Breeders, Animal Welfare & Co - Here you can buy your puppy
After months of research, your decision is made: A puppy should become part of your family. Perhaps you already have a breed favorite - or maybe you are still undecided, or the breed plays a minor role.
To help you know where you can buy or adopt a puppy, we present the various options:
- buying a puppy from a breeder
- adopting a puppy from a shelter
- rescuing a puppy from a kill station
The various options at a glance: Where do you buy your puppy?
1. Buying a puppy from a breeder
You can't get a certain trait that you want your puppy to have out of your head, and you also have an idea of coat, size, and color? If you buy your puppy from a breeder, you can rely on the characteristics of a dog breed - and since there are usually several puppies in a litter, you have a correspondingly large selection.
Since the parents of your puppy are on-site, you can inform yourself about size and character regarding what to expect. Many dog owners appreciate this transparency and security when acquiring a four-legged friend.
But beware: Not all breeders are the same, and for your choice, it is essential to inform yourself about the breeding beforehand. Are all rules being followed? Does the breeder give a serious impression? The parents of the puppies should also be present during the first visit.
Are you a quality-conscious breeder and care about the high-quality nutrition of the offspring? Then take a look at our →Breeder Program!
2. Adopting a puppy from a shelter
In Germany alone, an estimated 120,000 dogs end up in shelters each year, waiting day in and day out for their chance for a new life in at best 3 m². Most shelters are so overcrowded that the staff can barely care for the animals. Among the dogs, there are not only adults and seniors but also puppies are given up or born here.
If you place less value on a specific breed and are flexible regarding color and size, then adopting a puppy from a shelter is also an option. Unlike with breeders, only limited information can be provided about the character of a shelter dog. Most dogs are mixed breeds from various breeds that generate different character traits.
3. Rescuing a puppy from a kill station
If you want to buy your puppy from a kill station, you usually have a large selection here as well. Often, numerous young four-legged friends are waiting for the chance to find a home after all.
Through various dog rescue organizations, you can view short profiles and a few photos of the puppies in advance. Because the puppies are often only flown to Germany once they have found new owners, you will see your puppy live for the first time then. Visits like at a breeder or in a shelter are therefore not possible when buying a puppy from a kill station.
When is the right time to pick up your puppy?
Whether you buy your puppy from a breeder or from animal welfare organizations like shelters or rescues from kill stations, the answer to the question of when a puppy can be given up is always the same: Puppies should be separated from their mother and given up at the earliest at the age of 8 weeks. This limit is also found in the Animal Welfare Act.
In particular, the breeder carries the responsibility for this minimum age. In shelters or kill stations, it can happen that puppies are given up before they are 8 weeks old and without their mother.
Caution with hobby breeders and pet markets
The aforementioned options for buying your puppy are the best method for puppy adoption. However, it is not uncommon for puppies to be circulating that come from hobby breeders and online sellers.
Puppies are often offered at markets, often cramped together in small cages and at very low prices. The puppies may seem purebred and healthy at first glance. However, due to lack of breeding experience and financial focus, diseases are passed on, vaccinations are missing, and the living conditions of the mother dogs are below any standard.
When choosing a breeder, it is essential to pay attention to seriousness as well as the VDH quality seal, vaccination records, membership in the breeding association, and the conditions on-site.
