Before you decide
Rescue, adoption & responsible buying
Take enough time to understand both the dog and the organisation or person placing them.
In this guide / 5 chapters
Start with rescue conversations
Ask what is known about medical history, handling, time alone, toilet habits and life with children or pets. Ask what is unknown too. Meet the dog more than once if possible and discuss ongoing support and the return process. Kennel behaviour may differ from behaviour after settling at home.
Questions for a breeder
Visit where the puppy lives and see them with their mother and littermates. Ask for age, microchip documents, vaccination and parasite records, parental health results and a written contract. Ask what social experiences they have provided and what support follows collection. Do not accept a vague “vet checked” as evidence of parental screening.
When to step away
Do not agree to a car-park handover, pressure to pay immediately or excuses that prevent seeing the mother. Avoid sellers offering extreme tiny size as a premium feature. “Teacup” is not one of the two recognised coat varieties. Independently verify health paperwork and any applicable council licence. Registration alone is not a health guarantee.
The first practical arrangements
Puppies should not leave before eight weeks. Arrange a prompt veterinary check, ask about insurance start dates and exclusions, and bring the current food to avoid an abrupt change. For an adult rescue, follow the organisation’s settling and introduction advice rather than planning a welcome party.