ASK AN EXPERT

With all your consumer queries I’M thinking about buying a dog for my family. I’m working from home due to the pandemic, so will be available for most of the day but don’t know where to start.

TAKING on a pet can be a big responsibility, so it is important you consider what is involved in caring for them in the long-term before making a final decision.

While you may have a lot of free time at present, as lockdown restrictions ease and you are able to return to work and social activities, you may not have as much time for a dog.

A dog will require regular walks, which may be longer or more frequent depending on the breed and temperament of the dog.

You should carefully research the breed of dog you are considering adopting to ensure suitability.

There are also costs including food as well as insurance and veterinary costs.

These can include regular check-ups, as well as emergency visits, which can be costly and are not always included as a part of pet insurance policies.

If you decide you have the time and resources to take on a dog, you can then search for reputable breeders or adoption centres near you.

You should ensure that any seller is licensed to do so.

Private breeders are also required to have a licence if they breed more than five litters a year – and this may be less in some local authority areas.

You should ensure any dog you intend to purchase or adopt has had all required vaccinations and is microchipped. The seller should be able to provide proof of any vaccinations.

You should ensure you ask the person selling the dog whether there have been any health issues and what the dog’s temperament is like – if it is good with children and other animals, for example.

Puppies cannot be sold until they are at least eight weeks old, and it is always worth requesting to see the puppy with its mother.

If the mother is not present, the puppy may have been born somewhere else, which could be an indication that it has come from a puppy farm or was imported to the UK.

You should also check the conditions the animal is being kept in are clean and well-kept.

Puppies should be alert and active and have a friendly nature. If they appear to be scared or overly tired then this could indicate they have been treated poorly or have a medical condition.

You should be wary of buying animals from someone advertising online, especially dogs, as a lot of the time these will be from puppy farms and are more likely to have behavioural issues or serious medical conditions.

To do your bit to help stop puppy farming and the cruel treatment of animals that are used for breeding, you should look for a registered breeder or consider going to a rescue centre where you can adopt an animal instead.

The Kennel Club has a list of registered dog breeders to choose from www. thekennelclub.org.uk

If you have any concerns about the welfare of an animal, you can report this to the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA). Go to www.scottishspca.org

You should always seriously consider the longterm commitments required before taking on the responsibility of a pet.