Once you've decided what
breed of dog you want, you're next faced with locating a puppy. Most
people will naturally turn to a pet store or the want ads in the local
newspaper. This is definitely NOT the first place you should look!
Buying from a reputable breeder is the best way to obtain a puppy.
(Rescue organizations, which are often run and sponsored by breed clubs
are another option.) The reasons for this are many.
First of all, most pet
stores that deal in large numbers of different breeds are obtaining
their puppies from the infamous "Puppy Millers". Puppy mills
have only one purpose; to turn a profit. They breed for quantity, not
quality, and never health check their animals. Puppies from these places
are probably not properly socialized, vaccinated or wormed. There is no
consideration given to true breed type or correct temperament. The
parents of such puppies are often kept in filthy unsanitary conditions
and may live out their entire lives in cages, often without proper
shelter. You have as great a chance of being able to predict the
eventual looks and temperament of a puppy mill bred pure bred as you do
of a mutt from the pound.
The same is pretty much
true of the 'backyard breeder', who's ad you'll find in the local paper.
Most of these people are not out to make a profit, just careless or
misguided. They want their bitch to have a litter to teach the children
about the 'joys of birth'. Or they want another 'just like mom'. Or they
forgot to get the bitch spayed in time and now they have this 'surprise'
litter who all need homes. And, of course, there's always the profit
motive. These people have no idea what goes into producing a fine,
healthy, sound temperamented specimen typical of the breed. They have no
more intention of standing behind this puppy than does the pet store
beyond the usual 48 hour health guarantee. Neither the pet store nor the
backyard breeder is capable or willing to be there at 2 am when you're
concerned that perhaps there's something wrong with the puppy. Although
you might pay less for the breed of your choice from a pet store or
backyard breeder, it's almost a given that in the long run, you'll pay a
good deal more in vet bills and perhaps emotional bills (if the dog has
to be euthanized due to a health or temperament problem), than you would
from a reputable breeder.
Most breeders of
purebred dogs breed dogs for one reason; they are head over heels in
love with their breed. Their goals are constant improvement of the breed
from litter to litter. When you purchase from a concerned breeder, you
can be sure that everything that can be done to insure correct and
typical temperament, good health and conformation has been done.
Breeders who care about the breed and their puppies don't lose interest
in you and the pup once the check has been cashed. They are always there
to help and guide. They want to know when there is trouble and will do
all they can to assist you. When you buy from a good breeder, you can
almost always plan on adding a new friend to your life in addition to
the puppy you've purchased
FINDING A
BREEDER
"But I don't know how to locate a breeder", you say? Of course
you don't. Most people are faced with the same problem. So where do you
start?
1). Pick up an issue of
Dog World Magazine or Buy and Sell papers. You can usually find these in
pet stores or newspaper stands. Within the magazine there is usually a list of up coming dog
shows for all areas of the Philippines. You will often also see many
advertisements for puppies of various breeds too. (In other countries
there is likely an equivalent magazine). Usually the Superintendent of
the shows is listed along with a phone number. You can call the
Superintendent to find out the location of the show and the time the
breed that interests you will be judged. Then attend the show and
purchase a catalog. The catalogs list the dog by arm band number and
also list the breeder and owner of the dog. Likely, you can ask someone
ringside to point out the owners or breeders (regular exhibitors know
everyone else), and you can then ask about their dogs. Remember to first
find out if they're about to go into a class or not. Exhibitors get
intense and nervous prior to their class and this is never a good time
to talk. Ask about talking after the show and you'll already have made a
friend!
2). If you're reading
this on the Internet, you have the ability to access dog people all over
the world! There are many areas of information on pets on line. Search
for your breed and chances are you'll come across a Mail List you can
join made up of breed enthusiasts of that breed. There's almost certain
to be a few fanciers who show and breed who can help you find a
reputable breeder.
3). If you have access
to the Internet and have a Web Browser, then you should know that you
can also locate breeders through CYBER-PET! Cyber-Pet has a wealth of
information for pet fanciers. You can find breeders of many different
breeds and view photos of the breed you are interested in. Cyper-Pet’s
URL or Address is: “http://www.cyberpet.com”.
5). And, of course we
can't forget the Bulletin Boards under the Pet/Dog headings on the
various online services such as Dog Tracker On- Line,
and others. These BB's are a wealth of information. There is almost
always at least one reputable breeder who monitors them and from these
people you will get a lot of good advise as to where to find a
puppy/breeder whom you can trust. It's also a great way to find out
about the traits of the breed(s) you're considering.
ELIMINATING GOOD FROM
BAD
So now you've got a list of various breeders to interview. How do you
eliminate the good from the bad? Just because someone shows their dogs,
has immaculate kennel facilities and belongs to all the right breed/all
breed clubs, does not ensure that they're going to deal fairly with you
or that they raise good dogs. Even a pedigree filled with champion
ancestors will not ensure that you're getting a good puppy. You need to
know what to ask and what to watch for. When you first arrive at the
breeders home, notice the condition of the facilities used for the
litter. Is it clean, light and airy? Where is it located? If the
whelping or puppy area is located away from the main living quarters,
ask if the puppies are ever allowed in the house and what has been done
to socialize them. Puppies raised in isolation or who rarely see a human
other than their breeder, will not adjust well to the hustle and bustle
of every day home life. Puppies should be handled consistently and
gently from birth. They need to be exposed to different sights and
sounds almost from birth. They need to see all different kinds of
people, from adults to children to men. If the facilities are dirty and
the pups all cower in a corner or do not respond to you, look elsewhere.
