Advice on Buying a Puppy
Getting to know the breeder of your puppy is always a good idea, here is some advice on what to look for.
If you are visiting an unknown beagle breeder for the first time, you should seriously consider not taking any children you may have. If you have to leave without a puppy it will be all the more difficult if children are present.
Always see the puppies with their mother – accept no excuses such as – “she’s been taken for a walk,” or “she lives with my daughter.” If you can’t see them with the mother, leave straight away.
Try to be sure that the bitch you see with the pups is actually the mother. A sociable brood bitch can be used “front of house” if the puppies are “imported”. A much bred from beagle bitch will always look as if she’s just had pups, with a perpetually low-slung undercarriage. How does she react to the pups and how do they react to her? Bear in mind that no mother will be keen to feed even her own pups once they are weaned. As in humans, there should be some family resemblance, although with beagles, the colour of the puppies and mother may be totally different.
Alarm bells should ring if there is only one mother but there seem to be a big difference in the size and development of the beagle puppies.
How do the puppies react to the breeder and vice-versa. Is there confidence and affection coming from both sides?
A good breeder will ask you many questions about yourself and your family. This isn’t idle curiosity, it is for the benefit of all, the puppy, the breeder and you, making sure that you are well suited to Beagle ownership and understand all the responsibilities.
A healthy beagle puppy has –
Clean, bright eyes. No discharge from the eyes, ears or nose.
The coat should be clean, sweet smelling and “loose fitting,” positively rippling with good health. There should be no sign of parasites on the coat or in the ears.
Beagles have naturally happy, curious, outgoing personalities. Avoid any puppy that appears fearful or nervous. Never buy a puppy because you feel sorry for it or because it appears ill. It’s very hard to walk away from a sad case but that is exactly what bad breeders rely upon. A good breeder does not produce bad puppies.
When you buy your beagle puppy you should also receive the following:
A full pedigree of at least four generations.
The Royal Kennel Club registration documents.
A full information pack giving details of diet, exercise, worming, vaccination and general care.
Enough of the puppy’s food to get you started and preferably a piece of towelling or soft toy that carries the scent of the puppies bed to help him settle into his new home.
The promise of a life time of help and support. A good breeder will help to re-home any beagle puppy bred by them (at any age) if the circumstances in its new home should change.