Buyer’s Guide

1. Decide if the breed fits your life. Exercise, grooming, temperament, common health issues.
2. Budget honestly. Purchase price plus insurance, food, vet care, training, grooming, neutering, emergencies.
3. Know the minimum legal standards in your area. Examples (England):
   • Third-party sales of puppies/kittens under 6 months are banned (“Lucy’s Law”)—you must buy directly from the breeder. GOV.UKLocal Government Animal Welfare Group
   • Dog breeders need a licence if they produce 3+ litters/year (and some who produce fewer if they’re “in business”). Check the local council licence. GOV.UKThe Kennel Club
   • Dogs must be microchipped by 8 weeks; cats (England) must be microchipped by 20 weeks (from 10 June 2024). GOV.UK+1

• Breeder licence: number, issuing authority, expiry date, and a link to the council’s public register if available. (In England, licensing is under the 2018 Regulations.) Legislation.gov.uk

• How many litters do you breed per year? (Sanity-check against licence scope.) GOV.UK

• Health testing: Which breed-relevant DNA/eye/hip/elbow/heart tests are done? Ask for official certificates or registry links.

• Mum and environment: Can I meet the mother with the litter at your home/kennel? (Direct sale + mother present is a core welfare safeguard.) GOV.UK

• Socialisation plan: What have puppies/kittens been exposed to (people, noises, surfaces, handling)?

• Vet care: Vaccination schedule, worming/flea treatments, any vet checks done.

• Contract & aftercare: Do you use a written contract and offer lifetime support/return clause? (For dogs in the UK, ask if they use the Puppy Contract.) puppycontract.org.ukBritish Veterinary Association

Red flags at this stage

• Won’t share a licence number or council details; pushes for a deposit before viewing; offers to meet in a car park or deliver without a prior home visit; multiple different breeds “ready now”; heavy focus on cash only or “rare colours.” (Walk away.)

Use your senses and take notes/photos (with permission).
Environment

• Clean, secure, no ammonia stench; fresh water; appropriate temperature/ventilation; safe whelping/queening area; enrichment toys; enough space.
• Number of animals matches what one household can care for properly.

Mother & litter

• Mother present and interacting calmly with the litter. Puppies/kittens confident, curious, not lethargic or fearful. (Third-party sales are illegal in England—seeing mum helps verify you’re buying direct.) GOV.UK

Health cues

• Clear eyes and nose; no coughing, laboured breathing, crusts or diarrhoea; clean ears/skin; good body condition; normal gait.
• Check for signs of mutilations: ear-cropping is illegal in the UK; tail-docking is restricted to narrow exemptions (working dogs/medical, with vet certificate). RSPCABritish Veterinary Association

Socialisation

• Ask to see handling, exposure to normal household sounds, gentle separation, short car crate practice, etc.

• Minimum age to rehome (guide):
  • Puppies: 8+ weeks (UK law forbids sale under 8 weeks). The Kennel ClubGOV.UK
  • Kittens: 8+ weeks minimum; many pedigree clubs (e.g., GCCF) recommend 13+ weeks and at least 7 days after 2nd vaccination. gccfcats.org+1

1. Breeder licence (if required): number, issuing council, and matching name/address. GOV.UK
2. Identity & address of the seller (matches licence/contract).
3. Health test evidence for the parents (official certificates/lab or scheme IDs).
4. Vaccination record (vet practice, batch, dates) and parasite treatments to date.
5. Microchip number (scan the animal and confirm it matches the document); confirm transfer process to you on collection. (UK: dogs by 8 weeks; cats in England by 20 weeks from 10 June 2024.) GOV.UK+1
6. Sales contract with: breeder and buyer details, animal description, health disclosures, endorsements/breeding terms, return policy, and any cooling-off clause. (UK dogs: the Puppy Contract is the gold standard.) puppycontract.org.uk
7. Registration/pedigree (if appliCheck a Breederle) and any endorsements explained (e.g., non-breeding/export). RSPCA
8. Insurance cover note (many ethical breeders include 4–6 weeks).
9. Receipt for any deposit with clear refund conditions.

• Scan the microchip again; confirm the number matches paperwork and complete the ownership transfer before you leave or immediately after. (Keeping database details up-to-date is a legal duty in several countries, incl. England.) BSAVA
• Take copies/photos of: licence, contract, vaccination card, worming/flea schedule, health test certs, registration, insurance, and any tail-docking certificate (if legally appliCheck a Breederle). animallaw.info
• Confirm diet (brand/quantity/times) and take at least 5–7 days of current food.
• Arrange a vet check within 48 hours.

If the animal was bred outside your country, verify legal entry paperwork (official pet passport or veterinary certificate, rabies timing, parasite treatments, microchip pre-rabies, and correct importer details). UK buyers: the government’s Petfished guidance explains how to view the animal and its documentation before buying. GOV.UK

Walk away if you see:

• Won’t let you meet the mother or see where the animals live; suggests off-site hand-over.
• Pushes for cash only, “today only,” or non-refundable deposits before viewing.
• No licence where one is required; refuses to share licence details. GOV.UK
• No health tests or vague claims (“parents are healthy”).
• Multiple different breeds/litters always available, “ready now,” or under-age animals. GOV.UK
• Obvious welfare issues: dirty, crowded housing, poor body condition, coughs/diarrhoea, listless behaviour.
• Cosmetic mutilations (ear cropping) or illegal practices. RSPCA

• Register with a vet immediately and book a new-pet check.
• Confirm microchip transfer was successful and details are correct. BSAVA
• Follow the vaccination/parasite plan, stick to the diet transition, and begin positive-reinforcement training/socialisation.

Quick Visit Checklist

• ☐ Mother present with litter
• ☐ Clean, safe environment
• ☐ Friendly, curious youngsters (no cough/diarrhoea/nasal discharge)
• ☐ Health test certificates seen
• ☐ Vaccination & worming record shown
• ☐ Microchip number provided / scan matches
• ☐ Contract reviewed (incl. returns/endorsements)
• ☐ Breeder licence verified (number + council)
• ☐ Age at collection: Puppies ≥8 weeks; Kittens ≥8–13+ weeks (club rules may require 13+)

Red Flags

• ☐ Meeting off-site / can’t see mum
• ☐ Deposit before viewing / pressure tactics
• ☐ “Rare colour/cheap/last one today” pitches
• ☐ No paperwork / no licence / no health tests

Notes for UK readers (to include in a sidebar)

• Lucy’s Law: buy direct from the breeder; third-party sales of puppies/kittens under 6 months banned in England since 6 Apr 2020. GOV.UK
• Breeder licensing (England): licence needed at 3+ litters/year or if breeding as a business (even with fewer litters). Check the local council licence. GOV.UK
• Minimum sale age: puppies/kittens must not be sold under 8 weeks. GOV.UK
• Microchipping: dogs (UK) by 8 weeks; cats (England) by 20 weeks from 10 Jun 2024. Keep database details up-to-date. GOV.UK+1
• Ear cropping: illegal to perform in the UK; avoid sellers with cropped-ear dogs. RSPCA
• Tail docking: illegal except narrow exemptions (e.g., certified working dogs/medical). Ask for the vet certificate if appliCheck a Breederle. British Veterinary Associationanimallaw.info
• Best-practice contract: the Puppy Contract (RSPCA & AWF) is free and widely recommended. puppycontract.org.uk

Final tip
A great breeder interviews you, shows transparent paperwork, welcomes questions, and offers lifelong support. If anything feels off—walk away. There will always be another litter; there’s only one chance to start your pet’s life right.