Nowadays, pets are becoming increasingly popular and gradually turning into a new fashion. Many people choose to raise a dog as their pet. Keeping pets has many benefits: office workers can relieve stress by having pets, children learn to care and be considerate of others through pet care, and elderly people can have a spiritual support. So how to choose your ideal dog? Where is the best place to buy one?

Cute Chihuahua

　　Pets are increasingly becoming part of families. Everyone hopes to buy a healthy, lively, purebred dog. Facing the mixed and confusing pet market, many unscrupulous merchants try to sell sick or crossbred dogs as healthy purebreds, which not only deceives consumers but also delays the treatment of the puppies’ illnesses. At this time, you need to be vigilant and make sure you understand everything clearly before purchasing.

Puppy

　　Firstly, you need to determine which breed of dog you like. Learn about its puppy appearance and local price by searching online or asking friends. Knowing this helps you be more confident when buying a pet. Secondly, it is recommended to buy from reputable kennels or pet stores. Many kennels offer a seven-day guarantee against parvovirus and distemper. Ask the seller if the puppy has been vaccinated and dewormed. It is recommended not to buy a puppy just weaned, as they are the most susceptible to illness. Puppies that have been vaccinated and dewormed are more reliable. Thirdly, when purchasing puppies, observe their appearance and spirit carefully. A normal puppy should be lively and active, with a moist nose; it should respond sensitively when called or touched. Also, check if the fur is smooth and lift it to look closely at the skin’s condition. Puppies with rough fur or red spots may have skin diseases or malnutrition. Additionally, inspect the ears for excessive earwax. Healthy and lively puppies have self-cleaning ears and will not accumulate much earwax. Sick puppies with low immunity often have inflamed ears with a lot of wax. If you are still unsure about infectious diseases, you can ask the seller to test for distemper, parvovirus, and respiratory viruses on the spot. When testing for infectious diseases, be sure the procedure is correct to avoid inaccurate results. The correct method for testing distemper and parvovirus is to use a cotton swab to collect secretions from the eyes, nose, and saliva, place it in a dilution solution for 3 to 5 minutes, then use a dropper to add the upper clear liquid into the test strip well. If two red lines appear, it is positive, indicating infection with distemper or parvovirus; if one red line appears, it is negative; if no lines appear, the procedure was incorrect. Note that two red lines, whether faint or deep, mean infection. For parvovirus testing, insert a cotton swab into the anus to collect feces, then add to dilution solution; the subsequent steps are the same as above.

Be Sure to Perform Infectious Disease Tests Before Bringing the Dog Home

Be Sure to Perform Infectious Disease Tests Before Bringing the Dog Home

Finally, before buying a pet dog, you can ask the seller to show photos of the puppy’s real parents. If the parents look healthy and purebred, with proper body shape, then this puppy will likely grow up like its parents. You don’t have to worry about buying a crossbred or impure dog. Every dog breed has different characteristics, which require time to understand and analyze. Therefore, future“dog dads and dog moms”must do their homework well before buying a puppy. This is responsible both for yourself and for the puppy.