Would-be dog owners are buying puppies with little thought, effort or research, the UK’s leading dog breeding organisation has said, warning that convenience culture is having a “devastating” effect on puppy welfare.

According to research by the Kennel Club, almost a third (29%) of dog owners in the UK spent less than a day researching their decision and the breeder.

The survey further revealed 34% of buyers were unwilling to travel beyond their county for their puppy, while a quarter reported they would not travel for more than an hour.

Of the latter, 48% said convenience was a factor, while 56% reported they did not see the dog interacting with its mother, 53% said they did not seen the environment in which it was raised, and more than three-quarters reported they were not quizzed on their suitability as dog owners – important factors, the Kennel Club said, when buying a puppy.

“This research paints an alarming picture of a nation of puppy buyers making quick and sometimes careless decisions when it comes to where and how to get a dog,” said Charlotte McNamara, the organisation’s head of health.

“Though it may be unintentional, this behaviour is enabling duplicitous rogue puppy sellers to flourish and operate with little scrutiny, and with devastating consequences for puppy welfare.”

The survey reveals almost one in five puppies fell sick or died before their first birthday, with the figure even higher – at almost one in three (31%) – for puppies bought by owners who said they did very little research before buying them.

As well as causing emotional turmoil for owners, the Kennel Club warned that the consequences could be expensive.

“This dangerous convenience culture has become a cancer for puppy welfare,” McNamara said.

Indeed, the survey found 26% of dog owners said they could not identify a rogue breeder or puppy-selling scam, while 28% said they might have unintentionally bought from a puppy farm, rising to 40% among those who said they spent less than a day researching their choice.

The survey involved 2,610 people who bought puppies in the past 10 years and was carried out in August by Censuswide as part of the Kennel Club’s Be Puppywise campaign. The organisation notes that the key steps to take before buying a puppy, as well as advice and other information, are set out on the campaign’s web page.

Dr Dan O’Neill,an associate professor of companion animal epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College, said research on body shapes could help owners select healthier types of dogs.

“The critical first step for anyone wanting a dog without huge baked-in health risks is to avoid extreme canine body shapes such as severely flattened faces, deep skin folds, bulging eyes, dwarfed legs or lack of tail that may look cute to us but have all been linked to serious health issues and suffering for these dogs,” he said.

David Bowles, the head of public affairs at the RSPCA, recommended those looking to buy a puppy use the “puppy contract” – a free toolkit to help people buy and breed puppies responsibly – but urged people to consider adopting from a rescue centre.

Bowles added that the charity would like to see better enforcement of licensing regulations of puppy breeders and sellers

“And we’re calling on the UK government to bring forward proposals to tighten up controls on the importation of young puppies and pregnant bitches, in a bid to tackle the puppy trafficking problem which often fuels the illicit trade here,” he said.

Holly Conway, the head of public affairs at the Kennel Club, said that, while rescue dogs could be a good option for some, it would not be the right choice for all.

But she, too, noted low awareness of current legislation among the public, and very poor enforcement.

“So best thing we can do in real terms is to make people want to do the right thing themselves, and to know that there is a right thing to do as well,” she said. “You cannot just rely on others to do the right thing.”