FINDING A DOG OR PUPPY THE RIGHT WAY
The first step in finding a purebred dog or puppy is to determine
which breed of dog is right for you. One of the advantages of a
purebred dog is that most dogs within that breed will fit a certain
set of characteristics when it comes to size, coat, temperament,
exercise requirements, energy level, health, and longevity. You
get a pretty good idea of what to expect with a purebred dog, so
it is important to research different breeds of dogs and not just
pick the popular "breed du jour" to ensure that the breed
you get best fits your personality, lifestyle and home.
A mistake that some owners make is in selecting a breed that does
not fit their lifestyle. For instance, a person who is physically
active and wants a canine jogging partner would not be best matched
to a breed known for being a couch potato. A family with small children
may not be best matched with a herding breed, which has a natural
instinct to herd, be it animals or small humans. A herding dog might
knock down small children, or even nip them when the dog's natural
instinct to herd kicks in.
Another common mistake is not selecting a breed that fits your
home. A single person living in an apartment who works a full time
job and has an active social life would probably not be best suited
to a bassett hound, a breed that is known for baying when left alone
(think neighbors!). A bull mastiff or great dane would also not
be a good choice since this breed is physically too large for a
small apartment.
By doing your homework and learning about the characteristics of
the different breeds, you will be better able to pick a breed that
is best suited for you, and will make for a successful lifelong
relationship between you and your dog.
When a dog and it's owner are mismatched, most often it is the
dog that pays the price of human error, with the dog often ending
up in the local pound. If the dog is lucky, it will find a good
home; however, odds are the dog will become one of the millions
of animals put to sleep every year. The dog, through no fault of
its own, may pay for it's owners mistake with its life, all because
the owner did not do his/her homework on the breed before buying
the dog.
Acquiring a dog should be a lifetime commitment to an animal, so
if you are thinking of giving someone a puppy as a surprise gift,
PLEASE DON'T! Instead, help the prospective dog owner make a well
planned and informed decision on the best dog for him/her. If you
want to give a gift of a dog to someone, a better idea would be
give the recipient a card with a note inside, saying you will pay
for the dog or puppy and that you would like to help them with making
this important decision.
Dogs - choosing the right dog - size, temperament, activity level
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/tchoose.html
AKC - Breeds http://www.akc.org/breeds/breeds_a.cfm
Part One: KNOW YOUR BREED!
1. Find out what club represents your breed.
MOST breeds are at AKC Breed List http://www.akc.org/breeds/breeds_a.cfm,
but Rare Breed (List of Rare Breeds http://www.rarebreed.com)
and others represent dogs not part of AKC. (For example, in Canada,
the dog would be registered with the Canadian Kennel Club
http://www.ckc.ca.)
2. Read the breed standard.
Beware of ads that advertise things against the standard: such as
unacceptable colors and sizes (ex. teacups, red Rottweilers, white/albino
Dobes, etc.)
3. Call the national or local breed rescue.
NATIONAL BREED CLUB RESCUE NETWORK http://animalsunlimited.net/rescue.htm
Find out why most dogs of your chosen breed are given up. Examples
are often too high energy, bark too much, etc. Realistically decide
if the common "complaints" are also ones that would make
the dog a poor choice for your family.
4. Attend some dog shows or field trial events and meet
some of the breed and their owners personally
You can find these by asking the breed club for local events
or, with AKC dogs, checking
American Kennel Club - Club Search http://www.akc.org/clubs/index.cfm?nav_area=clubs
American Kennel Club - Breeder Referral Search http://www.akc.org/breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm
The AKC Events Calendar http://www.akc.org/dic/events/search/index.cfm
InfoDog Dog Show Calendar http://www.infodog.com/showinfo/showCal.htm
5. Read and learn about your chosen breed.
Talk to both pet and show/work owners. Visit message boards such
as DogHobbyist.com - the information portal for the canine enthusiast
http://www.doghobbyist.com
and AOLs Dogs Message Boards aol://5863:126/mBLA:430328. . TALK
to owners there who can be both great sources of information before
you get a dog and help and support afterwards.
6. Know what the breed recommended tests for genetic and
health problems should be and do not accept excuses
for a breeder not having the major ones done.
