VETS are warning people to be vigilant when buying a puppy.

New laws will ban the sale of puppies under eight weeks old as part of a crackdown on unscrupulous breeders.

White Cross Vets welcomed the move by creating a checklist to help people understand what to look for when buying a puppy.

Dr James Harris said: “It’s harrowing to see young puppies pulled away from their mothers before they should be, and for so many female dogs to be used in a continuous and unhealthy breeding cycle in horrible conditions just to make money should be punishable.”

Vets recommend going through official channels to purchase a puppy rather than buying online, to see puppies in their own home and suckling from their mother, to ask for details about the parents and to see medical records for the mother. Buyers should also establish whether the dogs are microchipped.

The new regulations mean that anyone breeding and selling three or more litters of puppies a year will have to apply for a formal licence.

Online sellers will also have to meet strict welfare criteria to get a licence.

Breeders who break the rules face an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison.

In other changes, pet shops will be required to give buyers written information about the animals they buy, setting out the new owners' legal requirements under the Animal Welfare Act.

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said: "Everyone who owns a pet or is looking to introduce one into their life will want to know that the animal has had the very best start to life.

"Yet for thousands of puppies born each year to irresponsible breeders, from smaller operations to larger puppy farms, their first weeks are spent in cramped and squalid conditions without the care and attention they need.

"That is why we are cracking down on the worst offenders by strengthening the dog breeding licence and giving councils the power they need to take action.

"With more and more pet sales now taking place on the internet, it’s right that this market is subject to the same strict licensing criteria as other breeders and pet shops so that consumers are not misled.

"The plans announced today will help people choosing new family pets to be confident the animals have been properly bred and cared for from birth and are ready to move safely to their new homes."