Do not buy dogs that are pre-made up

Many owners buy dogs based on so-called appearance affinity. Indeed, if you want to buy a dog, you must choose one you like. However, no matter what, the dog's health is the most important issue. Many dog dealers hide some potential problems of the dogs to make money, which is very irresponsible behavior for owners. Therefore, if you want to buy a dog, you must first ask clearly about some issues that dog dealers deliberately ignore.

1. Concealing the dog's age

Concealing the dog's age is a very common phenomenon. Dog dealers want to sell dogs as early as possible (because puppies are very likely to die, and any death is a loss to them), so they often exaggerate the dog's age. Some puppies are not even a month old but are claimed to be about two months. Puppies under one month have not completed their vaccinations, so the chance of infection is very high. Therefore, if owners do not take proper care after purchase, the puppy may die.

2. Concealing the dog's defects

If the dogs they bring back have defects, they deliberately lock the dogs up or intentionally draw your attention to other dogs so you don’t notice the defects. Some dogs might have issues with their limbs and limp when walking, but some dealers just keep the dog in the cage, saying it will run away if released and do not let them walk. In such cases, you must make sure to let the dog walk a few steps to check the situation no matter what.

3. Dyeing the dog's fur

This method is to hide the dog's flaws in appearance. Some dogs are not purebred, just look somewhat similar. After dyeing, they look very close to purebreds.

Do not buy overly excited dogs

4. Concealing the dog's breed

Many sellers themselves cannot clearly distinguish some breeds, such as Samoyeds and Silver Foxes in puppyhood, Golden Retrievers and Labradors, etc. If this is the case, it’s understandable. But some dishonest dealers only sell dogs that merely resemble purebred dogs. Therefore, it is best to bring a dog-savvy friend along when buying a dog.

5. Changing the breed through grooming

This trick is most often used to make a Pekingese look like a Shih Tzu, turn a long-haired dog into a short-haired dog, and so on. If you see a dog that has been groomed, be cautious.

6. Injecting sick dogs with serum

After serum injection, the dog will appear energetic within two to three days, and the illness symptoms may be suppressed. Imported serums have more obvious effects. However, once serum effectiveness wanes, the illness worsens. If a dog gets sick shortly after purchase, it is very likely that the dog had problems before. Dealers inject serum or stimulants to hide the disease.

Avoid dogs that are especially clean in a group

7. Washing dogs clean to hide problems

If you spot a dog especially clean and standout in a group, it’s best not to buy it. Some dogs with diarrhea dirty their fur, which is unfavorable for selling, so dealers wash them clean.

8. Concealing the dogs' origins

Some dealers’ dogs come from unsafe sources. Some dogs might have been stolen from other owners and then sold. Therefore, dogs of moderate age are not recommended, as many miss good training periods and might be lost dogs. If the original owner eventually finds them, it will be a real loss both financially and emotionally.