Certificate and Code of Practice for New Owners of a Puppy or Dog

Code of Practice for New Owners of a Puppy or Dog

Quick Guide for potential new owners of a puppy or dog

Owning a dog is a long-term commitment - they can live for many years. Please consider the following before becoming an owner of one.

• Take time to research before you buy or adopt a dog - make sure that a dog is the right choice of pet for you and that you select the right breed or type of dog its size, grooming requirements, exercise required to keep them healthy and happy.
• It is unfair on a dog to be left alone for long periods of time as they are animals which enjoy and need companionship and whether the dog will be likely to fit in well with your household.
• Think of the cost as owning a dog can be expensive: food, veterinary costs, grooming, kennelling or dog care, and, ideally, pet insurance all add up.
• You are legally responsible to keep your dog under control, and it is in the dog’s best interests to be trained so that it does not cause harm to itself, to you, to other people or to other animals.
• Finally before visiting the seller, and you should do this at least once, make a list of questions you want to ask them.

1. Guidance for Selling, Transferring, Giving Away Puppy or Dog

• You should ensure that the new owner has confirmed that they have read and understood the points set out in Section 1 above.
• You should be prepared and able to let the prospective new owner visit you and see the dog in its home environment before the animal is transferred. If asked, you should be willing and able to accommodate several visits to your premises to allow the new owner to ensure that they are making the right decision.
• Puppies should always be with their mother in their home environment during the visits. If this is not possible, you must provide the new owner a reason why it was not.
• If selling a puppy, for the puppy’s health, it should not be removed from its mother earlier than at 8 weeks old. You should be able to confirm to the new owner the age of the puppy and that it is not being transferred earlier than that and that it has been microchipped.

This code of practice comes into effect on 18^th March 2026.

2. Appendix 1: Sources of Information

• Your vet
• Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA)
• Blue Cross
• Dogs Trust
• Association of Dogs and Cats Homes
• BVA - British Veterinary Association
• BSAVA – British Small Animal Veterinary Association
• Take the IHA — Innate Health Assessment
• CFSG Guidance on Dog Conformation
• The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• The Scottish Kennel Club The Royal Kennel Club
• My Gov Scot