Are you ready for a dog?
Before looking to buy a dog, make sure you are ready. From expenses to grooming, training and general care, getting a puppy is a lifelong commitment.
There are many important things to consider before you start looking to buy a dog - from finding out if you are ready, to discovering the right breed to suit your lifestyle. Also, do you want to buy a pedigree puppy or get a dog from a breed rescue? This page contains the information you need to find your new best friend.
Dog ownership is a decision that brings many rewards with it. These can include a healthier lifestyle, improved sociability and sense of community, as well as companionship. To ensure that you are able to enjoy these benefits it is essential that you ask yourself the following questions before getting a puppy or dog:
If you have been able to answer 'YES' to all of the questions, the next step is to research the right breed or type of dog for you.
Please read the information below to help decide whether you are ready to get a dog. Consider each section when making your decision.
Finding the right dog
Advice and help on how where to find dogs & puppies for sale in Malta or abroad as well as choosing the right pedigree or crossbreed dog for you, your family and your lifestyle.
Male or Female, Puppy or Adult: You could discuss these options with:
Size: Does your choice of dog, in relation to its size, suit your home, car, children and exercise plans, and suit friends or family that might look after it during the holidays?
Coat length and type: Do you mind spending hours grooming and cleaning your dog and your house, or do you want a low-maintenance breed? Some dog breeds have a strong smell; others dribble a great deal! Can you live with these things?
What colour should my puppy be?If you are looking to acquire a puppy, please be aware that every breed of pedigree dog has ideal colours described in its blueprint – the Breed Standard as laid down by the English Kennel Club. Before contacting any breeders about their puppies, please consult the breed club websites and the Breed Information Centre on the English Kennel Club website for important information on the breed, including the ideal colours listed in the Breed Standard.
Beware of claims that puppies are a rare or exclusive colour, as well as inflated prices that reflect this 'rarity'. Sometimes these colours are not listed in the Breed Standard and are promoted by unscrupulous breeders who are following the latest fad or fashion. Colours are also sometimes advertised as desirable when, in fact, the opposite is true and these are undesirable under the Breed Standard which strongly recommends that such colours should not be rewarded in the show ring.
The Breed Standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament and appearance including the ideal colours of a breed and ensures that good breeders ensure the breed is fit for function.
The ideal colours in the breed are listed in the Breed Standard, and, while other colours may exist, these are not recognised in the Breed Standard. Unrecognised and undesirable colours may have occurred due to outcrossing and should be avoided if they are known to indicate conditions which may be detrimental to health. To view the breed specific colours listed by the Kennel Club, visit the Current Registration Colours section within the KC Breed Information Centre.
Where a colour is known to be detrimental to health, the MNCF will adopt the Kennel Club Rules and will refuse registration. It should be noted that the MNCF will not accept applications to register a litter where both parents are the colour merle, regardless of whether that colour is listed for the breed. This is due to health considerations. For more information, visit the Breeding Restrictions section within the Breed Information Centre.
Buying a puppy is a very exciting time for any family and should never be undertaken lightly nor based upon one factor alone, such as coat colour. Any decision should be based upon a number of factors in order for a puppy buyer to make an informed choice which must have responsible dog ownership at its heart. Temperament and health must be major considerations and owners must be committed to the dog for the whole of its lifetime. Where puppy buyers make a decision based upon one factor alone such as coat colour there is the potential for welfare problems due to dogs being rehomed when the buyer decides their purchase is not suitable for their lifestyle after all.
Therefore, the MNCF discourages people to choose puppies having colours other then those permitted in their respective breed standards. Apart from the possibility that one could face difficulties when trying to find homes for puppies resulting from matings of such non-standard coloured dogs, there might be health issues introduced in the breed, and also introducing other problems which will distance the dog from it's breed standard, such as size, coat texture, temperament, etc.
Please note that the MNCF will ONLY register Merle colored dogs in the following breeds:
Australian Shepherd,
Beauceron,
Bergamasco,
Border Collie,
Cardigan Welsh Corgi,
Dachshund (colour known as dapple),
Great Dane,
Long Haired Pyrenean Sheepdog,
Rough Collie,
Shetland Sheepdog and
Smooth Collie.
