New guidance videos released by KC

The Kennel Club (KC) have released three short videos to help when making the life-changing decision to get a puppy.

The videos, split into three episodes: Are you right for a puppy, Choosing the right breed and Choosing the right breeder; are hoped to tackle puppy farming and impulse puppy buying.

During the recent Puppy Awareness Week (8-15 September), a survey revealed that only 35 percent of people chose their dog because it fitted their lifestyle, while almost a fifth of people said their prime motivator for buying their dog was the way it looked.

The survey was carried out on over a thousand dog owners, and also highlighted that a fifth of people had bought puppies over the internet, in a pet shop or from a newspaper ad, and a third did not see the puppy with its mum or in its breeding environment.

Concern over these statistics has led the KC to produce the guidance videos, which are hoped to ensure potential puppy owners consider the responsibility involved, as well as advising them to choose the right breed from a good breeder.

Caroline Kisko, KC secretary, said: "It is incredibly sad but not surprising that we have such a huge rescue dog population when so many people jump into dog ownership without giving it the thought it deserves.

"These films help to point people to Kennel Club assured breeders and to Kennel Club breed rescue homes, and show the kind of problems that a dog can get later in life if you go to the wrong breeder."

The videos are available to watch here.