Pandemic Puppies

When we buy a puppy, we always think it’s a great idea at the time. After all, who doesn’t want a fluffy bundle of cuteness. But, when is it NOT a good idea? The answer to that is, when it hasn’t been thought through properly.

This past year, the demand for puppies has been higher than it has ever been. People who have been furloughed looking for something to do, or to share their daily exercise with. Parents that are homeschooling, pulling their hair out, wanting to keep the kids occupied at play time. Medically vulnerable people that have to shield at home alone, needing companionship and a reason to get up in the morning, and to get on with their day.

Research from the Kennel Club shows that a quarter of new owners buying a puppy during the pandemic, have done very little research into dog ownership, with some admitting to having done less than 2 hours in total. More than 2 in 5 have bought a puppy to be their Covid companion, and 1 in 4 have admitted they could have inadvertently bought from a puppy farm. This is a worrying statistic! Dogs are stolen every day, with many ending up on a puppy farm to be bred from. Given the high demand for pups and the massive price increase to get one, it’s not surprising that thieves are trying to cash in.

For life not just lockdown

Lockdown is not going to last 10-15 years (hopefully!), but that is how long the average dog’s lifespan is.  That is 10-15 years of responsibility, expense and commitment.

We urge people who are buying a puppy or adopting a dog, not just during the pandemic, but in general, please do your research first!

Tips before buying your pup

Research the breed you are looking to get.

Most people look at pictures of a breed and think they are beautiful, so that must be the dog for them, and many years ago when we got our first pup, I was guilty of this too. 

Look at what the breed was bred to do. Is it a working breed? If so, then it is likely to be high energy, so you better have your walking boots ready, often!  If you and your family are active and enjoy the outdoors, then one of these breeds may be suitable for you, but, if you live a more laid back lifestyle, it might be worth going for a more easy going breed. 

Always remember though, all dogs, large and small, are dogs. They like doing dog things like walking, running, and playing. They want to be part of your “pack”, you are everything to them.

Where’s Mum

Never, ever ever EVER!, buy a puppy unless you have seen it with the mother.  You want to see pup interacting with its mother and its littermates if it has any. If the seller has an excuse why mum can’t be seen, ask to come at a time when she can be seen. If seller won’t let you see mum, then chances are mum is on a puppy farm somewhere living in horrendous conditions, and pup has been shipped to seller for a knockdown price. 

NO MUM, NO SALE.

Items you will need

Get everything you need in advance. 

• Food and water bowlsAsk the breeder what pup is eating, this way you can get some of this food in so pup doesn’t end up with an upset tummy, or ask the breeder for a few days worth of the food so you can change it gradually to the food of your choice.
  
• Blankets
• Chew toys
  make sure these are suitable for the size of your dog.
• Crate
  This is not a necessity, but can come in really useful. Pup can use the crate as his own space, somewhere for them to feel safe. It can be used for down time, and most importantly, as a safe place for pup to be when everyone is out or in bed. Pups chew, and they will chew on anything, including wires, so a crate is a good place for pup to keep safe.
  NEVER USE A CRATE AS A PUNISHMENT TOOL!
  

“We got our dog Nacho neutered, pre covid, with our local vet and noticed some information on sash-tag. So I reached out and spoke to a lovely lady named Sharon who was so informative and really helpful. I can’t recommend this service enough to help prevent dog theft in your local area!”