Deciding to add a puppy to your household is an important decision, with many dogs living to 15 years or more. Because of this, it is very important to make the right decisions in purchasing a puppy. There are many factors involved in a selecting a puppy, and this article discusses five key reasons to NOT purchase a puppy from a pet shop.

1 Puppies in a pet shop toilet in their living areas

In pet stores, puppies normally have no choice but to toilet in the same area that they sleep, eat, and play. This is hugely problematic, as dogs are born with the natural desire to keep their sleeping areas clean. In a pet shop, as the dog is forced to live in their toileted area, they lose their natural aversion to their own filth. For this reason, dogs from pet shops are harder to crate and toilet train.

2 Puppies in a pet shop are inadequately socialised during their critical period

Puppies have a critical socialisation period, from 6 weeks to about 16 weeks, and during this period they need to be exposed to many different things in order to be a well-adjusted adult. Puppies in pet shops are normally on display from about 6 weeks onwards. This is a completely unsuitable environment for a puppy during its critical period, as they are seeing very little in the world beyond their display case. Additionally, there is a huge potential for puppies in a pet shop to be exposed to unpleasant things, such as children banging on the glass, and forming a negative association. Pet shop puppies may be overly fearful due to the uncontrolled and limited socialisation they receive from the pet shop, and this can cause life-long behaviour problems.

3 Puppies in pet shops normally come from a puppy farm or mill

Most pet shops purchase litters of puppies from suppliers. These suppliers normally breed puppies commercially, with no concern to the welfare of their breeding stock on their parents. Purchasing a puppy from a pet shop is almost certainly supporting a profit-motivated puppy mill with substandard living conditions for their animals.

4 Puppies in a pet shop have unknown parentage

It is well known that there is a genetic basis for almost all behaviours, and certainly most physical health conditions. Unless you meet the parents of the puppy, to ascertain their temperament, and cite the certificates of health for the parents, then your puppy is a huge unknown in terms of temperament and health.

5 Pet shops do not provide their puppy buyers with ongoing support

When you purchase a puppy from a rescue group or a responsible, ethical breeder, these venders will almost always guarantee that they will help you over the next 15 years with your new dog. Pet shops do not offer that support. If you find yourself in trouble in 6 months, when your puppy starts chewing stuff up, or in 3 years, when you’re moving house, the pet shop you purchased from will not be interested in your dilemma.

If you are looking to add a puppy to your household, please contact a local rescue group or local, registered, ethical breeders. You should be able to inspect their premises, view the parents (or at least the mother) of the puppies, and quiz them on the socialisation the puppies have already received. You may be able to find an older puppy in rescue and, though you may not be able to meet the parents, you will have ongoing support from the rescue group to help you with any problems you may encounter.

About the author: Tegan Whalan is a dog enthuisast from South Australia. She is an owner and breeder of border terriers, and also works with rescue groups. She runs a blog concerned with dog science and dog politics.