What to Look for When Choosing a Puppy
Choose the Right Breed for Your Lifestyle
Before falling in love with a photograph, think carefully about the adult dog that puppy will become.
Consider the breed's size, exercise requirements, temperament, grooming needs and how well it will fit into your family and everyday life
Look Beyond the Puppy
A responsible breeder should be happy to tell you about the puppy's parents, their temperaments and the relevant health testing that has been carried out.
Meeting the mother is particularly important. She should appear comfortable, well cared for and have the temperament you would hope to see in your future dog.
Ask About Health Testing
Health testing is about much more than simply having a puppy checked by a vet.
Different breeds can be affected by different inherited conditions, so responsible breeders carry out the appropriate health tests on their breeding dogs before planning a litter.
Don't be afraid to ask which tests have been completed and to see the results.
Find Out How the Puppies Have Been Raised
Those first few weeks of a puppy's life are incredibly important.
Ask where the puppies have been raised and what they have experienced. Good early socialisation, gentle handling, everyday household sounds and plenty of human interaction all help prepare a puppy for life with its new family.
Temperament Matters
It can be very tempting to choose the prettiest puppy in the litter, but temperament is every bit as important.
A good breeder will have spent many hours watching the puppies develop and should be able to help match an individual puppy's personality to the right family.
Sometimes the puppy that first catches your eye isn't necessarily the puppy that will suit you best.
Choose Your Breeder as Carefully as Your Puppy
A responsible breeder should ask you questions too.
They will want to know about your home, family, lifestyle and previous experience with dogs because finding the right home for each puppy should matter enormously to them.
You should never feel pressured into making a quick decision or taking a puppy simply because one is available.
Think About the Years Ahead
Puppies grow up remarkably quickly.
Before bringing one home, ask yourself whether you can provide the time, training, exercise, veterinary care and companionship that dog will need throughout its life.
At Chezza’s, our puppies are bred first and foremost to become much-loved family companions. Health, temperament and type are at the heart of our breeding programme, and finding the right home for each puppy is every bit as important as breeding the puppy itself.
Choosing a puppy shouldn't simply be about finding a puppy that's available today.
It should be about finding the right puppy, from the right breeder, for a lifetime together.