Could the puppy boom be the end of the rescue dog?

I've been nursing for nearly 10 years (already!), so I've seen many puppies in my time! From the large to the

tiny, cute and cuddly balls of fluff that instantly melt my heart when we have a cuddle in the consult room. But within the last couple of years, every tingle of warmth I've felt at meeting a new puppy, has been met with a small sense of dread for the poor dogs that remain homeless as another home vanishes from the market.

The puppy breeding culture in the UK cloaks many dark secrets. From back yard breeders who breed their household pet, regardless of breed or condition, purely for the money, to large scale puppy farms where bitches are kept in battery farm conditions and produce litter and litter until they either die or are dumped, all the way up to puppies being illegally smuggled into the country from all over Europe where rabies is rife and puppies are too young to be vaccinated so are provided with false documents. Puppy breeding is big business, and where there's money, there's greed and cutting corners.

Don't get me wrong, there are some brilliant breeders out there, and we do need responsible breeders, otherwise the variety of dog breeds we know will go extinct like the dodo! These breeders are strongly regulated by the kennel club, and put a lot of time and effort into screening the dogs they breed from to ensure puppies are at minimum risk of inheriting genetic diseases such as hip dysplasia and epilepsy.

Mongrels genetically hold the best of the breeds inside them, so are at lower risk of genetic disease, that said if you breed a pug with their breathing and eye problems with a cavalier king charles spaniel with their heart problems, chances are they're not going to have a trouble free life! But "crosses" have now been disguised as "designer breeds" such as the cockerpoo, jugs and caviechon. These non-breeds are the result of the labradoodle; a dog engineered to be a guide dog for those with fur allergies. I recently read an article detailing how the creator of the labradoodle deeply regretted his work as it appears to have escalated to this designer dog craze. Partner this with another article explaining how many long standing British breeds such as the royal-loved corgis are now on the Kennel Club's vulnerable breed list whilst the breeding of designer dogs such as the above crosses and handbag dogs such as pugs, french bulldogs and chihuahuas is on the dramatic increase - it just shows how the current puppy purchaser is led by the latest "trend".

Its not just the health problems that breed crossing can cause that concerns me, but the demand for these puppies has swelled criminal activities. Puppy farms are a huge reality in the UK, even though many people think they died with the dark ages. But its not just the puppy farms in the UK that are causing problems. Puppy farms in countries such as Hungary and Poland produce 1000s of these desired designers dogs and are then taken from their mothers too young, risking their survival, in order to make the long journey across Europe and be smuggled into the UK in the back of cars on ferries and be sold through the internet, pet shops and staged breeder fronts. The most concerning factor about this is that the UK is one of the few rabies free countries, and every puppy that's smuggled into the UK is a rabies risk - and one day, in the not so far distant future, I really believe rabies is going to land in this country and sadly, spread like wildfire. 

A recent Kennel Club article highlighted the risks of purchasing animals online by explaining that 1 in 5 puppies bought through the internet on sites like Gumtree, die before reaching 6 months of age. I've seen a few of these cases at our practice, puppies that just fade and die, mainly because they've been taken from their mother too young but also because of the dirty and diseased environment they're born into.

I totally understand why people buy puppies; its a wonderful experience to watch a small little life grow and help develop it into the dog it will become and be the only owner that dog knows and loves throughout its life. The life-long bond is very appealing. However, when I ask why clients choose to buy a puppy instead of adopt a rescue dog, they often say its because they're worried the adopted dog will have problems and that they don't know the dog they're adopting. Which is true. Some rescue dogs come with baggage. But that is why you're assessed as a potential owner to match you up with a dog that suits you; if you're new to dog ownership, they won't give you the German Shepherd with separation anxiety (hopefully!). However, buying a puppy is doing exactly what they're said they're scared of; puppies can grow up to have their own fair share of problems and owners don't know what dog the puppy will grow into. Every aggressive or nervous dog was once a confident ball of cute fluff, it's life experiences that sculpt the dogs they become, just as it does with people.

The moral of the story I am trying to convey, I would implore anyone considering having a dog to explore adoption first, from a well established dog shelter such as the Dogs Trust, that has a rigorous screening process; this is designed to protect you as much as the dog and you'd be surprised to learn many shelters have lots of puppies and adolescent dogs requiring homes. The Kennel Club also has a list of reputable rescue associations that rescue specific breeds if there is a specific breed you are looking for.

If you would like to purchase a puppy, I would recommend reading articles from the Dog's Trust and the Kennel Club as brilliant sources of information preparing you for dog ownership and how to responsibly go about the puppy purchasing process. Below is a list of important things to remember which I find are the most common things people trip up on.

• Research a breed that's right for you. Breeds differ immensely and its vital you know what you're taking on and that you choose a breed which suits your budget and lifestyle. 
• NEVER buy a puppy from a pet shop or over the internet. Try and research more reputable sources, ask vets, kennels and search the Kennel Club website and other breed associations, some breeders may have waiting lists, don't be put off by this, there's a good reason for this.
• I would not recommend purchasing imported puppies. There are some totally legitimate imported puppies out there, but forged documents are hard to spot, and the risk is too great, puppies that are proved to be a rabies risk will be taken into quarantine for 6 months which will affect its socialisation skills having been isolated during the most important progressional period of its life.
• Double check the puppy's age. Puppies should be no younger than 6-7 weeks before leaving their mom, and mom should be at least 1 year old, but not visibly too old
• Inspect before the purchase and ask "where's mom?". Ask the breeder if you can visit in advance of the purchase date, this is common practice for many experienced breeders. This allows you to pick the puppy of your choice but also allows you to observe the puppy interacting with its siblings and more importantly; its mother. If you never get to see the mother, there is a very high risk these puppies could be from a puppy farm where mother is kept out of sight!
• Ask for a veterinary history. Puppies cannot be fully vaccinated until 8 weeks of age, although they can be vaccinated against parvovirus sooner than this. However the puppies should have at least been treated for worms and you should be informed of when this was and with what so you can carry on treatment. Heavy worm burdens in puppies can cause death so this is an important aspect for responsible breeders.

I hope this might help those looking to purchase or adopt a dog or a puppy. Education is key :)