A Puppy Buyer's Guide
Don't make one of these mistakes!
Should I get a puppy, adolescent or adult dog?
How can i tell if a purebred is of good quality
A PUPPY IS A LIVING, THINKING, FEELING CREATURE that needs to be loved and cared for. This does not mean a bowl of cheap kibble once a day and a cursory pat on the head. It means a well-balanced diet of top quality food, vaccinations and regular veterinary care, brushing, toenail clipping, ear cleaning, adequate exercise, shelter from the elements, housetraining, socialization, obedience training, and, oh, yes -- lots and lots of patience and love; whether it turns out to be more than you hoped for in your wildest dreams or falls seriously short of even your minimum expectations. A PUPPY IS A LIFETIME COMMITTMENT, for its entire lifetime.
Don't Make One of These Mistakes:
A PUPPY IS NOT A TOY, to amuse your children for a few weeks until the novelty wears off. A puppy is a child itself that requires a great deal of attention and training to become a pleasant companion in future years. If your children are toddlers, they can inflict unintended tortures on a puppy that may permanently scar its personality and behavior.
A PUPPY IS NOT A TEACHING AID, guaranteed to instill a sense of responsibility in older children. It is unfair to your puppy to put its entire well-being into a child's hands. The child-dog relationship's greatest value lies in the camaraderie and unconditional love that exists betweenthem. You will end up doing the chores and the dog will be ignored and unhappy.
A PUPPY IS NOT A BURGLAR ALARM, to chain in your yard to bark at all hours of the day and night. It is not a crime deterrent; it is a public nuisance that will at least make you very unpopular with your neighbors and may result in costly fines and civil penalties. Even worse, a dog on a chain is at the mercy of teasing children and vicious strays. This can make your dog turn mean, and what happens when he breaks his chain can land you in court. Your puppy is entitled to an escape-proof yard or dog run for his safety and your peace of mind.
A PUPPY IS NOT A GIFT, unless the giver is very sure that a puppy is wanted and the recipient is able to care for it. This can still be a mistake if the giver chooses a puppy that is poorly suited to the recipient's personality or life-style. Most recipients appreciate the opportunity to personally select the companion they will be responsible for nurturing for the rest of its life.
A PUPPY IS NOT A FAD like a pet rock or a lava lamp. It will still be there when the breed is no longer "in vogue" and it will still need to be fed, cared for and picked up after.
A PUPPY IS NOT UNBREAKABLE and any "repairs" will be costly.Puppyhood diseases such as Parvovirus require hospitilization and intensive care. Swallowed objects and broken bones can require major surgery. If you are going to balk at spending several hundred dollars in the event of an emergency don't get a puppy!
A PUPPY IS NOT AN INVESTMENT to breed to "pay you back". Breeding a litter is a tremendous responsibility. Experienced breeders consider themselves lucky to "break even" on a litter. Chances are your amateur attempt will jeopardize your pocketbook and the life and health of your companion dog.
Now that you ar sure you are ready for a puppy what breed should you select? You may prefer the same breed your family had when you were a child; but, if your mom did all the grooming on your poodle, will you be willing to do it now, or will you pay a groomer to do it for you?
What if the children insist on the same kind of dog they see on a favorite TV show or movie? Public exposure like this has caused several breeds to become over-popular and exploited. Puppies are bred from poor quality parents and sell rapidly based on the appeal of a highly trained dog actor. The average Collie pup will never be like Lassie, especially not right away.
Remember, the dog you select will be a member of your family for ten or more years. Use your head and select one that will compliment your lifestyle, not be a daily irritant or a financial burden.
SHOULD I GET A PUPPY, ADOLESCENT OR ADULT DOG?
PUPPIES have an incredible amount of appeal. There is nothing like filling the family photo album with pictures of Bowsie as a pudgy, waddling pup. Puppies are so cute, so funny, and so little, how much trouble can one be? You can be amazed. Whining, housebreaking, teething and shots; wormings, digging, chewing, and barking over and over and over until adulthood. Some puppy buyers are truly overwhelmed by normal puppy behavior. A big misconception is that the younger a puppy is, the better it will "bond" to the owners. Unfortunately, separating a puppy from its mom and littermates prior to seven to ten weeks of age can deprive a puppy of a critical period of emotional development and behavior problems may result.
