Buying a Purebred Dog
Buying a purebred dog from a reputable kennel means you are getting a dog whose lineage you can trace, with parents that have been checked and approved according to the breed standard set by the Swedish Kennel Club. This gives you a certain level of security, since you know more about the dog you’re buying. However, there is no guarantee that the dog will be completely healthy. Some purebred dogs suffer from hereditary diseases and other problems. What you do know is that the kennel has followed the rules and guidelines of the Swedish Kennel Club.
Buying a Mixed-Breed Dog
When you buy a mixed-breed dog, you need to take much more responsibility yourself and make sure you know what applies. You don’t always have a breed club or kennel club to rely on. It’s worth remembering that when you buy a mixed-breed dog, you usually don’t get an official pedigree.
When you buy a mixed-breed dog, you may not always know what kind of dog you are actually getting. If, for example, the parents are a Labrador and a Dobermann, you don’t know whether your dog will resemble a Labrador or a Dobermann. You also don’t know which diseases may be present in the parents’ family lines. The puppy might inherit genetic faults from both breeds. You therefore need to be careful and use common sense.
Here are some tips on what you should check:
- Meet the puppy’s mother and father. Do they seem healthy and have a pleasant temperament?
- Look carefully: does the puppy look healthy and lively? Never buy a puppy just because you feel sorry for it.
- Insist that the puppy has been examined by a vet, vaccinated, dewormed, and ID-marked, and that you receive documentation for this.
- Always draw up a purchase agreement that clearly shows who the seller and buyer are.
- Never buy a puppy from someone selling from a car. Go to the seller’s home so you know where the puppy comes from – this helps you avoid the least serious sellers. You also see where the puppy spent its first weeks of life. It is also important to know where the seller lives, in case you need to contact them later with questions.
- Never buy a dog on impulse. Think it through carefully before deciding to get a dog. You are making a commitment for the next 10–15 years.
- Never buy a puppy that is younger than 8 weeks. The puppy needs the security of its mother and must not be taken away from its safe environment too early. If that happens, it risks becoming insecure and possibly also sick.
Skaffa Hund’s Recommendation
We have chosen to partner with the insurance provider Trygg Hansa, which offers a wide range of insurance policies for dogs of all breeds. You can take out insurance from the time your puppy is 6 weeks old up until it turns 8 years. At Trygg Hansa, you can compare and choose a dog insurance policy that suits your needs, see what is included, and quickly get a price quote tailored to your dog.