Non-moulting breeds of dog: For those owners who wish to obtain a dog which has a predisposition not shed its coat may be a suitable choice. Find out what breeds are non-moulting dogs.
Health: There are no naturally unhealthy pedigree dog breeds - but there are breeds in which certain conditions tend to surface more. It will inevitably take time for these conditions to be eliminated but where there are known health problems, which can be tested for, research and health testing should be carried out. The Kennel Club runs specific schemes aimed at the breeds concerned. Tests such as hip and elbow scoring enable potential owners to have a good idea about the future health of their puppy. Pedigree dogs also carry a breed standard which is an indication of their likely care needs.
Temperament: Some dogs are bred for looks, others for their working ability, and the result is that you get a whole range of temperaments in between. Which one is right for you depends on many variables so get expert help on your intended pedigree dog breed and be very careful about where you buy your puppy.
Pedigree or Crossbreed: A pedigree dog is the offspring of two dogs of the same breed whose lineage is recorded with a recognized club. Pedigree dogs carry a breed standard which is a blueprint for their likely character and health needs.
In addition to pedigree dogs there are also crossbreeds to consider. These dogs often display a mixture of their ancestors traits. So it is important to take this into account. If you know the mix of breeds this may help but otherwise, find out what you can about the parents.The downfall of choosing a cross breed without knowing what the parents looks like is that you won't know what size the dog will become when he grows up, and whether it is going to be short or long coated, apart from temperament issues which might crop up in time.
So what is a pedigree dog: A pedigree dog is the offspring of a dam and sire of the same breed, which is eligible for registration with a recognized club or society that maintain a register for dogs of that description. All pedigree dogs carry a breed standard - a picture in words that describes each breed of pedigree dog - for their likely character and health needs. Consider what job your intended breed was designed to do, and whether you can cope with the innate behavior that will accompany it.
Finding the right breeder
When searching for a healthy pedigree puppy it is the breeder that is the most important consideration - make sure that the person you are buying from is a reputable breeder.
What to expect from a breeder
BUYING THE DOG
When buying a puppy, it is important to make sure that it is already registered and that the registration certificate is provided with the dog. It is also important that it is signed on the back (the back of the registration certificate is also the transfer form). Transfers of ownership cannot be done unless they are signed by the person on which the dog is registered. Please be aware that if you are purchasing a dog which is not registered, you will have to go through a procedure which involves getting the signatures of the owners of the sire and dam. Also, if the sire and dam are not registered, than the puppy cannot be registered. If the dam of the puppy had her previous litter within the previous 12 months of the date of birth of your dog, then your dog WILL NOT be registered, so it is better to avoid all this hassle by ensuring that the registration papers are provided with the puppy. For more information regarding the Registration Certificate and Transfer of ownership, CLICK HERE!
Be aware of the Maltese legislation and also of our Rules. Any infringements of the Laws and/or Rules shown below will result in automatic refusal of registration.
Make sure that the breeder you are buying from is reliable, doing your homework after you get your puppy is too late.
Certain breeds, such as and especially Labrador Retrievers (in Malta), suffers from hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia, and we do get numerous complaints from people who bought puppies who end up suffering from these conditions. A pedigree or registration certificate doesn't necessarily mean or ensures a healthy puppy. Please do make your homework before buying a dog. If you are buying a breed which is known to suffer from certain conditions, make sure that the breeder you are buying from has his dogs tested and free from these conditions.
BUYING A DOG FROM ABROAD:
If You are obtaining your dog from abroad, then you must make sure that it comes with the EXPORT PEDIGREE issued by the Kennel Club of the Country it came from and showing you as the owner of that dog. The only Export pedigrees recognized and accepted here are those issued by the Kennel Club (U.K), The American Kennel Club, The Canadian Kennel Club and imported_dog_registration_form_2020_fillable.pdfany Kennel Club affiliated with the F.C.I. Export Pedigrees issued by kennel clubs other then those mentioned are not accepted. So it is of great importance that one should make sure that this can be obtained before committing to buy the dog from abroad as without the proper Export Pedigree, the dog will not be registered in any other Country outside it's Country of registration and neither will it's progeny. A normal pedigree is not sufficient to register an imported dog. A copy of the Export Pedigree is always needed when registering an imported dog, as only when you have this document can you register the dog and it's progeny. To register an imported dog, Form 5 (Registration of an Imported Dog) shall be used.I
Before looking to buy a dog, make sure you are ready. From expenses to grooming, training and general care, getting a puppy is a lifelong commitment.
