find out what sort of dog you want and what you can afford to look after. Think about the time you have available to put into raising a puppy as well as the money it will cost.

Then do your research and either visit your local shelter or pound or look around for good registered breeders. Don't forget to look for people who foster or rescue dogs too.

And make sure you have everything ready for bringing home a new puppy!

Do think carefully about where to go to buy puppies and choose a place that puts the best interests of the puppies first.