What I wish I had known before getting my first puppy.

Hello everyone and welcome back to another Clover update! There are a few things that I wish I had known before getting my first puppy and I’m going to share them with you here.

I brought Clover home 3 weeks ago and she’s now 11 weeks old and is a bundle of energy! Despite her poorly tummy recently, she is still pestering Bella to play and trying to bite me at every opportunity.

I wanted to talk about her health because I honestly believe the breeder I got her from can’t have followed normal protocol for puppy health.  I got her on Saturday 20th July and by Monday 22nd, I found fleas and her upset tummy had started. After two trips to the vets, she eventually passed worms in her stools. It makes me wonder if the breeders actually kept on top of her worming and flea treatment when she was in their care…

Why do I think this?

I’m wondering this because Clover was cheaper than the other litters that were advertised online. Her litter was offered at £550 whereas other litters were going at £700-£800 per puppy. Naively, my eyes glistened at the opportunity of saving around £200, however, I’ve spent that in vets bills since getting her. Did the breeders offer their litter at a lower price because they planned to spend less on preparing her for her new home?

For example, the breeders let me leave without giving her any food or a blanket that smells like mum to make her feel a bit more at ease. Other breeders had already organised 4 weeks insurance for when their puppy leaves and I don’t think it is a coincidence that she happened to get fleas and worms at the same time. I also think it is sketchy that when I texted them a week later to confirm her date of birth, they never replied.

I don’t regret getting Clover at all, but I do think I could have been a bit more prepared when getting her. I should have asked for food and something that smells like her environment. I should have inquired more about when they administered her last flea and worm treatment. This was my first time getting a puppy and I guess the excitement clouded my vision.

Nonetheless, Clover is wonderful and I’m so happy to have her.

What I wish I had known before getting my first puppy:

• Think about the price of the puppy and ask yourself why this might be.
• Request that the breeders give you sufficient details about everything the puppies have received from the vets.
• Ask that the breeder sends you home with some of the puppy’s usual food – diarrhea can also start if a puppy’s diet changes too quickly.
• For the comfort of the puppy, ask if they have anything that smells like mum that you can take with you.

Now you know what I wish I had known before getting my first puppy! If you want to see how Clover is doing now – click here!

Do you have any suggestions for what I can add to this list? Please leave a comment below! I’d love to know!

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Thanks for reading!