For all those moms and dads who are thinking of buying your child a puppy as a present, think again.

Julie Tobiansky, an instructor at Cape Province Dog Club, shares some insight on how to choose the right puppy. ’Most people spend more time choosing a new car than they do a puppy. It is vital that you do your research before you make your selection,’ she says.

Never

• buy a puppy on impulse
• buy a puppy as a gift
• buy a puppy you feel sorry for
• choose a breed based on an individual dog you have met
• ever get more than one puppy at the same time
• take a puppy under eight weeks old
• buy a puppy from a pet shop, a dealer or over the Internet

Do

• consider your (and your family’s) energy levels
• consider your reason for wanting a dog
• research the breed/s you are interested in, extensively
• buy from a registered breeder
• chat to a number of breeders of your chosen breed
• visit a number of litters before making a selection
• meet both the parents of the puppies

Text and image: Dailyfix