The breed club will often have these listed in their Code of Ethics
but if you do not find them, ask for a list.
7. Finally, decide what you want the dog for, pet, show,
working?
Do you really want a puppy or what about an older dog out of the
puppy stages? How about a rescue dog? One major advantage to adult
dogs, particularly rescue and shelter dogs, is that with an adult
dog it isn't necessary to wait for the dog to mature to know what
the temperament will be like. Also, by adulthood many genetic problems
are already evident. IOW, with adult dogs there are less unknowns.
Part Two: Finding the Right Source
1. IT IS AGAINST almost all breed clubs' Code of Ethics
to sell to a broker or pet store, or to supply a dog for an auction
or raffle. Responsible breeders place their own animals,
with contracts. The best way to find a breeder is through the breed
club referral, then meeting and getting references.
2. Many breeders do not advertise. To find responsible
breeders you may have to do much more than open a newspaper. However,
some breeders do advertise, so learn how to read the advertisements
to find those that do. Reading Classified Ads http://members.aol.com/IzatKaren/class.html
3. Talk to the breeder. A breeder who does not
have time for you now, or is unwilling to set up a time to talk,
is probably not going to have time for you later.
Questions a breeder should ask you http://www.frii.com/~phouka/puppy/bdr_owner.html
Questions to ask your breeder http://www.frii.com/~phouka/puppy/bdr_questions.html
4. Be sure and see certificates of health testing on parents.
For Example:
HEART -- cleared by a CARDIOLOGIST within the previous
year (not just regular vet).
For information: OFA: Cardiac Congenital Disease http://www.offa.org
EYES--Sire and dam should have a current (within
the last year) CERF test by an
OPTHAMOLOGIST (this also cannot be a regular vet).
For information: CERF - Canine Eye Registration Foundation http://www.vmdb.org/cerf.html
PATELLAS--Luxating, or slipping, patellas, or kneecaps
are a common problem in toy breeds. A (regular) vet needs to check
sire and dam before breeding.
Certification can also come from the OFA.
For some basic information Luxating Patella: A Knee Problem in Dogs
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1569&articleid=457
HIPS--OFA An xray is taken by a regular vet and
sent to the Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals for a grading of excellent, good, fair, borderline,
or degrees of dysplasia. The OFA website has some excellent info
and you can check the status on any dog OFA Genetic Databases -
Hip Dysplasia http://www.offa.org/search.html.
Blood disorders such as vWD. Info at von Willebrand's
Disease http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dvonwillebrands.html
5. Shelter Dogs: Many of the breed clubs will work
with you if you decide to adopt from a shelter in evaluating the
dog. Unless you are a professional trainer or very experienced,
do not take on dogs with any aggression problems. If there is some
question or the dog needs some temporary training, it might be possible
to have a rescue group foster and work with a dog that you find
if you are willing to
sponsor the dog until it is ready for placement. If you can get
the aid of a good breed rescue, this is a very good evaluation tool.
It may be worth the expense to pay a trainer to help you evaluate
any shelter dog.
IMPS: Evaluating Shelter Dogs http://www.minpinrescue.org/shelter.htm
6. Rescue Groups: Most breed club rescues will
have evaluated and often fostered a dog for several weeks or months
before placement. Like responsible breeders, most will also take
back the dog if for any reason things do not work out.
Part Three: Selecting the Right Dog
Many breeders will meet with you, get to know what you seek and
will help match you to the right puppy. If you do not trust the
breeder to do this, it is possible that you have chosen the wrong
breeder. A breeder that will allow you to pick any puppy might not
be an experienced breeder. Not all puppies are suitable for all
families and not all families are right for certain puppies.
Puppies should rarely leave the litter prior to 8 weeks of age,
and with some breeds not until 10 to 12 weeks of age. While many
breeds cease nursing by 4 weeks of age, it is critical they remain
with their littermates to learn pack behavior and biting inhibition.
Anyone willing to place a puppy less than a few days short of 8
weeks should be viewed with caution. Be aware it is also ILLEGAL
in some states to place before 8 weeks of age. This link should
provide some basic understanding of what goes into evaluating a
puppy.
Volhard: Puppy Aptitude Test http://www.volhard.com/puppy/pat.htm
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