If you decide to get a dog, you are far from being the only one. But before you take this step, there are a few things you need to be sure of. For example, you need to be sure that you can afford it financially, that your dog has enough space in your home and living environment, and that you have enough time and opportunities to accept all the consequences that come with taking care of a dog.
Getting your dog - often still a puppy - represents a very important moment. What should you pay attention to with a new puppy?
Breeder
The most logical way to buy a puppy is through a dog breeder. However, the quality and reliability of breeders vary considerably. So the key is to find a dog breeder you can trust. That will increase your chances of getting a strong, healthy dog many times over. Take the time to find a quality breeder, something you could do by checking the breed associations of your favorite dog breed(s). Then partner with a breeder who has a registration number and a certificate of competence.
Age
The time when you buy and take home a puppy is also important. It is generally considered ideal to bring a puppy seven to nine weeks after birth. Earlier is not recommended, as for the first few weeks, a puppy still needs the security of its litter. A little later than nine weeks after birth is possible, but later than three months is undesirable, as the settling-in period with you in your home may become significantly longer.
Chip and registration
Puppies should be microchipped and registered within seven weeks of birth. It is strongly recommended to take a puppy it can be shown that this has happened. After all, this says something about the reliability and quality of the breeder you are dealing with. Unchipped and unregistered dogs are often treated worse by often unofficial, rogue breeders.
Vaccinations
Puppies should receive three vaccinations during the first three months of life. These vaccinations prevent the dog from contracting serious diseases. Therefore, feel free to let a breeder demonstrate that the puppy in question has had the necessary vaccinations at the time of transfer.
Transmission
Finally, the method of transmission is essential. Here we recommend that you pick up the puppy yourself from the dog breeder. Ideally, you will already have visited this breeder at least once. This way you can see for yourself how a breeder treats his or her dogs. Do you have a good feeling about it and does the breeder come across as professional? Then that, in addition to all the points described above, is a big plus.