Thinking of buying a puppy in Singapore? Read this article to learn important things to consider before making your purchase, such as where to find affordable puppies, what age to adopt, and whether to get one or two dogs. Get your puppiesfrom trusted Pet shop, the Lovely Pets in Singapore.
Where to Find Affordable Puppies?
Many people are deemed puppies from a breeder or pet shop to be expensive in Singapore. Here are alternative ways to get a puppy in Singapore:
Adopting a mixed-breed puppy from a shelter or rescue organization such as SPCA is typically much less expensive than purchasing a puppy from a breeder or a petshop. Majority of the dogs will be adult or older in age and are mostly the Singapore Specials mixed breed instead of the designer or purebred puppies offered in the pet shop. Many rescue organisations also prefer experienced owners to adopt their dogs as a lot of these dogs may come with a myriad of issues due to their unstable circumstances.
Looking for puppies or adult dogs for adoption on online websites like facebook adoption groups can also be a more affordable option. Please note that some of these dogs may require more attention or training due to their rough start in life and hence are more suited for experienced dog owners.
Please beware of online ads in Singapore that advertise purebred or designer puppies at a very cheap price. More often than not, they are scams or illegally sourced puppies. Do not lose your money to such scams or get a sick puppy that may die easily due to viruses. Popular purebred or designer breeds in SIngapore include Golden Retrievers, Cavapoos, Cavachons, Maltipoos, Goldendoodles etc
2. Why are Puppies So Expensive in Singapore? Singapore has limited land and dog breeding is tightly regulated. There are also many regulations imposed by the government to ensure the breeding condition of dogs meet the welfare requirements. Additionally, pet shops may have to import dogs from other countries, which can add to the cost. Imported puppies are very popular as the puppies often have a bigger plot of land to roam around compared to land scarce Singapore. Due to this, puppies which are bred from ethical breeders are typically imported which add to their costs. It is important to look for puppies for reputable petshop with parents DNA testing to ensure there is no hereditary diseases for the puppy.
3. What Age to Adopt a Puppy? The earliest puppies are weaned from the mother is typically 8 weeks. So 3 months onwards is suitable to adopt a puppy. Any puppy up to 1 year old are still easy to train and adapt to the new house. However most people prefer puppies under 6 months old.
4. Should My First Dog Be a Puppy? With a puppy, you can make sure to shape his or her personality and character to suit your family lifestyle. On the flip side, this also means you have to put in the effort to train, from toilet training to expected behaviour in your house. However adult dogs may come with their own sense of behavioral issues depending on the experiences they have earlier in life. That is why a lot of first time owners still prefer to get a puppy.
5. Are Older Puppies Cheaper? Generally yes. There is no difference in training ability however the majority prefers the look of a very young puppy.
6. Is 12 Weeks Too Old to Adopt a Puppy? It is actually good time! The puppies usually are weaned from the mother at 2 months old. Imported puppies can only fly at 12 weeks old making it the earliest time to get a puppy.
7. Is it Better to Adopt or Get a Puppy? We encourage people to adopt. It is a very noble thing to do and all dogs are deserving of a home. Do take note that some dogs for adoption come with behaviour issues developed from their past homes which may be challenging for owners, especially a new owner, to train and overcome. Furthermore, most dogs for adoption are held by organisations with their own strict rules which may rule out a lot of potential adopters. In addition, you may now find your desired breed or temperament with adoption. Hence this is why adoption is not everyone.
As a petshop, we only bring in puppies from ethical breeders who take one step further to check their parents DNA to ensure there is no hereditary diseases to be passed down.
Thinking of Getting A Second Dog?
8. Are Two Dogs Easier Than One? Once you have kept and trained a dog well, you will realise that having a second dog is a breeze. The senior dog can even help to teach the new dog the house rules making training session easier. Furthermore, having 2 dogs mean they can keep each other entertained, leaving you with free time to pursue your own activities. This will also be especially helpful if the senior dog is clingy or prefers to have company.
9. Is It Better to Have Two Dogs Than One? The best argument for having 2 dogs is so that they can keep each other company, especially when the humans are not a home. We have also seen cases where senior dogs get a second wind with the arrival of a puppy and they exhibit those same puppy like high energy themselves. Once you have a dog, you will discover how much love a dog can give you and so you will start to think why not we double this amount of joy! Of course, responsible pet keeping should be considered and we need to ensure we have enough time, energy and money to fulfill the dogs needs.
10. How Can I Tell If My Dog is Lonely? Dogs are bred to live in a family and can be lonely without company or stimulation. Signs that your dog may be lonely include:
Incessant barking or whining
Chewing on items and furniture
Separation anxiety
Loss of appetite
Lethargy
To combat loneliness, play with your dog more often, increase your daily walk duration. After all you are your dog's closest family! In addition, you can create play dates opportunities in the dog park, daycares or get to know neighbours with dogs that can get along!
11. Will My Dog Get Jealous If I Get Another Dog? Dogs may get jealous if proper introduction is not done and they think that their human pay more attention to the new dog. Proper introduction and reassurance is key. Limit the space for the new dog initially so it doesn't seem too threatening to the senior dog.
12. What I Wish I Knew Before Getting a Second Dog? If you're considering getting a second dog, there are a few things to keep in mind:
The current dog should be well behaved and understand the house rules. Make sure current dog is generally not aggressive to other dogs.
Limit the space for the new dog initially so it doesn't seem too threatening to the senior dog.
Make sure you have considered the extra time, effort and expense in getting a second dog.
Match the character of the new dog to the senior.
Additional bonus points: 1. Check the AVS License number of the shop The seller must have a physical shop in Singapore and a valid AVS license number beginning with ASXXJXXXXX. The first two digits after the letters A and S denotes the year the pet shop started. For example if the license is AS16J00033, then that shop was established in 2016. If it is AS24XXXXX, that shop was established in 2024 and so on. The longer the pet shop has been around, the more trustworthy they are. It is a common practice for shops to close (due to financial constraints, operational flaws, angry customers, etc) and then to be re-opened under a different company name, while the owner is still the same.
2. Be careful of Sellers asking for deposit money and promising to handover the puppy at a later date There are scams where the buyer is enticed to put a deposit money and the sellers run away with the money. This is prevalent especially when the seller does not even have a physical storefront. The Seller's usual excuse is that the puppy is in Malaysia/Thailand/Russia, and they need the buyer to pay for the transport costs. In order to avoid this trap, always check that the Seller has a physical storefront, valid AVS license and check with your friends and family members who have dogs whether the Seller is legit or not. If the price is too good to be true, that's because it is. Usually a legit Seller will have some available puppies that they keep in the physical shop and they have been in the business for years (check the previous point).
3. Scrutinise Google Reviews If they have a physical storefront, they usually must have a Google Review. But go deeper than just looking at the numbers. Click on the lowest ratings and read the reviews. Some pet shops might have 1star through no fault of their own. For example it could be competitors faking negative review on them or some sad viewer who could not buy their puppy they wanted because they hesitated too long that another buyer get to grab their intended puppy. Read the positives too. See how the shop is able to address concerns and tackle after-sale problems.
Conclusion: Having a dog is one of the most joyful thing you can experience. Their unconditional love is one of the best thing in life. Before purchasing a dog, make sure you have researched the petshop to ensure that the puppies come from ethical breeders to avoid possible future health issues. By following these tips, you can ensure that you and your furry friend have a happy and healthy life together.
