With the rise of the pet craze, more and more people are keeping pets, and dog ownership accounts for a large part of this. However, if you accidentally buy a sick dog, it’s not just about spending money on treatment, it will also cost you a lot of time and effort to take care of it. Therefore, how to buy a healthy dog has become a concern for many dog lovers. The author will now briefly introduce some methods for choosing a dog.

Samoyed

　　1. When choosing a dog, first observe the dog's mental state. Healthy dogs, especially puppies, usually have good spirits and appear lively. If the dog looks depressed and inactive, there is probably a problem. Also pay attention if the dog is overly excited; such dogs are best avoided, as some dishonest sellers might have injected hormones.

　　2. Good appetite. Dogs in pet shops are generally not fed fully, so most dogs will want to eat and have a good appetite. If your chosen dog's appetite is poor, it is recommended not to buy it.

　　3. Check if the nose is moist. Except when sleeping, a dog’s nose should be moist. Therefore, a moist nose is an important indicator of a dog’s health. Since the dog's nose and nasal mucosa are connected and responsible for the sense of smell, it remains moist. Pet lovers should pay attention to this.

　　4. Healthy dogs have bright, sparkling eyes full of spirit. You can also observe spirit through the eyes. Healthy dogs should have no secretions from their eyes or nose. If there are any, avoid choosing that dog, as it might have a cold or even distemper.

　　5. Check the color of visible mucous membranes, such as if the conjunctiva is congested, pale, or yellowish. Generally, healthy mucous membranes are pink; pale indicates anemia, redness indicates inflammation, and yellow could mean jaundice or liver disease.

　　6. Check if there is any excrement or secretions around the anus. If yes, it’s better not to choose that dog, as it might be suffering from diarrhea caused by poor digestion or viral infections.

　　7. Check if the dog is too thin or too fat. Short-haired dogs look better; you should not see obvious ribs but be able to feel them when touched. Otherwise, the dog is too fat or too thin, and it’s better not to choose it. Too thin dogs might suffer from malnutrition or parasites; overweight dogs are somewhat better but will require attention to weight loss to reduce disease risk.

　　8. Check if the coat is shiny and free of dandruff. Healthy and well-nourished dogs have shiny coats. Dandruff generally indicates skin problems such as mites (e.g., demodex).

　　9. No itching or head shaking. If present, this usually indicates problems. Itching commonly relates to skin conditions like flea allergy or scabies; head shaking might indicate ear mites or foreign objects, so also check if the ears are clean and odorless.

　　Because many diseases have incubation periods, these buying methods cannot guarantee 100% that the dog you buy is healthy, but they can roughly indicate no problems. After bringing the dog home, pay attention to some matters. For example, after half a month you need to take it for vaccination. It’s best not to bathe or shave the dog immediately after bringing it home; wait until the dog adapts to the new environment before grooming.