Getting a new puppy is one of the most exciting things you can do and now more than ever with people spending time at home, many have thought this is a great time to get a puppy. So, as well as getting the practical side of everything ready – the food, finding a good vet and even searching for designer dog collars to make sure that your new pup has the best of everything, something that many people are not aware of is the fact that you need to do a lot of research into where you actually get your pup from.

With such a boom in demand for puppies, prices have risen sky high which has encouraged even more unethical puppy breeding practices that hoodwink customers who are none the wiser. Because of their poor standards and low regard for animal welfare these places often churn out unhealthy puppies who are not well socialised which can cause all kinds of heartbreak.

So, what are the best ways to avoid being a customer of one of these types of people? The first thing to do is look at the kennel club list of breeders. These are breeders who have to meet the kennel club standards and are far more likely to be putting the heath of the dogs and puppies above profits, as they also will be required to health test all of their animals for hereditary disorders that are common in some breeds.