There are many important things to consider before you start looking to buy a dog - from finding out if you are ready, to discovering the right breed to suit your lifestyle. Also, do you want to buy a pedigree puppy or get a dog from a breed rescue? This page contains the information you need to find your new best friend.
Dog ownership is a decision that brings many rewards with it. These can include a healthier lifestyle, improved sociability and sense of community, as well as companionship. To ensure that you are able to enjoy these benefits it is essential that you ask yourself the following questions before getting a puppy or dog:
- Can I afford to have a dog? Ongoing expenses such as food and veterinary fees.
- Can I make a lifelong commitment to a dog? A dog's average life span is 12 years.
- Is my home big enough to house a dog?
- Do I really want to exercise a dog every day?
- Will there be someone at home for a dog? Dogs get lonely just like humans.
- Will I find time to train, groom and generally care for a dog?
- Will I be able to answer YES to these questions every day of the year?
If you have been able to answer 'YES' to all of the questions, the next step is to research the right breed or type of dog for you.
Please read the information below to help decide whether you are ready to get a dog. Consider each section when making your decision.
Finding the right dog
Advice and help on how where to find dogs & puppies for sale in Malta or abroad as well as choosing the right pedigree or crossbreed dog for you, your family and your lifestyle.
Male or Female, Puppy or Adult: You could discuss these options with:
- experienced dog owners
- your prospective veterinary surgeon
- breeders from whom you may consider purchasing a puppy
- those involved with rescue organisations
Size: Does your choice of dog, in relation to its size, suit your home, car, children and exercise plans, and suit friends or family that might look after it during the holidays?
Coat length and type: Do you mind spending hours grooming and cleaning your dog and your house, or do you want a low-maintenance breed? Some dog breeds have a strong smell; others dribble a great deal! Can you live with these things?
What colour should my puppy be?If you are looking to acquire a puppy, please be aware that every breed of pedigree dog has ideal colours described in its blueprint – the Breed Standard as laid down by the English Kennel Club. Before contacting any breeders about their puppies, please consult the breed club websites and the Breed Information Centre on the English Kennel Club website for important information on the breed, including the ideal colours listed in the Breed Standard.
Beware of claims that puppies are a rare or exclusive colour, as well as inflated prices that reflect this 'rarity'. Sometimes these colours are not listed in the Breed Standard and are promoted by unscrupulous breeders who are following the latest fad or fashion. Colours are also sometimes advertised as desirable when, in fact, the opposite is true and these are undesirable under the Breed Standard which strongly recommends that such colours should not be rewarded in the show ring.
The Breed Standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament and appearance including the ideal colours of a breed and ensures that good breeders ensure the breed is fit for function.
The ideal colours in the breed are listed in the Breed Standard, and, while other colours may exist, these are not recognised in the Breed Standard. Unrecognised and undesirable colours may have occurred due to outcrossing and should be avoided if they are known to indicate conditions which may be detrimental to health. To view the breed specific colours listed by the Kennel Club, visit the Current Registration Colours section within the KC Breed Information Centre.
Where a colour is known to be detrimental to health, the MNCF will adopt the Kennel Club Rules and will refuse registration. It should be noted that the MNCF will not accept applications to register a litter where both parents are the colour merle, regardless of whether that colour is listed for the breed. This is due to health considerations. For more information, visit the Breeding Restrictions section within the Breed Information Centre.
Buying a puppy is a very exciting time for any family and should never be undertaken lightly nor based upon one factor alone, such as coat colour. Any decision should be based upon a number of factors in order for a puppy buyer to make an informed choice which must have responsible dog ownership at its heart. Temperament and health must be major considerations and owners must be committed to the dog for the whole of its lifetime. Where puppy buyers make a decision based upon one factor alone such as coat colour there is the potential for welfare problems due to dogs being rehomed when the buyer decides their purchase is not suitable for their lifestyle after all.
