| |
How to Find That Special Puppy
by Letha Gast
- The first decision you have to make is; Do you really have
to have a pure bred? You might want to make a trip out to the Humane Society
to see if a mixed breed is really what you are looking for. There are advantages
and disadvantages to adopting a mixed breed and the Humane Society will do it’s
best to help you if you decide to adopt one of their dogs. If you decide you
want a pure bred it’s on to step 2.
- RESEARCH, Research, research! Buying a pure bred puppy is
like any other purchase. The more you know about what you are buying the better
off you are going to be. A good place to start is your local library and the
AKC publication entitled "The Complete Dog Book". This book contains the descriptions
for every breed of dog that the AKC recognizes. It not only gives a complete
physical description of the dog, it also gets into a bit of the history behind
each breed and gives a bit of a personality profile. Once you have picked perhaps
3 or 4 breeds that would suit you and your family, you will want to get more
detailed books on each breed and do more reading on each of them. Any reputable
breeder can suggest a good book for you to read and each breeder has their favorite
or you may wish to get in touch with a breed club for more information. The
Breeder Referral has a complete list of both national and local breed clubs
for every AKC recognized breed.
- Now is the time to locate a breeder. You can get a list of
local breeders from the national or local breed clubs. You can get names and
phone numbers of reputable breeders from the Breeder Referral Service. You can
also find breeders from publications like the AKC Gazette, Dog World, Dog Fancy,
etc., or perhaps the News Gazette classifieds section, but these breeders are
people you will have to check out for yourself. You don’t want to be in a hurry.
It is not unusual to be put on a waiting list to get a worthwhile puppy. But
how can you tell if you are dealing with a reputable breeder?
- Don’t buy from anyone you don’t trust or are uncomfortable
with. No matter how much you want to rescue that cute little pup you are
only encouraging that breeder to produce more.
- Does that breeder seem to know his breed? (Here is where
your research is invaluable.) Do you know more about this breed than the
breeder does? Does he breed his dogs with that AKC standard in mind? That
AKC standard is the "blueprint" for that breed. Suppose you always wanted
a house with a front porch. You picked out a builder and gave him a blueprint
of exactly what you wanted. When you come to see your house the porch is
on the back. When you question the builder he tells you that he didn’t like
the way it was on the blueprint so he built the house "His Way!". Are you
going to be very happy with that builder or that house?
- Is that breeder concerned about you and your family?
The more questions a breeder asks you the better off you are. It shows how
proud he is of his pups and how dedicated he is to find good homes for them.
"The best for the best!"
- Does he guarantee his puppies? Is it just for health
or for other problems also? Is he aware of the genetic problems in his breed
(every breed has them) and is he screening his dogs for those problems?
Are you buying a "pet" or a "show". If you are buying a "pet", why is it
a "pet"? If you are buying a "show" is it guaranteed to show, to point,
to finish? If you are unable to keep the dog will the breeder take it back?
Just look at the adds in the newspaper. Everyday you will usually see at
least one add that reads "Moving", "Child Allergic", or "Needs room to run".
If he does have a guarantee, is it written and is the breeder willing to
sign it. Remember, unless you bring a witness along with you, it’s your
word against the breeder.
- Can the breeder provide you with references? Will he
tell you who his Veterinarian is. (The Veterinary office can provide you
with health history on his dogs.) A breeder who has only had one litter
of five puppies but is willing to provide you with four names and phone
numbers is better than a breeder who has ten litters of five puppies and
will only give you ten names and phone numbers.
- Do you like the adult dogs that the breeder has? Pay
particular attention to the mother dog. She is the one who has been raising
those pups and a lot of her personality will be reflected in her offspring.
Is she noisy? Is she hyper? Is she aggressive? Her puppies will most likely
be that way too when they grow up.
- Remember! Don’t be in a hurry to get a pup. If this is to
be a present for someone and you haven’t found a suitable pup by the time that
important date arrives buy a collar and leash or a brush and some food bowls
or a book on the breed you intend to purchase. Add a note that reads "I care
enough to spend the time necessary to find you that ‘Perfect Puppy’. That pup
hasn’t been born yet or perhaps that pup isn’t old enough yet but you will get
it just as soon as it is possible."
- Finally and most importantly! A good breeder should be willing
do discuss the bad aspects of his breed along with their good aspects. There
is no perfect breed of dog or everyone would have it. You have to accept the
bad along with the good and live with it and it sure helps to have a person
on hand who will talk to you when you have further questions pop up as that
pup matures. A good breeder will welcome your call and will be happy to talk
to you.
|
