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.
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.
- Read more about how to adopt a dog
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.
- Read more about how to pick a puppy from a litter
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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Testimonials
What Clients say
about Puppy School
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“Carole definitely knows her stuff. She took the time to get to know each dog throughout the course which benefited us greatly. Using each dog for a demonstration as well as coming round and making sure we weren’t struggling. Giving us hints and tips for Maisy especially since she is part kangaroo and is always 10ft off the ground! Tailoring each exercise to the dog so we can maximise training and our pups mind!”— Trevor
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“Frankie was amazing, absolutely loved going every week and so did Riley. We learnt so much in such a lovely and fun atmosphere!”— Jane
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“We are very grateful to Pen for helping us through a testing period with Zef, our boisterous 5-month-old labradoodle puppy, who was mouthy and jumpy and had difficulty settling.”— Wendy
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“I couldn't fault it! Debbie was brilliant from start to finish and I have already seen such a massive difference in Honey and her training. ”— Steve
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“This course was fantastic. Jenny the trainer has a wealth of knowledge. Extremely approachable, and gave sound advice to our queries. She really knows her stuff. The groups size was just perfect, which meant each pup was not overwhelmed. I would recommend the course and definitely recommend Jenny. She was brilliant.”— June