Looking for a new puppy is so exciting, but it’s easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of fluffy tails and tiny paws. As tempting as it may be to pick up the first pup you see and declare them ‘the one’, you need to get to grips with the formal stuff.

In this checklist you’ll find some of the national laws, health checks and welfare standards to be aware of when you’re dealing with dog breeders in the UK. Guidelines can change from time to time, so it’s a good idea to check the latest rules on the UK Government website (www.gov.uk).

You’ll find many people breeding dogs, but how do you know if they’re responsibly bred puppies? The list below will help get you started. Simply tick your way through this list and support the fight against irresponsible breeding and puppy farmers, while looking for the your perfect pup to join your family home.

Sleeping puppies laying in a bundle

Welfare Standards

When you’re speaking to a breeder with puppies for sale, there are some important questions you should ask to make sure your pup has been brought into the world ethically. Here are some general guidelines from The Kennel Club on what you should look out for:

  • The mum (or ‘dam’) should be one to eight years old.
  • A mama dog shouldn’t have more than four litters during her life.
  • When you’re visiting a litter, make sure you see them with their mum in the place they’re living. This is a precaution against puppy farms and illegal importation.
  • Collect your furry friend when they are eight weeks old, minimum. Any earlier might seem like a good idea, but it could be dangerous to separate the pup from their mum so early.

Don’t be afraid to ask the breeder lots of questions to make sure you’re happy everything is as it should be. Questions like…

  • Are the puppies Kennel Club Registered?
  • Can you see the mother and all the puppies?
  • Have the puppies been socialised with other adult dogs or children?
  • Can you see the parents’ health certificates?
  • What puppy food do they recommend?

When it comes to food, be aware that there are many different viewpoints and the best person to ask about the correct diet for your dog, is your vet. The breeder should provide you with some of the food that the pup has been used to and it’s important to keep them on this initially. If you decide to change their food then it’s important to do this gradually, to avoid an upset tummy. Again, your veterinary team are the best people to advise you on this.

If you’re getting your puppy from a reputable breeder, then they should be more than happy to answer all your questions about your puppy and their parents. Breeders that sell puppies as pets on a regular basis have to be licensed.

The local authority carries out inspections and will make sure the breeder adheres to certain conditions and restrictions. This ensures high welfare standards and ultimately happy, healthy puppies. Assured breeders that are KC registered can be found on The Kennel Club website. Alternatively, contact your local council for a list of licensed breeders in your area.

Be aware that good breeders may have a waiting list, meaning you might have to wait a bit longer to bring your puppy home.

Health Checks

Health checks are compulsory for every pup before they leave their breeder and go to their new home:

  • Every pup should be wormed, vet-checked and microchipped before they’re sold.
  • Parents and pups should also be checked for conditions common to that dog breed, such as deafness in Dalmatians or progressive retinal atrophy in Dachshunds for example. 
  • All health checks should be supported by signed paperwork.
  • Pups can have their first round of vaccinations at between six and eight weeks, depending on your vet’s practice. Their second vaccination should be at around 10-12 weeks. Find out more about buying a puppy here.
Puppy nestled in a bed

Legal Stuff

Our canine pals are legally protected under a number of laws and policies, including the Animal Welfare Act 2006. These laws are pretty lengthy - trust us, we’ve read them – so here’s the main information you need to know in bite-size chunks:

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 states that owners must provide the following 5 welfare needs:  

  1. Need for a suitable environment.
  2. Need for a suitable diet.
  3. Need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns.
  4. Need to be housed with, or apart from, other animals.
  5. Need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

As well as these, you need to be aware of the following regulations:

  • Tail docking is illegal unless it’s for medical purposes or if you’ve got a working dog. If your dog is a working dog and they need to have their tail docked, you will need to give your vet evidence of this before they’ll consider performing the operation.
  • Puppies must be microchipped before they’re eight weeks old. A reputable breeder will get their puppies microchipped when they take them to be vet-checked. When you collect your fur ball from the breeder make sure they give you a microchip certificate.
  • When you get your puppy home you must update the microchip with your home address. This will need to be done with the database that the microchip is registered to. There are over 20 databases that meet government standards. You’re responsible for keeping the details on your dog’s microchip up to date throughout its life, for example if you move house or if you change your telephone number.

When you take your pup home, remember it’s a legal requirement in the UK that your dog be safely secured in the car. This can be via a seatbelt harness, a carry box, or behind a dog guard in the back of the car. It’s important to keep you and your pup safe in an accident and you could be breaking the law if you don’t have your dog safely secured in the car.

As your dog gets bigger and heads out and about in the world, it will also be your responsibility to ensure they are well socialized and friendly. It’s against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control and there can be consequences for the owner, and the dog if they’re not under control.

If you need help with your dog’s behaviour your vet will be able to recommend a veterinary behaviourist in your area. The best time to start training is when they’re young, but it’s never too late!

Learning about the formal bits might not be as fun as cooing over puppy photos, but it’s really important for the safety of your dog and other dogs across the country. Now you know which questions to ask, which health checks are compulsory and what to look out for in a responsible breeder, you can get your new pup knowing they’ve come from a safe home, and that you’ve supported an ethical breeder too.

Everypaw Dog Insurance

Everypaw's Dog Insurance comes with 24/7 unlimited access to vets and vet nurses that can help with your pet's health, care, nutrition and behaviour. So you can rest assured your pup will be well looked after. 

Get a quote
;