ADOLESCENTS are much less attractive than puppies. They seem all legs and feet. Boy, can a coated breed look strange during the four to ten months old stage! The benefits of buying an adolescent puppy include: completed shots and wormings; a mental attitude mature enough to train with more lasting results; a personality more like it will be as an adult; and a better ability to inter-act with children. Drawbacks include: if bad habits have been allowed to develop, you will have to "untrain" them and you are getting the pup at its most boisterous stage. An Adolescent of most breeds which has been raised in a good environment will still bond well to your family and will spare you the trials and tribulations of puppy infancy.
ADULTS are a finished product. What you see is what you get! no worry over how big or healthy it will be. Adult dogs usually bond well with new owners. A previously neglected dog may bond so tightly that he becomes your "shadow". Do watch out for bad habits, try to obtain complete background and history on the dog. Breeders often have excellent quality adults that did not grow up to meet the exacting standards for competition or breeding. These are usually already well trained and socialized.
MIXED BREEDS are a combination of two or more recognized breeds of dogs. Sometimes you know what the parents were, sometimes not. Some people believe mixed breeds are smarter and healthier than purebreds because of their more widely mixed gene pool. Most mixed dogs are the product of human ignorance and irresponsibility. If the parent dogs had health problems or bad temperments, those traits will usually be passed on to the puppies. The wide gene pool that supposedly makes them more healthy also makes it difficult to predict their mature size, coat type and length and temperment. Mixed breeds can make wonderful pets, but are best acquired as adults, when size and temperment are established, or from private parties who have given them shots and good care and who have the parents available for you to verify health and temperment.
PUREBREDS are dogs whose ancestors for at least five generations are all of the same breed. They have been carefully developed over many generations to serve a specific purpose. They should conform to a standard size, coat, colors, and have certain temperment characteristic desirable for their breed. The best purebred dogs are REGISTERED with an well-known association such as the American Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club. There are other lesser-known registries which will register anyone's dog, purebred or not for a fee. And herein lies the biggest misconception people have about purebred dogs. REGISTRATION IS NO GUARANTEE OF QUALITY. The American Kennel Club can no more guarantee the quality of a puppy registered with it than the Department of Motor Vehicles can guarantee the condition of your car. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY as the buyer to invest the time and effort into assuring a puppy is of good quality before you buy it. If you are not willing to invest the time and money required to acquire a good quality purebred, you may end up worse off than had you acquired a mix.
HOW CAN I TELL IF A PUREBRED IS OF GOOD QUALITY?
THE BREED STANDARD (available in the reference section of most libraries) gives a general description as well as serious faults and disqualifications. Read up on the breed you are interested in and know what it should look like. Visit a dog show and see the dogs in person so you will be able to recognize the correct general appearance. This is also a good place to look for responsible, reputable breeders.
"PAPERS". Purebred dogs have registration certificates (or applications). These list the sire and dam (along with any titles they may have attained such as "CH" for "champion" in front of their names, birth date and breeders' names. They also include health certification numbers for hips, elbow and thyroid (OFA) and eyes (CERF) on AKC papers, as well as DNA certification. These are a must for breeds commonly afflicted with hip or elbow dysplasia, hereditary low thyroid conditions or eye diseases. Reputable breeders also have pedigrees showing the lineage behind their puppies. If the parents are not champions, at least two of the grandparents should be (an exception would be field dogs which would have working titles listed after or before their names). Even though you may only be interested in a companion, quality ancestors are your best indicators that your dog will have the desired breed characteristics and good health to best fulfill that role.
WHERE CAN I GO TO BUY MY PUPPY?
