Before the programme, popular wisdom held that with a pedigree, you know what you’re getting. The programme’s revelations left many potential and current pet owners feeling that, while a pedigree dog’s size, shape and colour might be precisely defined, what lay beneath the surface, in terms of health and welfare, was a real concern. 

One point often overlooked is that there is more to this issue than pedigree dogs whose health has been compromised for the sake of their appearance. It is not only unscrupulous or ill-advised breeders of purebreds who have had a serious adverse impact on the welfare of pet dogs.  Owners have the ability to make the difference by making the right choices when sourcing and getting a new pet and have the responsibility of ensuring that their dog grows up healthy and well balance animal by looking after it properly.

Puppies and kittens are cute, fluffy and appealing and far too many are an impulse buy. It’s tempting to ‘rescue’ those kept in less than ideal conditions. Scores of puppies and kittens are bred each year simply to make money. Production is concentrated in Ireland and Wales, with puppies transported vast distances for sale. The total number is unknown, but some of the figures are staggering (the Bateson Inquiry visited one farm producing 5,000 puppies a year).
                                                                          

Different litters are often mixed, causing stress and leaving them vulnerable to disease. They are at an impressionable age, so it can leave a lasting effect on temperament, often for the worse. It is an appalling trade that must be stopped.

Are we really a nation of dog lovers? We are often well intentioned, but the Bateson report is a wake-up call for the public. The fastest and most effective way to bring this trade to a standstill is for the public to be more pro active in asking the right questions before buying any dog, whether puppy or adult, pure breed or cross breed. 

If you see puppies kept in bad conditions, don’t buy one – another will take its place tomorrow – but alert your local Trading Standards office and the local authority.  These puppies can cause family heartbreak; not only will some die of disease but they could develop behavioural problems, sometimes so severe that the only solution is to make the heartbreaking decision for euthanasia.  

All animal lovers and pet owners have a key role in animal welfare. Start at home; think before you get an animal. Pets are living beings, not stuffed toys. Puppies or kittens quickly mature into adults, capable of looking after themselves if necessary. But kept as pets they are confined and are wholly dependent on us. Caring for a pet means more than just providing food and water. Animals need physical and mental exercise too. For dogs, this means toys, exercise and consistent training for life.

Not only Bateson, but also the newly revised DEFRA Codes of Practice for the welfare of dogs, cats and horses, plus a growing body of vets and behaviourists, recognise the importance of mental well-being in addition to physical. Sadly, the general public is proving slower to catch on.

So if you are intending to get a puppy, should you buy from a breeder or a rescue centre? Should you get a pedigree? You may have an idea about your future pet’s appearance but personality has far more impact on family life. Breed does affect temperament, and you should research a breed’s general character and disposition, but experience is also important. It’s worth trying to find a Kennel Club Accredited Breeder and keep your eyes and ears open.    

Experience at a young age – around three to six weeks for a puppy – is particularly influential. Find a puppy that is used to the normal sights and sounds of daily life. Those that have been shut away or isolated may be nervous of every day sounds like the doorbell or of unfamiliar people. Meet the mother – and the father as well if possible. Nervous or irritable parents have a greater risk of producing offspring of similar temperament. A puppy born to a friendly, relaxed mother and reared in the heart of the family gives you the best possible chance of getting a great family pet.

If you do have a specific breed in mind, remember that breeds have been carefully selected over generations for a purpose - and they will want to do their ‘job’ – see our top 20 breeds information here.

Unless you are prepared for a considerable lifestyle change, don’t get a working breed like a collie if your daily routine is sitting by the TV with a short stroll out to buy a pint of milk. Look carefully at your lifestyle and consider if you are prepared to make changes to keep your dog happy and entertained; not all dogs need a five mile walk a day but they do all need some level of physical exercise and mental stimulation. If you are getting a purebred, you should consider hereditary health issues they might have inherited from their parents. There are screening schemes for some problems and information is available on the Kennel Club website. 

For some conditions, DNA testing of the parents can tell you whether their offspring could be affected. However, not all conditions are so simple. Some such as hip dysplasia (malformation of the hips which can cause arthritis later in life) are controlled by a number of genes (and there is no DNA test available) plus their development is affected by factors such as diet and exercise.

The only way to screen breeding animals for this condition is by taking and assessing (called scoring) radiographs but, even if an animal appears clear, there is still some risk that they could be carrying faulty genes. Certainly, if you are buying a pet to breed, it is vital to participate in these schemes for the health of future generations.

Once you have got your new dog or puppy, it’s just the start. Your pet will grow and develop according to your family conditions. Like children, dogs aren’t born knowing right from wrong and they need to be taught how to live alongside people happily. This doesn’t mean harsh methods or punishment but it does take time and commitment. As children can reflect their parents, so dogs may reflect their owners. For once vets and behaviourists can agree with popular lore, when it says there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.

For more advice see our factsheets on finding the right pet for you or choosing the right dog.

Further information:

The DEFRA codes can be found here
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/cruelty/index.htm

To read the Bateson report (parts of which contain a wealth of general information about dogs)
http://dogbreedinginquiry.com/publication-of-the-inquiry-report/

For information on dog training and behaviour
http://www.apdt.co.uk/
http://www.apbc.org.uk/