How to Buy a Puppy

Decide whether you are ready to get a puppy. Puppies are adorable and come with cute, fluffy coats, but they also demand a lot of attention and care, often more than expected. Bringing a puppy into your home when you’re not prepared or lack the time and responsibility to care for it can be a mistake for both you and the dog. You should ask yourself and answer honestly whether now is the right time for you to buy a puppy.

• Do I have enough time to clean, train, and care for the puppy? Puppies require a lot of attention. While some breeds may demand less than others, you’ll still need to allocate sufficient time to care for your puppy.
• Can I afford the expenses associated with caring for a puppy? It’s a well-known fact that raising a puppy can be costly. You'll need to budget for essential supplies like food, collars, toys, and bedding, as well as regular vet visits and unexpected costs.
• Does anyone in my household have an allergy to dogs? If you live with multiple people, it’s important to check if anyone is allergic to dogs or dislikes having pets around.

Choosing the Right Dog Breed: It’s important to research various breeds and their characteristics (for example, small dogs with a calm temperament, etc.) to ensure they align with your lifestyle. You can take an online quiz on AKC (http://www.akc.org/find-a-match) to find the perfect puppy. Dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments, and selecting the wrong breed can lead to complications if they aren’t suited for indoor living. Key factors to consider include living environment (apartment versus house) and work schedule (fixed hours versus frequent travel).

Setting a Budget for Your Puppy’s Expenses: Beyond the initial purchase price, make sure to account for ongoing costs like food, toys, grooming, and vet visits. This way, you'll know exactly how much you’ll spend monthly on your new furry friend. Depending on breed and size, monthly puppy expenses can range from 500,000 VND to 1 million VND during the first year. Don’t forget about additional costs for accessories like collars, leashes, ID tags, and treats. Puppies from breeders are typically more expensive than those from animal shelters.

Preparing Your Home: Your home may not yet be fully ready for a new addition. Similar to childproofing, you need to rearrange to keep your puppy safe. For instance, you can hide trash cans or place them out of your puppy’s reach. Additionally, installing childproof locks on cabinets is crucial if your puppy tries to explore. Other safety tips include securing electrical cords and keeping harmful substances like medications, cleaning supplies, and antifreeze out of reach.

Choosing a Veterinarian: During the first year, you’ll need to visit the vet frequently, or at least once a year once your puppy turns one. It’s essential to find a vet that you feel comfortable with. Instead of searching for vet offices online, ask local breeders, fellow dog owners, or pet stores for recommendations.

Research Your Favorite Dog Breed Online: If you already have a specific breed in mind, search online to find which animal shelters are currently fostering puppies available for adoption. Websites like Petfinder.org list puppies and adult dogs from hundreds of shelters, allowing you to filter by breed, size, gender, and age to find the perfect dog. After identifying a match, contact the shelter directly to start the adoption process.

Visit Local Animal Shelters: If you haven't decided on a breed yet, visiting a local shelter is a great way to meet puppies in person. While there, gather information about their history and behavior, and observe how they are cared for in the shelter environment. Shelters can be stressful for dogs due to noise, crowded conditions, and high activity, which may affect their behavior. Staff should inform you if any behavioral issues are present.

Don’t Hesitate to Ask Questions: Asking questions at animal shelters is just as important as doing so at a breeder’s. Inquire about the dog’s background (e.g., whether they were a stray or surrendered by an owner), and ask how long the dog has been at the shelter to help you make an informed decision. It’s also essential to learn about the dog’s health history and behavioral traits while at the shelter, as their behavior may change once they settle into your home.

Understand the Adoption Process: Keep in mind that you may not be able to adopt a puppy the same day you visit an animal shelter or rescue group. Typically, staff will conduct an interview to provide you with information on the dog’s history and basic medical details. They will also assess your home environment to ensure it is suitable for the puppy. In addition to the interview and home check, you’ll need to complete the necessary paperwork and pay an adoption fee, usually ranging from 500,000 VND to 1 million VND.

Don’t Lose Hope: Sometimes, local shelters or rescue groups may not have the specific breed you are looking for. However, these shelters often receive new animals regularly, so you won’t have to wait long before finding the perfect puppy for you.

Learn about various breeding facilities. Not all breeding facilities are well-known, so it's important to do your research and avoid certain ones when purchasing a puppy. One type of breeding facility is a hobbyist breeding facility, where breeders usually have extensive knowledge about each dog breed and invest significant time and effort to select healthy, optimal puppies. These breeders typically only breed one or two litters a year.

• Regular breeders often lack expertise in the breed and are mainly focused on making extra profit. Avoid purchasing puppies from such breeders.
• Commercial breeding facilities often produce a large number of puppies from several breeds annually. These facilities can have varying levels of quality, and not all commercial breeders provide VKC registration papers. Puppies sold in pet stores are often sourced from these kinds of facilities.

Find a responsible breeder. It's essential to consult veterinarians and dog breed organizations to identify reputable breeders known for caring for their dogs meticulously. A good breeder typically focuses on just a few breeds and has strong ties with veterinarians or local animal associations. You can also search for breeder information online.

