At eight weeks old, your puppy will be due for their first vaccinations. Some breeders will have arranged their puppies’ first vaccinations before they go to their new home. If this is the case, you will be given a vaccination card by the breeder. You will need to show this to the vet you register your puppy with so that they know which vaccinations your puppy has had. Your puppy will need to have a second set of vaccinations, usually at around 10 weeks of age.

If your puppy has not been vaccinated by the breeder, you will need to make an appointment with your own vet as soon as possible. 

• Here’s how to find and register your puppy with your local vet

A good breeder will treat their puppies for worms before they leave for their new homes. Ask the breeder if this has been done, and find out what worm treatment they have been given and on what date(s). If the breeder has not wormed the puppies, this could be a sign that they are not a good breeder and you should walk away. 

Share the information about your puppy’s worming treatment with your vet. This is so they can advise you on what treatment you should use and how often to treat your puppy for worms. 

By law, breeders must microchip puppies by 8 weeks of age, before they go to their new homes. Your puppy’s breeder will give you some paperwork with your puppy’s microchip registration details. This information will be recorded with one of the following microchip databases: 

• Animal Microchips
• Animal Tracker
• Chipworks
• Identibase
• MicroChip Central
• MicroDogID
• National Veterinary Data Service
• Pet Identity UK
• Petlog
• PetScanner
• ProtectedPet
• SmartTrace
• UK PETtrac

You will need to contact the microchip company to let them know that you are the puppy’s registered owner. It is your responsibility to keep your details up to date. If you move house, you will need to let the microchip company know of your change of address. 

If your puppy has been bred by a Kennel Club registered breeder and has registered the litter your puppy came from, you will be given a pedigree certificate. This certificate details your puppy’s ancestry. 

Some breeds of dogs are known to be at risk of certain genetic disorders. The main disorders are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eye disease, chiari malformation and syringomyelia. A good breeder will make sure that their dogs are screened for any known genetic disorders before they are used for breeding. They will test the puppies if necessary too. It can be very costly and heartbreaking for owners of dogs that go on to develop painful symptoms associated with these disorders. 

For peace of mind when buying a puppy, use the Puppy Contract. That way you can capture all the information you need to make an informed choice. This information includes any potential health problems known to the breed and what tests have been carried out on the puppy and the parents. 

Read Tracy’s story: My first year as a puppy parent

Most reputable breeders sell their puppies with a short period of pet insurance cover. You will be given some insurance paperwork if this is the case. Your puppy should be covered by this insurance policy for about five or six weeks. However, it’s important to read the small print to find out exactly what you’re covered for and for how long, to avoid any nasty surprises. 

You will need to decide if you want to continue with the policy provided through the breeder, or shop around for another policy. There are many pet insurance providers, so it’s wise to do some research to find the best policy for you. 

You can use one of the comparison websites to find an insurance policy for your puppy:

• Compare the Market
• Money Supermarket

Read this useful guide from MoneySaving Expert on how to find the right pet insurance policy.