THE ANIMAL SHELTER. Dogs find their way into shelter in many ways. Some are turned in by owners who were unprepared for the responsibility of dog ownership. Some are confiscated because of neglect and/or abuse. The rest are picked up as strays. Some of them may be in poor health or have temperment problems. If you have young children be very careful. Ask the shelter workers for help in selecting a dog of the right age, size and temperment for your family. they have usually worked with the dogs enough to have an idea which ones have the best potential as pets. If possible, take the dog to a quiet area and spend some time getting a feel for its personality. Be prepared for the possibility that you may have to try several dogs over several months time before you find one that works out for your family. Also keep in mind that even though the initial cost of a shelter dog is low, it may be incubating expensive health problems such as Parvovirus or distemper.
BREED RESCUE. Many purebred dog fanciers organize themselves into groups that "rescue" their breed from shelters and inappropriate homes. They have already made sure the dog is in good health and had it spayed or neutered. They have determined what kind of personality the dog has and will offer advice and training suggestions to help the dog become a good member of your family. Expect to pay a reasonable adoption fee to help offset their expenses. Since they are dedicated to making sure the dog does not end up in a shelter again, your pre-adoption interview may seem more like an interrogation! Most rescues have a policy requiring you to return the dog if you can't keep it. Beware of some unscrupulous individuals who pose as rescues but are actually reselling dogs they acquired from "free" newspaper ads.
PET STORES used to be the public's favorite place to acquire purebred puppies. Unfortunately, this is where the puppy mill finds its outlet for thousands of poor quality puppies produced in concentration-camp style kennels. Their dogs are bred with no consideration for health and temperment. Pet stores offer various guarantees and assurances in an effort to sell their puppies, most of which are backed up by replacing the puppy with one of equally poor quality and/or health. The fact is that responsible breeders who care about what happens to the puppies they breed do not sell to pet stores. the pet stores buy from brokers and mark the puppies up at least double what they paid for them. You will pay $500 and up for a puppy that the breeders originally sold for as little as $50! You will always pay more than you would have paid for a top quality puppy bought from a reputable breeder. A few pet stores arre owned by caring individuals who sell healthy mixed breeds reasonably or take purebreds on consignment and sell them with "limited registration" papers, thus indicating they are intended purely as companions and not show or breeding animals. A word to the wise, be very careful in purchasing a dog from a pet store.
BREEDERS. If you want the best possible purebred you can find, you need to find a RESPONSIBLE breeder. Not everyone who has a litter is doing so for the right reasons or is reputable. Some places you can look for REPUTABLE breeders are:
Ask your veterinarian for a referral
Call a local Kennel Club for a referral
Visit a dog show and purchase a catalog as well as talk to exhibitors of your chosen breed
Call 1-900-407-7877 for an AKC automated breed referral service
When you find one, a REPUTABLE BREEDER is one who:
Belongs to at least one dog club
Is actively involved in training and/or showing their dogs
Encourages puppy buyers to keep in touch and is glad to offer advice on raising and training your pup
Questions you carefully about why you have chosen the breed and how you intend to care for the dog
Checks their dogs for hereditary defects and does not breed dogs with such disorders
Guarantees the health and soundness of their pups IN WRITING
Does not use hard-sell techniques
Does not "run down" other breeders or their dogs
Will take back a dog they have bred or help find it a new home if an owner can't keep it.
Don't be surprised if you have to get on a "waiting list" or drive to a distant town for a top quality puppy. Consider is a worthwhile investment for the pleasure and companionship your puppy will provide over the years to come. Most responsible breeders sell their companion puppies on Limited Registration which does not allow them to be used for breeding purposes. If breeding your dog is important to you, be prepared to spend the extra time and money to purchase a show quality dog that has the potential to contribute to the improvement of its breed with the next generation.
Above all, when you do get a dog, please be a RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER. This includes training your dog to be a good canine citizen and being considerate of neighbors and others who come in contact with your dog. See that your dog has regular veterinary care and (unless your dog is show quality), spay or neuter it for its own safety as well as to avoid contributing to the unwanted pet problem.