Choosing a Puppy - Which Puppy Is Right For Me? | RSPCA - RSPCA
Choosing the right puppy for you
To choose the right puppy for you and your family, consider the following:
- space – is your home big enough for a large or medium-sized breed?
- garden – do you have a garden or outside space for the dog to play in?
- time – puppies need exercise, training, play and company. However, different breeds need different amounts of your time. Does your lifestyle allow you to offer an active dog breed the time they'll need?
- grooming – consider how much grooming the puppy will need. Long-haired puppies may need lots more time to groom
pure-breed or cross-breed – buying a pedigree puppy means you'll have an idea of what your dog will look like when fully grown. However, many pure-breed or crossbreeds suffer from serious health and welfare problems that can affect their quality of life. Do your research and select breeders who can offer proof of tests to ensure the future health of their puppies
Remember, while different breeds may be more likely to show certain types of behaviour, the way your puppy behaves as an adult will depend a great deal on their life experiences.
Certain breeds may have a reputation for growing into friendly family dogs, but if they aren't trained and socialised early, they could end up being afraid of strangers, unfamiliar dogs and even their own shadow!
Choosing where to get your puppy
Sadly, there are those who treat puppies as little more than a commodity to be bought and sold for a profit. Be sure that you're buying a puppy from a responsible breeder, or alternatively, think about rehoming a dog from us?
We find loving new homes for thousands of dogs each year, so start your search for a dog today.
Inherited diseases
Dogs can suffer from a large number of diseases and many of these can be inherited. Pedigree dog breeding and showing rules means that dogs of different breeds have been bred separately for many years. As a result, different breeds of dog not only look different, but they show different likelihoods of developing particular diseases. Research has shown that every breed of dog that is well studied is prone to a range of diseases.
Some inherited diseases are very rare or cause only minor suffering, but there are many inherited conditions that are extremely painful or life threatening. Some examples of inherited diseases that show particularly high levels in certain breeds are:
- cancer
- blindness
- diabetes
- heart disease
- skin complaints
- epilepsy
- hip dysplasia
- deafness
There are several reasons for the increased risks in particular breeds. Some are natural variations between breeds, but some are due to people breeding for appearance at the expense of good health. Problems can be made worse by breeding animals that are known to have or to carry diseases, or by breeding closely related animals.
Which breeds suffer from which diseases?
Unlike people, there are no central medical records for dogs, so we don't have exact figures for the number of dogs of different breeds suffering from every disease. There's no single site that can tell you every disease prone to each breed, but these websites may help:
But beware when using these lists, as some new or rare breeds may seem healthier as they have fewer diseases listed – but there may be some diseases which are still undiscovered.
Crossbreed dogs generally live longer than pure breeds. Many diseases are rarer in crossbreeds, but they do still occur. You need to take care in selecting healthy parents and puppies whether considering a pure or a crossbreed.
Can inherited diseases be tested for?
Some diseases can be passed from parent to puppy even though the parent does not appear ill. In this case, the parent is called a carrier. Scientists and dog breeding clubs are continually developing tests to identify dogs that are likely to carry disease and should not be bred from. The most well-known screening tests are for hip dysplasia and eye conditions, but recently many genetic tests have also been developed. But, as yet tests are only available for some disorders and in certain breeds, and it is not compulsory for people breeding dogs to carry out the tests or to use the results when deciding which dogs to breed.
Many breeders are responsible and do everything they can to avoid breeding dogs which have or carry an inherited disease.
What can you do?
Avoid buying a puppy that has been inbred. Inbreeding can produce puppies that die younger, are less resistant to disease and have a higher chance of inheriting diseases. If the puppy you are considering buying has a pedigree certificate, check it for matings between close relatives. You should avoid buying puppies that result from a mating between brother and sister, father and daughter, mother and son, grandparent and grandchild or half-brother or sisters. If you have concerns, ask the breeder and seek further advice from your vet.
Checking health screening
Research the inherited diseases which are recorded in any breed you are considering – use the websites listed above and talk to other owners and a vet. Seriously consider the possible impact of any likely diseases on a dog's life.
Find out which of the diseases can be screened for in a puppy's parents. Useful websites that may help are:
Ask to see the parents' certificates for any disorders which can be screened for before agreeing to buy a puppy. Be sure the dogs were not only tested but were considered suitable to breed – you may need to ask for advice from your vet when understanding the test results. For those diseases which can't be currently screened for, ask the breeder about their efforts to avoid the diseases. Many breeders will welcome you calling the owners of closely related dogs to see if they have experienced any health problems.
Exaggerated features
Many types of dogs have been bred to emphasise certain features. For example, some have been selected to have short legs, others to have floppy ears. These are the physical features that make dog breeds distinct, and which have led to the huge variety we see today.
But over the years some characteristics have become so extreme that dogs may suffer. Certain features can cause pain and suffering, some make dogs prone to particular disorders, and some prevent them from behaving normally.
Think of some of the aspects of dogs which may look cute or quirky and consider how they may affect a dog's life.
Some examples of exaggerated features are listed below, but there are many more.
- dogs with short flat faces often have narrow nostrils and abnormally developed windpipes. They can often suffer severe breathing difficulties and may have difficulty enjoying a walk or playing
- very large and heavy dogs are more likely to suffer heart, digestion, muscle or joint problems, and live shorter lives
- dogs with folded or wrinkled skin are prone to itchy and painful skin complaints, and infolding eyelids that can scratch the eyeball
- dogs with very long backs can suffer crippling back deformities
- dogs with ridges along their backs are prone to nervous system problems
- dogs with very curly or short tails can have trouble communicating properly with other dogs as they can't raise or wag their tails. Dogs with screw tails can also suffer crippling back deformities
- dogs with bulging or sunken eyes are prone to injury, pain or discomfort
- dogs that have large heads, but small hips have trouble giving birth, risking their lives or needing surgery
- dogs with long floppy ears often suffer ear infections or injury and cannot move their ears to communicate with other dogs
- dogs with very short legs have difficulty moving properly
- hairless dogs have trouble keeping warm
Remember, these are just some examples – there are many more so do your research carefully before deciding on the right puppy for you. Find more information about brachycephalic (flat-faced) animals.
In certain dog breeds, these features seem ‘normal’ – but that doesn't mean they are not a problem. A recent study showed that all of the 50 most popular breeds have some aspect of their body which can cause suffering. The problems range from irritating, to life-threatening or requiring risky (and expensive) surgery. It's important to remember that dogs feel pain similarly to people, so if a feature would cause you pain or discomfort, it's likely to do the same to a dog.
Think very carefully about the likely effect of physical features on a dogs' life before buying a puppy. Find out what problems are common in the sort of dog you are considering. The Canine Inherited Disorders Database may help, as you can look up ‘disorders associated with conformation' for each breed you are considering.
Although exaggerated features are more common in pedigree dogs bred for showing, they can still occur in cross-breeds, so you need to choose a puppy carefully. It's better to choose a type of dog that doesn't have exaggerated features, because they can suffer from health and welfare issues which may require extensive and expensive surgery. However, if you decide on a type that can suffer from exaggerated features, select an individual breed for less extreme characteristics. For example, if you're choosing a breed with a flat face, choose a dog with a less flattened face, and check its parents can breathe easily. Or, if you’re choosing very large or small breeds, avoid choosing the largest or smallest individuals.
And remember, don't buy a puppy because you feel sorry for it – another will be bred to replace it!
