Looking for a furry friend? Tips for buying a happy, healthy dog

Got a dog-shaped hole in your life and looking to fill it with a canine companion? You've got options: your local shelter, home-based rescues, breeders and online sellers all offer cute, cuddly pups who could be your new best friend.

But which is the best choice?

Erika Anseeuw, director of animal health at the Winnipeg Humane Society, weighed in on CBC Manitoba's Up To Speed on Thursday with some tips and tricks — and a few warning signs to look out for.

First things first, Anseeuw said: prospective dog parents need to start by taking a look at their own home to make sure it's ready to welcome a furry friend.

"First of all, you want to make sure that you're ready for a dog, and that everything in your house is stable for a dog," she said. "So there's not a lot of changes going on in the near future, you don't have any new babies on the way, you're not about to move."

Once you're sure the timing is right, Anseeuw said you can find what you're looking for through most channels, from shelters to breeders — provided you do your homework first.

No to a visit? That's a red flag

If you want a specific breed, she said your best bet to find a dog fast is through a breeder. Reputable breeders of purebred dogs are registered through the Canadian Kennel Club, but if you're looking for a mixed-breed pooch, you'll have to use your own judgment.

"Now, there's some great breeders out there that might have mixed-breeds that aren't registered, but you can do some research about their facilities — look at online, their website, you should be permitted to visit the facilities," Anseeuw said.

"I would be suspicious of somebody who's selling quote 'purebred' puppies or specifically bred puppies and they won't let you come to their facility, they want to meet you in a parking lot somewhere. Those are the ones to be concerned about."

Wherever you choose to buy, Anseeuw said sellers should be able to provide veterinary records or even references with any health information you need. If they can't, Anseeuw said you should do the check yourself before buying.

"There are pets out there that maybe are healthy but the person doesn't have documentation. So if you're concerned, maybe back away," she said.

"But if that person is genuinely trying to re-home their loving pet, they're probably going to be very co-operative with you and helping you get that information that you need, or maybe even taking it to the vet of your choice."

If the seller has sold other animals before, you should feel empowered to ask for references from previous buyers, Anseeuw said.

If the animal looks unhealthy, that's a red flag, she said. Another warning sign is if the seller has several breeds to choose from, which signals they're breeding a lot of animals, she added.

The best way to report any concerns about an animal's well-being in the care of a seller is through the Chief Veterinarian's Office, Anseeuw said, at 204-945-8000.

Need to re-home? Free's not always a bad thing

If you're looking to re-home one of your own pets, Anseeuw said listing an animal for free online isn't necessarily a bad thing.

"I think that's great. If I had a dog that I could no longer keep in my life for whatever reason, and I really wanted to find it a home … then an ad on Kijiji is great and I would put my dog up for free, because it's not a money-making thing," she said.

The catch is you have to do your due diligence to make sure the animal finds a loving home.

"But I would be talking to the person, asking all the questions to make sure that I felt comfortable giving my dog to them," she said.