The expert ’ s view...
Bill Lambert is head of health and welfare at the Kennel Club. He acknowledges that the pandemic has made it difficult for people to see a puppy in the place he or she was born and to develop a relationship with the breeder. “It is more difficult to achieve now than it was when you were going to meet someone, sitting on their sofa, and seeing the whites of their eyes,” he said.
“Of course, we have technology — Zoom and Teams — which enables us to actually see or speak to a breeder over the internet.
“It’s very important that puppy buyers ask the right questions and get as much knowledge as they can.
For example, how many dogs does the breeder have and how long have they been breeding dogs? This will give an indication of whether they’re breeding on a small scale or a large scale, and their level of experience.
“Good breeders will send photos to show where the puppies have been raised. This should identify if they are indoors or outdoors, whether they look like they’re part of the family, and they’re well socialised. You can observe quite a lot from a video call, although admittedly, it is not the same as being there, seeing the puppies, touching them, and having them on your lap.”
Bill advises on being guided by the breeder when it comes to the selection of the pup itself.
“A good breeder should ask you about your circumstances to better understand your needs. I know from a personal perspective that when someone comes to me for a puppy, yes, I will let them have a choice of puppy, but I will often steer them to what I think is the right puppy for them.”