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A dog will be your companion for 10–15 years. Before visiting a kennel, think through your routine, budget, and the questions that will help you assess the breeding practices and the offer.
Step 1
Four things to discuss at home. Once you know what you want, choose a breed from the catalog before contacting a breeder.
Walks, training, and mental stimulation take more than weekend outings. Think in years, not just how you feel in January.
Beyond the puppy's price, budget for food, vet care, insurance, training, and unexpected costs. A cheap puppy without a pedigree can cost more later.
Apartment, house, children, other animals, work shifts. The breed needs to fit your life, not just look good in a photo.
Your first dog is not a sporting project. Choose a temperament and size that fit your daily routine, then look for a kennel.
Not sure which breed fits your life? Start with the breed selection guide.
Step 2
A pedigree is an official document for a puppy in the Czech Kennel Union (ČMKU) system. It confirms the puppy's breed and documented ancestry across several generations, but says nothing about its health, temperament, or the quality of breeding. Chovka focuses on breeders who raise puppies with pedigrees.
A pedigree is not an 'extra piece of paper' that costs more. It is an official record of a dog's ancestry based on the studbook. Without it, you have no official proof of that ancestry.
Breed
No official document confirms the breed.
Parents and ancestors
The parents and ancestors cannot be traced in the studbook.
Breeding parents
There is no evidence that the parents meet the breeding requirements.
Litter and microchip
A microchip only shows that a puppy is identified, not where it comes from.
Dog shows
You usually cannot enter it in dog shows.
Breed
An official document confirms that the dog is this breed.
Parents and ancestors
The parents and several generations of ancestors are recorded in the studbook.
Breeding parents
Both parents met the breed’s breeding requirements set by the breed club.
Litter and microchip
The litter is registered in the studbook, and the puppy's microchip number is listed on its pedigree.
Dog shows
You can take the dog to dog shows.
A pedigree documents ancestry, but does not guarantee health or temperament. Ask the breeder about the parents' health tests.
Step 3
The catalog shows signs of activity from public sources, such as mentions of litters, dog shows, and an active website. These are only an estimate and do not confirm that a kennel is currently breeding or offering puppies. Always check the litter, price, and timing directly with the breeder, and visit in person.
Litter mentions
Public breeding records show past activity, but do not confirm that a kennel is breeding now.
Dog shows
A dog show result is one public sign of activity; on its own, it does not confirm current breeding or available puppies.
Active website
An active kennel website is another sign. It is no guarantee — check everything with the breeder.
Looking for a specific litter? Browse puppy listings or the kennel catalog.
Step 4
You don't need to be a dog expert. Ask six questions and listen for clear answers instead of a sales pitch.
Puppies learn from their mother. A calm mother you can meet in her home tells you more than listing photos. The father is often elsewhere; a good breeder can give you specific details about him.
Household sounds, people, puppy pads, short outings. A puppy that has only known a kennel has to get used to all this with you — and that takes more work.
It depends on the breed (hips, eyes, heart, DNA tests). Don't rely on a vague promise of a “healthy puppy”: ask for specific test results and a breeder willing to show them. Chovka does not provide veterinary advice — ask your vet too.
Usually no earlier than 7–8 weeks. You should receive a contract, vaccination and deworming records, microchip details, and pedigree paperwork. Don't let anyone pressure you into picking up the puppy earlier.
A responsible breeder matches a puppy to your home, not to the first buyer who can pay. If all you hear is “they’re all lovely,” keep asking questions.
A good breeder stays in touch after you take the puppy home. Being willing to answer your call weeks later says more than an immediate discount.
Step 5
Three things to see for yourself. If any are missing, ask more questions and take your time.
Puppies with their mother
You can see where the puppies are growing up. They’re curious, not frightened. Their mother isn’t exhausted or kept apart.
Specific answers
The breeder knows their dogs, can explain the breed's challenges, and doesn't promise an effortless companion.
Written agreement
Price, pickup date, vaccinations, microchip, and return terms. Take your time reading it — not in the car outside the kennel.
Step 6
The first few weeks matter more than choosing a collar. Three steps worth taking right away.
Follow the breeder’s feeding and sleep routine, keep walks short, and limit visitors. Your dog is settling in — give trips and training classes time.
Arrange a vet check soon after bringing your puppy home, plan vaccinations and check the microchip. Bring the documents from the breeder.
Boundaries, practice being alone, and social contact. Your first dog doesn't start learning “when it's grown up” — it starts now.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions first-time puppy buyers ask most often. Questions about clubs are on the breed clubs page.
A pedigree documents the ancestry of a specific dog. It confirms the dog's breed and documented ancestry, but does not guarantee temperament or health. Without a pedigree, you do not have this official record of ancestry. A kennel's entry in the catalog does not, by itself, confirm that a particular puppy in a listing has a pedigree.
The breeder welcomes a visit, shows you the mother, can discuss health tests and socialization, and provides a written agreement. Activity signals in Chovka's catalog come from public sources — they are estimates, not guarantees. Always check directly with the kennel whether a litter is currently available.
Ask about the mother’s and father’s lives, how the litter is socialized, the parents’ health tests, when you can take the puppy home and what documents you’ll receive. Ask about that puppy’s temperament and whether you can contact the breeder after you bring it home. A good breeder matches a puppy to your household rather than offering you the first available one.
A listing is a starting point, not a decision. Visit in person, get a contract, and verify the puppy's pedigree before buying. Chovka shows listings and kennels; the purchase, breeding conditions, and choice of puppy are up to you.
This guide is for people looking for their first puppy. It is not veterinary or breeding advice. Always discuss a specific litter and puppy with the breeder. Chovka does not sell puppies or take part in the sales contract; it lets you contact the breeder through a listing.