• Responsible breeders will inquire about your reasons for getting a dog, who will be caring for it, and where it will be kept. They don't just accept money and hand over the puppy.

Visit the breeding facility. Never buy a puppy from a breeder without visiting the breeding facility. Before purchasing a puppy, you should see where it lives, along with its siblings and parents. A responsible breeder will encourage you to visit their facility to ensure you're completely satisfied with the environment where the puppies are raised.

Ask the breeder plenty of questions. Purchasing a puppy from a breeder is often costly, so you need to ensure that the breeder is honest, knowledgeable, and ethical. Here are a few questions you can ask the breeder: How are the puppies raised and socialized? How do they select potential buyers? What is the breeding process like? Have the parents been tested for hereditary diseases?

• You can also inquire about the number of puppies in each litter and their veterinary care (vaccinations, deworming, etc.).
• Request documentation of medical care, microchipping, and handling any breed-specific behavior issues or illnesses.
• Don't hesitate to ask questions. A well-known breeder will be happy to answer any inquiries you have about them and their dogs.
• Be prepared to answer questions like why you want a puppy and how you plan to care for it. A dedicated breeder will be concerned about the health of the dogs they breed. Building a good relationship with the breeder ensures you can reach out if you have any questions after adopting the puppy or want to verify the breed in the future.

Register the certificate with the Vietnam Kennel Club (VKC). Additionally, you are required to sign a sales contract. If you want to prove whether the dog is purebred or crossbred, you need to provide documentation to the VKC confirming your legal ownership. However, it’s important to note that VKC documentation only certifies the breed of the dog's parents and is not responsible for ensuring the dogs are bred correctly.

• Be cautious of breeders trying to sell puppies solely based on the presence of breed documentation.

Avoid puppy mills! These types of breeding facilities are infamous for producing large numbers of puppies in poor conditions. The breeders running these mills are mainly concerned with profit and lack proper knowledge of responsible breeding. Dogs born in such environments often face genetic problems, leading to physical and mental health issues that may not be noticeable immediately.

• When visiting a breeder, examine the conditions closely. If the dogs look unclean, malnourished, or unhealthy, avoid purchasing from that breeder.
• If the breeder refuses to show you their entire operation, they may be hiding poor breeding practices.
• If the breeder seems indifferent to the puppy after it is sold, they could be operating a puppy mill.
• Beware of breeders claiming they have bred large numbers of purebred dogs or 'mating' breeds, as they may be dishonest and running a puppy mill. These puppies are often not purebred or properly bred.
• If you suspect a breeder is running a puppy mill, report them to local authorities.

Think carefully before purchasing a puppy from a pet store. These stores may source their puppies from breeding facilities. Be sure to ask the store staff about the puppy's origin and inquire about the breeder they reference. If you plan to buy a puppy from a pet store, ensure it comes from a reputable animal shelter or breeder with a good reputation.

Perform a health check. Puppies are generally ready to go to their new homes between eight and twelve weeks old, as this is when they are fully weaned, able to eat solid food, and have received their first vaccinations. While a puppy may appear healthy at first, a closer inspection might reveal some abnormalities. If you notice signs of illness, reconsider adopting the puppy. The best way to perform a health check is to carefully examine the puppy from head to tail.

• Inspect the puppy’s body thoroughly. If you're unsure how to do this, ask the breeder or shelter staff to guide you through the process.
• Check the puppy’s head. The nose should be cool and moist with no discharge. The gums should be pink and healthy. The eyes should be bright and clear with black pupils. The ears should be clean and positioned according to the breed’s standards.
• Place your hand on the puppy’s chest to check its heart rate. If you notice an irregular heartbeat, it could indicate a heart issue that requires veterinary attention.
• Inspect the coat. If the puppy is purebred, the coat should reflect the breed’s distinctive features and be shiny and smooth without bald spots.
• Examine the puppy’s legs. Its limbs should be straight and properly aligned, with no deformities (such as bowing or crookedness). You may want to request that the breeder or a veterinarian perform a detailed orthopedic examination.

Understand the temperament. Whether purchasing a puppy from an animal shelter or a breeding facility, it's important to take time to assess their personality before making a decision. For instance, observe how a litter of puppies plays. Puppies from the same litter often have different temperaments, so you'll want to select the one that suits you best.

• The ideal puppy is active and playful. Choose a puppy that enjoys playing and is full of energy but is not overly aggressive toward the others.
• Avoid selecting a puppy that is overly aggressive or excessively shy.

Play with the puppy to see if it's a good match. Spend plenty of time with the chosen puppy before making your final decision. If the puppy appears timid or tucks its tail between its legs when you approach, it may not be the best choice. If you like the puppy's personality but are unsure if it will get along with other pets or family members, consider fostering it for a few days before making a commitment.

• Remember, puppies can also choose their owners. The puppy you’re considering is likely observing whether it feels comfortable around you.