2019 New York Pet Fashion Show

When you want to get a new pet, y'all have many resource, ranging from rescue groups and shelters to breeders and family and friends. If you're looking for a specific breed of animal or an brute with a known background, you may want to piece of work with a breeder. However, because purebred puppies, kittens, and other animals sometimes come with large price tags, it'south best to do your homework before purchasing your new pet. Here's what you lot need to know when buying a pet from a breeder.

Check the Breeder's References

The well-nigh important first step is to notice a breeder with an first-class reputation. If you lot know someone who purchased an animate being from a breeder and had a pleasant feel, start there. If not, the American Kennel Club (AKC) website has a Puppyfinder Marketplace that provides a list AKC registered puppies.

The AKC likewise has programs breeders tin enroll in — Breeder of Merit and Bred with H.East.A.R.T. — to verify they utilise only healthy practices when raising new pups. Finally, when you find a breeder who interests you, inquire for two references from people who take purchased animals from them in the last year. A quality breeder is more than willing to provide this information.

The adjacent thing you want to practice is meet the breeder in person, preferably at the breeder's home or the facility where he or she raises the animals. This gives yous an opportunity to bank check out weather to make sure you aren't buying from someone who mistreats animals or keeps them in unhealthy or unsafe environments. Arrive prepared with a list of questions for the breeder well-nigh the facility'due south practices. Over again, a proficient breeder is willing to respond any and all questions, bear witness you around and let you spend some fourth dimension at their home.

Meet the Puppies (or Other Babies) and Their Parents

If the puppies (or kittens or other baby animals) are already born when you visit, enquire if you can meet them. Even if they aren't old plenty to leave their parents but yet, y'all can become an adorable sneak peek. Spending time with the animals helps you become to know their personalities and decide if a detail brood or fifty-fifty ane particular animal is a good lucifer for you. Enquire to spend time with the puppies' parents also to gain some insight into what your little guy or girl could exist similar as an adult. Puppies and kittens grow up and typically live anywhere from ten to twenty years, and that adds upward to a lot of time together.

Avoid Pet Shops, Online Ads and Puppy Mills

Sadly, not all breeders use safe and good for you convenance practices, and that puts the animals in their intendance at risk for having health problems that could exist deadly or atomic number 82 to thousands of dollars in vet intendance. Beginning, avoid shopping for a pet on classified sites like Craigslist. Reputable breeders don't advertise on the site. Additionally, avoid pet shops, every bit the care and heritage of these animals is sometimes questionable. Puppy mills are as well a concern.

Beware of breeders who advertise online and promise to send y'all a puppy without ever meeting you. Similarly, if a breeder wants to meet y'all in a grocery store parking lot, the animal is probable from a puppy manufacturing plant or equally horrendous identify.

Become a Medical and Behavioral History

Finally, afterward settling on a breed, a reputable breeder and perhaps even a specific animate being, get to know more about the brood and the puppy's parents. Does the brood take a history of medical problems? How long does the breed unremarkably live? Practise these animals get forth well with children and other pets? Visit the babies as often every bit you can until your pet is old plenty to accept home, and exist sure to take your children so they can get to know their new pet besides. You don't want unpleasant surprises when you bring your new pet home. That'south not the time to learn your daughter is agape of dogs or the pet requires more time than yous have to requite during the day.