4 Tips When Picking A Puppy

The most important rule in how to pick out the perfect puppy is not to let your husband choose the puppy

. Several months ago we went to get a Rottweiler puppy. I have always fancied the runt of the little only because to me they seem to make better dog, but my husband really wanted the fat, fluffy one. So we gave the breeder the $450.00 and went on our way. Once we got home, we went to the local Wal-Mart, and spent another $200.00 on puppy supplies and made the appointment with the vet.

Everything seemed to be going just fine and then trouble started. Jessie as we call the beautiful Rottie of ours was scheduled to get spade, and we learned that she had an umbilical hernia. Our vet was nice enough to do both surgeries at the same time to reduce our cost.

A month after that surgery Jessie started whimpering and did not want to go outside to play. One day she could not even get up. Scared and nervous we took her to the vet's office. My husband calls me at work and tells me the vet is running all of these test and it could be neurological. Scared I told him I did not care how much it cost, FIX MY DOG! The vet took x-rays and this puppy of five months has hip dysplasia. Are you serious? This is something that older dogs develop.

You know it is a bad sign when your vet tells your husband if your dog was a car she would be a lemon. Well we are going to make our lemon, lemonade and enjoy her as long as we can. The next time we go to purchase a dog there are questions the breeder is going to have to answer and documents they are going to have to supply before the purchase is made. Before you purchase a new puppy follow these simple steps and you will save yourself a lot of money and worrying about what is going to happen next.

1. Have the breeder produce medical records of both parents, if possible; but the mother's records will be okay. This will show any hereditary problems that could cause alarm with your puppy.

2. Before you decide on a puppy, look at the abdominal area and see if there is a large bump or swollen area. This could be an umbilical hernia that could possibly lead to death if left untreated.

3. Once you decide on a puppy, ask if you can pay for an independent vet evaluation of the puppy. Most vets will do a basic check up for $50.00 if you explain that you are interested in buying this puppy, but want to make sure it is physically healthy before the purchase.

4. Ask for references, when spending large amounts of money on a puppy; ask the breeder for 3 to 5 references of people who have purchased puppies from them in the past. Most legitimate breeders will have references. Also, contact the breeders vet to make sure any procedures and/or vaccinations have been documented; ask for a copy of those documents.

A pet is like a child and once they have entered your life you will love them and make them a part of the family. These four simple steps can save you thousands in medical bills and you will have less heartache whenever you new puppy has to go to the vet.

by: Michael Gavre

POST COMMENT

Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders - A Few Tips How To Get Over Her Tips Quickly Top 10 GMAT Books Look For Free Horse Racing Tips For Success At The Track Take Knowledge From Experienced Horse Racing Tipsters Tips on making the fragrance last long Flyer Printing Tips – How to Print A Persuasive Flyer? Tips on Teeth Whitening For Busy People Tips for maintenance Tips For Taking Great Farm Animal Photos Tips On How To Find A Private Money Lender Tips On Growing Taller - Some Useful Tips on Growing Taller Naturally Moving Van Rental: 7 Tips to Make Sure Your Relocation is Safe