Watchdog - puppy farms

Don't be fooled

Here's what to look out for when choosing a new dog:

Always see a puppy with its mother

If the breeder cannot show you the mother and, ideally, the father of the puppy in the place in which it was bred, you should be suspicious. A reputable seller will be very happy to speak to you about where the puppy comes from. If it has been bred outside the UK you should beware.

It should be at least eight weeks old

If a dog is any younger it won't have had time to build up a tolerance to disease. Some breeders prefer to wait until 12 weeks before letting puppies leave their mother.

Check whether it has been immunised

Puppies should have received their first vaccinations before they leave their mother, so you should always ask to see their vaccination card.

Check whether the vaccination card is genuine

As Matt discovered in the programme, these cards can be very easy to fake, so you should make sure the veterinary surgeon's details are there. If you can't read all the details on them or the vet is based outside the UK, the card may be fake.

Go to the seller

Never buy from anyone who offers to deliver your puppy or meet you somewhere.

Pedigree certificates are no guarantee

You could be buying a dog which isn't a pure breed. These are easy to fake too. The certificate should have lots of information about dogs in the puppy's family.

Visual checks when you first see the dog

Its teeth should be clean and white and its gums should be pink and not smelly. You should avoid skinny puppies. Check that its bottom is clean of signs of diarrhoea or soreness, and look inside the hair for fleas and parasites. Brown or yellow deposits in the ears are signs of ear mites. You should not buy a dog with a runny nose.

Dietary requirements

The seller should give you information on what your puppy should eat.

Have the dog checked by a vet within 48 hours

It's really important that a vet sees your dog soon after you've bought it. A good breeder will offer to take the puppy back if you find out you can't keep it soon afterward.

In Britain it's illegal to dock the tails of dogs unless they're working dogs.

Never buy a dog because you feel sorry for it

Consider adopting a dog from a rescue organisation

If you're concerned about anything you've seen or about the dog you've bought, you can contact the following organisations:

Consumer Direct - 08454 04 05 06

Your local Trading Standards office.

The RSPCA - 0300 1234 999.