Therefore, the MNCF discourages people to choose puppies having colours other then those permitted in their respective breed standards. Apart from the possibility that one could face difficulties when trying to find homes for puppies resulting from matings of such non-standard coloured dogs, there might be health issues introduced in the breed, and also introducing other problems which will distance the dog from it's breed standard, such as size, coat texture, temperament, etc.
Please note that the MNCF will ONLY register Merle colored dogs in the following breeds:
Australian Shepherd,
Beauceron,
Bergamasco,
Border Collie,
Cardigan Welsh Corgi,
Dachshund (colour known as dapple),
Great Dane,
Long Haired Pyrenean Sheepdog,
Rough Collie,
Shetland Sheepdog and
Smooth Collie.
Non-moulting breeds of dog: For those owners who wish to obtain a dog which has a predisposition not shed its coat may be a suitable choice. Find out what breeds are non-moulting dogs.
Health: There are no naturally unhealthy pedigree dog breeds - but there are breeds in which certain conditions tend to surface more. It will inevitably take time for these conditions to be eliminated but where there are known health problems, which can be tested for, research and health testing should be carried out. The Kennel Club runs specific schemes aimed at the breeds concerned. Tests such as hip and elbow scoring enable potential owners to have a good idea about the future health of their puppy. Pedigree dogs also carry a breed standard which is an indication of their likely care needs.
Temperament: Some dogs are bred for looks, others for their working ability, and the result is that you get a whole range of temperaments in between. Which one is right for you depends on many variables so get expert help on your intended pedigree dog breed and be very careful about where you buy your puppy.
Pedigree or Crossbreed: A pedigree dog is the offspring of two dogs of the same breed whose lineage is recorded with a recognized club. Pedigree dogs carry a breed standard which is a blueprint for their likely character and health needs.
In addition to pedigree dogs there are also crossbreeds to consider. These dogs often display a mixture of their ancestors traits. So it is important to take this into account. If you know the mix of breeds this may help but otherwise, find out what you can about the parents.The downfall of choosing a cross breed without knowing what the parents looks like is that you won't know what size the dog will become when he grows up, and whether it is going to be short or long coated, apart from temperament issues which might crop up in time.
So what is a pedigree dog: A pedigree dog is the offspring of a dam and sire of the same breed, which is eligible for registration with a recognized club or society that maintain a register for dogs of that description. All pedigree dogs carry a breed standard - a picture in words that describes each breed of pedigree dog - for their likely character and health needs. Consider what job your intended breed was designed to do, and whether you can cope with the innate behavior that will accompany it.
Finding the right breeder
When searching for a healthy pedigree puppy it is the breeder that is the most important consideration - make sure that the person you are buying from is a reputable breeder.
What to expect from a breeder
- The breeder should give you the opportunity to see the puppy with its mother and the rest of litter. This is very important because it will not only give you an opportunity to see the temperament of the mother, but may also give you an idea of the future characteristics and size of the puppy
- Have the opportunity to see all the puppies and be able to handle them, rather than just seeing the puppy being offered to you
- It is the responsibility of the breeder to register the litter with the MNCF and each puppy in the litter will initially be registered in the breeders' name. The breeder chooses the official MNCF names for all the puppies
- Under normal circumstances, litter registration with the MNCF takes about 7 days, after which time the breeder will receive the registration certificates for all the puppies in the litter. If there is a query with the application the MNCF will contact the breeder to resolve and further action may be required which may delay the registration process
- If the dog is advertised as MNCF registered you should ensure that you take receipt of the MNCF Registration Certificate. You must then proceed to apply to the MNCF to transfer your dog into your own name. Please be aware that you will require the signature of the breeder to complete this. If the registrations certificate is not available at the time of purchase, ensure that you receive an undertaking in writing from the breeder that this will be sent to you when available
- A responsible breeder will provide background on socialization they have already provided to your puppy and advice on continuing work in this area when you get home. Ideally when you choose your puppy, try and find a litter that have been raised in a house as similar to yours as possible (so with children if you have children, in a noisy environment if you have a noisy house, with cats if you have cats etc). If your puppy has come from a breeder who follows the Puppy Plan, you already you know that he has had a good start in life, and so you know he is well on the way to making a perfect addition to your family. If your puppy is from a breeder or rescue and hasn't had the advantages of the Puppy Plan start in life, don't panic. Just start today and follow the Puppy Socialization Plan from now on in order for him to get the chance to catch up with a lot of the things he has missed.
