Welsh puppy buyers warned of devastating impact of ‘convenience culture’

Damning new research leads experts to urge would-be owners to be ‘puppywise’, as quick decisions are enabling rogue breeders in Wales to thrive

One in six (16%) Welsh puppy buyers fear their pet may have originated from a puppy farm, new research released today (21 August) by The Kennel Club has found.

This comes as the organisation warns of the disastrous consequences of ‘convenience culture’ puppy buying, with over half (57%) in the region admitting they won’t travel more than an hour for their puppy and a third (32%) spending less than a day researching their decision – with thousands then being duped by rogue breeders.

The research, released as part of The Kennel Club’s ‘Be Puppywise’ campaign, shows the devastating consequences of this convenience-driven puppy buying behaviour, with nearly one in five (19%) pups getting sick or dying before their first birthday nationwide – increasing sharply to one in three (31%) for those pups bought based on little research.

In Wales, half (50%) of owners experienced other complications – including their puppy developing unexpected health or behavioural issues, and 31% faced unexpectedly high financial costs to take care of their dog’s health.

Further, as part of this culture of instant gratification, over a third (35%) said convenience was a factor in their puppy buying decision and nearly half (45%) prioritised finding a puppy close to them, potentially contributing to a puppy buying postcode lottery – with rogue breeders cashing in on this convenience craze.

Following this damning research, The Kennel Club is warning puppy buyers about making impulsive decisions about both the dog they choose and the source they buy it from, opening them up to be scammed by duplicitous rogue puppy sellers and inadvertently fuelling a puppy welfare crisis.

“This research paints an alarming picture of thousands of puppy buyers making quick and sometimes careless decisions when it comes to where and how to get a dog,” commented Charlotte McNamara, Head of Health at The Kennel Club, which is urging responsible buying via its ‘Be Puppywise’ campaign. “Though it may be unintentional, this behaviour is enabling duplicitous rogue puppy sellers to flourish and operate with little scrutiny – and with devastating consequences for puppy welfare. Millions are ending up with a sick dog and paying the price in heartache and vets bills, all for the profit of rogue breeders and puppy farmers.”

Despite being prepared to buy a puppy with minimal research or effort – with 40% in Wales unwilling to travel outside of their county for a pup – over a quarter (27%) admit that they couldn’t spot a rogue breeder or puppy selling scammer.

Thousands of Welsh puppy buyers also missed key rogue breeding red flags, leaving a yawning knowledge gap about how the pup has been bred and by whom:

• Around half (46%) didn’t see their puppy interacting with its mum, or the puppy’s breeding environment and where they slept, ate or played (44%);
• 65% didn’t see their puppy’s vaccination certificates;
• Eight in 10 (81%) weren’t asked about suitability for puppy ownership – indicating an increasing likelihood of impulse pup purchases without buyers understanding the full responsibilities and commitment of ownership.

The research also suggests this impulsive purchasing could be fuelled by the lure of ‘puppy dog eyes’ on social media and trends driven by celebrities, with almost half (46%) of all UK puppy buyers saying their main motivation for their puppy choice was either how they look, or because they saw the type of dog on television, social media or with a celebrity.

Charlotte added: “This convenience culture is having a dangerous impact on puppy welfare. Getting a dog is a long-term commitment and any decision should not be made lightly, superficially or without effort. We absolutely urge anyone thinking of getting a puppy take the time to do proper, careful and extensive research and make sure the pup is right for you, and that you can spot the signs of a bad breeder. Please be willing to wait and go the distance, for the sake of your new family member. The more time you spend, the more likely you are to bring home a happy, healthy puppy, rather than fuelling untold suffering and heartache.”

Following this urgent warning, The Kennel Club is providing advice and practical resources – from videos to top tips – for would-be owners to help them Be Puppywise as part of its campaign: thekennelclub.org.uk/bepuppywise.