On the journey of adopting a puppy, it’s advisable to visit the litter before your collection day, so you can meet the breeders to check everything is OK such as living conditions and also choose your puppy when they start to show some personality. However, should you buy a puppy without seeing the mum?
You should NOT buy a puppy without seeing the mum. This is because seeing them can give you an insight into the future of the puppy you are potentially buying, such as health and temperament, and other characteristics. If they aren’t there, this is a major red flag as it’s perhaps indicative of puppy farm breeding which you must avoid at all costs.
Don’t be afraid to walk away from adopting the puppy if the breeders don’t allow seeing the mum. It could save you a lot of heartache and money doing so. Read on where we discuss this in more detail.
Why Should I See the Mum?
In an ideal scenario, it would be great to see the mum, the dad and the grandparents, but this isn’t always possible. As a bare minimum, make sure to see the mum and ask for details of the dad and grandparents. So let’s discuss why you should see the mum!
Health – Seeing the mum is a good check to make sure everything seems ok in the health department. If they are not in good condition, this is the time to start asking questions. Could there be hereditary issues such as hip or elbow problems? Are her eyes and coat ok? Other health issues? A reputable breeder will always show, if appropriate, hip, elbow and eye scores. Obviously, if the mum isn’t present, you won’t see the potential issues and maybe leave yourself open to problems down the line. Make sure the Dad is also all good health-wise too!
Temperament – Seeing the mum’s temperament allows you to make sure you are happy with it and that there is no aggression displayed. If there are unwanted tendencies, there is a strong chance your puppy may develop the same. This is also where getting as much information on the Dad or seeing the Dad is beneficial as well!
Reputable breeder – If mum is there, as well as other relatives like the dad or grandmother in a home environment, it shows signs of a reputable breeder as they are fully invested in their dog family :). It’s also a great sign that they are passionate about dogs to keep the family line under one roof and it’s more likely breeding has been responsible.
If the mum is not there – The mum not being there could be a sign you may be purchasing from a puppy farm, or from a criminal gang, all looking to make large sums of money from irresponsible dog breeding. This probably means the puppy has been separated too early from its mother (and the puppy wasn’t born where you are viewing it) which can lead to various issues. Puppy farms have poor living conditions and are conducive to health problems and disease. They are horrifically cruel and mustn’t be endorsed with your purchase. They need to be reported.
Ex-Prime Minister Theresa May – Puppy’s Mother MUST Be Present, and Lucy’s Law
Even Theresa May in 2017 got involved on the issue and proposed targeting unscrupulous dog breeders – Theresa May to order crackdown on unscrupulous dog breeders | Politics News | Sky News. Specifically, a proposed measure was to make sure buyers could see puppies with their mothers.
Later on 6 April 2020, Lucy’s Law came into effect in the United Kingdom. The legislation banned the commercial third-party sale of puppies and kittens, also requiring dog breeders (licenced) to show the puppies engaging with their mother at their place of birth. See more information here – Lucy’s Law spells the beginning of the end for puppy farming – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
We also need the public to do their bit to help by always asking to see puppies and kittens interacting with their mothers in their place of birth, looking out for the warning signs, and reporting any suspicious activity
Lord Goldsmith, Animal Welfair Minister, 2020
Should You Buy a Puppy Without Seeing It?
So you have been offered the opportunity to buy a puppy! Sounds great! However, should you buy and send the money without seeing the puppy?
You should NEVER buy a puppy if you haven’t seen it. You run the risk of being scammed out of your money or buying a puppy with potential issues; probably from a puppy farm. Ideally, pre-collection you see the puppy in person at its home, as in other circumstances you might be pressured into a sale just based on a photo, but ask yourself if the puppy even exists. If too far away for a pre-collection day visit, do a detailed video call. In the ideal scenario of seeing in person, it allows you to check for any health issues etc.
Remember you should not be sending the full amount in one go anyway. Proper practice is a deposit on puppy selection (in person or if not possible, via video call), with the full balance on the day of collection. See my related section at the bottom of this post – https://collarcolumn.com/5-classic-questions-breeders-ask-buyers/ . Paying only the deposit first does limit your risk if you can only do a video call prior to collection (never pay a deposit without an in-person meeting or video call). Then if you find out your puppy has a lot of issues when you pick them up, you can walk away having not lost the full amount.