- A Contract of Sale - it is recommended that the breeder provide you with this. Among other things this should detail both the breeders' and your responsibility to the puppy. The contract should also list any official MNCF endorsements (restrictions) that the breeder has placed on the puppy's records, and in particular on what basis the breeder may be prepared to remove the endorsement. Endorsements the breeder may place on your puppy include not for breeding, not for exhibiting and not for export. Before or at the time of sale, you must give a signed acknowledgement of any endorsement placed
- Ask whether there are and Endorsements (Conditions) attached to the registration of the dog/bitch.
- Written advice on training, feeding, exercise, worming and immunization
- A pedigree detailing your dog's ancestry - this could either be hand-written or a printed pedigree from either the breeder or an official one from the Kennel Club
- Copies of any additional health certificates for the sire and dam
- Ask which vaccinations your puppy has had and which ones are still required
- Ask for the MNCF Registration Certificate, and see that the breeder has signed on the back for the transfer. Never accept excuses that they are still waiting for the registration papers, the MNCF always processes applications immediately and documents are always given to the breeder within 7 days from application.
- For puppies born on and after the 1st of April 2023, a DNA Genetic Identification certificate for the sire and dam (father & mother of the puppies) must be presented for the registration of the puppies, otherwise the application will be refused.
BUYING THE DOG
When buying a puppy, it is important to make sure that it is already registered and that the registration certificate is provided with the dog. It is also important that it is signed on the back (the back of the registration certificate is also the transfer form). Transfers of ownership cannot be done unless they are signed by the person on which the dog is registered. Please be aware that if you are purchasing a dog which is not registered, you will have to go through a procedure which involves getting the signatures of the owners of the sire and dam. Also, if the sire and dam are not registered, than the puppy cannot be registered. If the dam of the puppy had her previous litter within the previous 12 months of the date of birth of your dog, then your dog WILL NOT be registered, so it is better to avoid all this hassle by ensuring that the registration papers are provided with the puppy. For more information regarding the Registration Certificate and Transfer of ownership, CLICK HERE!
Be aware of the Maltese legislation and also of our Rules. Any infringements of the Laws and/or Rules shown below will result in automatic refusal of registration.
Make sure that the breeder you are buying from is reliable, doing your homework after you get your puppy is too late.
Certain breeds, such as and especially Labrador Retrievers (in Malta), suffers from hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia, and we do get numerous complaints from people who bought puppies who end up suffering from these conditions. A pedigree or registration certificate doesn't necessarily mean or ensures a healthy puppy. Please do make your homework before buying a dog. If you are buying a breed which is known to suffer from certain conditions, make sure that the breeder you are buying from has his dogs tested and free from these conditions.
BUYING A DOG FROM ABROAD:
If You are obtaining your dog from abroad, then you must make sure that it comes with the EXPORT PEDIGREE issued by the Kennel Club of the Country it came from and showing you as the owner of that dog. The only Export pedigrees recognized and accepted here are those issued by the Kennel Club (U.K), The American Kennel Club, The Canadian Kennel Club and imported_dog_registration_form_2020_fillable.pdfany Kennel Club affiliated with the F.C.I. Export Pedigrees issued by kennel clubs other then those mentioned are not accepted. So it is of great importance that one should make sure that this can be obtained before committing to buy the dog from abroad as without the proper Export Pedigree, the dog will not be registered in any other Country outside it's Country of registration and neither will it's progeny. A normal pedigree is not sufficient to register an imported dog. A copy of the Export Pedigree is always needed when registering an imported dog, as only when you have this document can you register the dog and it's progeny. To register an imported dog, Form 5 (Registration of an Imported Dog) shall be used.I