subject: Choosing The Right Dog [print this page] If you've made the decision to get a puppy you're probably very excited. After all, this will be a new member of the family. But, how you do you decide where to buy your puppy? It's important to find a great breeder to make sure you get your money's worth.
Keep in mind that all breeders are not created equal. There are some who are dog lovers and know how to properly care for the dogs. There are unfortunately others who are just in the dog breeding business to make some money. These people don't care for or love the dogs. You need to find yourself a great and honest breeder and steer clear of those people.
The best thing you can do is research each breeder. Each breed should have a kennel club and they will have a list of breeders they work with. If you can't locate a kennel club it is also possible to find information online. Another thing you can do is ask friends where they purchased their dogs to see if they are happy with that particular breeder.
If you want to see the dogs beforehand from afar you can also attend dog shows. This will give you a chance to see how the owners treat them and their appearance both in the show and in the kennels where they are kept. This is not the best place to have an in-depth chat with the breeder, as they will be busy with the activities of the show.
You can also go to their home or wherever they breed the dogs. Again, you can see for yourself how the dogs are treated in their current home environment. In turn, the breeder will get to evaluate your potential as an owner. If they do not ask you any questions that should be a warning signal to you. A good breeder will want to make sure their dogs are going to a good home.
Some of the things you should look for are:
- Clean facilities
- Healthy dogs that are free of parasites
- Friendly and helpful manner
- Outgoing dogs (timid dogs can signal a problem that may be there for the puppies as well)
You should also ask the breeder the following questions:
- How long have you been breeding dogs?
- What is the dogs' pedigree?
- Are the parents from this facility?
- Do you have the veterinary certificates for parents and puppies?
- Have they been screened for the health issues inherent to this breed?
- Do you offer any sort of guarantee?
You should expect to receive questions from the breeder as well. Some common ones are:
- Is your house and yard large enough?
- Do you have enough time to care for a dog?
- Have you researched how to care for this breed?
- Will children be around the dog? Have you instructed them how to care for it?
They can refuse to sell you the dog if you don't meet their answer requirements. You can refuse to buy the dog if they don't meet your standards as well. If everything looks OK you will sign a sales agreement and purchase the pup.
If you're still nervous about knowing exactly what to do with this breed you can feel free to ask the breeder any questions you have. They can give you tips and tricks on how to feed, groom, and generally take care of this specific breed.
You might not be able to take your puppy home right away, so be prepared for that. The breeder will usually require that the dog be socialized with its siblings for eight weeks. That way they will be used to other dogs.
When you're finally able to take your dog home the breeder will usually encourage you to keep in touch. That way they can help you out with any questions that pop up along the way. Chances are that they love the dog nearly as much as you do and want to make sure it's being taken care of properly.
