Nearly one in four people who have bought a puppy during the coronavirus pandemic has admitted their pet may have unintentionally been purchased from a puppy farm. The Kennel Club has released new statistics illustrating the number of people who have bought puppies in the past few months.

According to the research, which was released as part of the Kennel Club’s #BePuppywise campaign, two in five people who bought a puppy during the pandemic admitted their main reason was to have a lockdown companion and of the 2,622 dog owners surveyed in July 2020, more than a quarter said they paid money for their new puppy before actually meeting their pet in person.

Just over four in 10 did not see the environment in which the puppy was bred in real life or via video call, and 83 per cent were not asked any questions by the breeder about how suitable they were as owners.

An even more worrying statistic is that 2 in 10 puppies bought during lockdown have been given to charities, who are already overstretched. This is heartbreaking for the puppies but it is also worrying for many animal professionals.

Does this news mean no-one should get a puppy? No, of course not, but we cannot stress enough to follow the well advertised advice on purchasing a puppy.

As we come out of lockdown but continue to face uncertainty, we cannot stress enough to do as much research as possible before making such a commitment. A dogs average lifespan is 12 years and the first 18 months of your dogs life is so important and defines the dog that will grow with you.

Before purchasing or adopting a dog, remember to be a part of the C.L.U.B 

Can you afford vet bills and food? –  Your pet bills can be very large in a worst case scenario. Have you budgeted for food? Vet bills? Preventative treatments? Training? Products? Grooming?

Lifestyle – Does your lifestyle allow time for a dog? Don’t think about today, think about tomorrow and what your long term plans are.

Understanding – Have you researched insurance companies? Dog trainers? Do you understand what is involved in caring for your pet?

Breeder – No amount of research is too much research. You need to know everything you can possibly know about a breeder and no question is a stupid question. If it doesn’t feel right, it likely isn’t right!

The RSPCA have a brilliant section on their website which gives great advice on purchasing puppies but also on rescue dogs. You can find this link here.