If the breeder says that they are never in the house and little has been
done to socialize, leave without a puppy.
Ask to see the parents.
It isn't uncommon for the sire to live elsewhere. Most breeders,
especially of larger breeds, do not keep a male, but will take their
bitches to the male that is most correct for that individual bitch. It
will be more common in smaller breeds to find both parents at the
facility. The bitch should be clean, outgoing and friendly. If she
slinks around growling, aggressively attacks or tries to hide from you,
forget this litter. The same goes for the sire should you be able to see
him.
If the litter is very
young, and mom is with them, it is natural for her to display some
protectiveness via growling or barking. This is certainly acceptable
behavior and should not be condemned.
THE INTERVIEW
Expect the breeder to interview you mercilessly! A concerned breeder
wants to make sure that her puppy is going to a home where it will live
a long and happy life. Breeders want to know that you are willing and
capable of taking care of all health needs of this puppy. To this end
you may even be asked how much money you make and what you do for a
living. In my breed, Great Danes, bloat and torsion are a common disease
and the surgery to correct this can run up to $2000.00. I want to be
sure that whoever gets my puppies is willing and able to provide this
care.
Common questions asked
by reputable breeders are:
1). Are you aware of the problems (be they health, temperament,
conformation or whatever) in this breed? If you answer in the negative,
expect to be educated at great length if this is an applicable subject.
2). Do you have a fenced
yard with adequate shelter facilities?
3). Will your dog be a
house dog? (Many breeders will not sell to anyone who does not want the
dog in the house)
4). Do you have
children? (When I am considering a sale to a family with children, I
want the children to come over so I can meet them too. I do this to
observe how well mannered the children are. If they're obnoxious brats
who never listen to their parents, I won't sell this family a puppy. If
they can't discipline their children, they certainly can't discipline a
great dane!)
5). Are you aware of the
size, coat etc., of the adult dog? (I always find it amazing when
someone wants to get rid of their young adult dane because it 'got too
big'!!!! I mean, come on, it's a giant breed folks, what did you
expect?) Some people don't properly research a breed before they make a
decision to buy and the adult size or coat may be more than they want to
cope with.
6). Are you aware of the
temperament traits of this breed?
7). Do you both/all want
this dog? (A home where the wife loves dogs and the husband or kids
think they're good for nothing, will not be a permanent home for the
puppy. Or if it is permanent, probably not a happy one for the dog).
CONTRACTS
A contract is only as good as the people who sign it. Most
reputable breeders, employ a contract as a means of setting down the
agreement and guarantees of sale. This is a protection for both the
breeder and the buyer. All contracts differ, but basically they usually
cover health and temperament guarantees (if any), responsibilities of
the breeder and buyer and most will state that they will take the dog
back if it isn't satisfactory for whatever reason. Many breeders have a
spay or neuter clause in their contract for pets. Don't be alarmed, it
does not mean their is anything wrong with the health or temperament of
the dog. The dog being sold as a pet may just have a conformation fault
such as the bite may be off a bit. Requiring the dog to be spayed or
neutered is just a way of controlling the many accidental or misguided
breedings and helps with the over population of unwanted dogs. After
several months have passed, no one is going to be able to remember every
little detail that has been discussed and agreed to and a contract is
the best way of keeping the record. Please don't be put off when a
breeder tenders a contract. It's for your protection too.
If you've been unable to
locate a breeder within your area with whom you feel comfortable, you
should consider a long distance purchase. Most breed clubs can help you
locate breeders around the country. Many of us now have the use of video
to help potential buyers decide on a puppy. When I ship a puppy I always
tell the buyer that if for any reason this puppy isn't what they hoped,
to rest him a few days and send him back. If you're dealing with a
reputable person, there's really little risk in buying a puppy in this
manner. You might even do better than trying to find something a bit
more convenient. The only extra expense is the shipping and that varies
greatly depending on size and weight of the puppy.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
BREEDERS
OK, so now you pretty much know what to expect if the breeder is
concerned about where her puppies go. Now it's your turn. There are many
questions you should ask the breeder.
1). What are the
indigenous health problems in this breed? (This is something you should
learn before you meet the breeder or decide on a breed, but if you know
what they are, you'll have an idea if the breeder is being straight with
you. When new people come to visit and learn about my Danes, one of the
first thing I do is tell them all the negatives involved with the breed.
If they're still interested after this, then we get down to the nitty
gritty).
2). Are both parents of
the litter health checked for these problems? Will the breeder give you
copies of these certificates or reports?
3). What, if any,
guarantees are offered and under what circumstances?
4). What traits does the
breeder consider most important when planning a litter? (In other words,
Temperament? Health? Conformation? Trainability? Etc.)
5). Which health
problems has this breeder encountered the most over the years? (If
they've bred several litters and they claim they've never had any
problems, beware!)
6). Is the breeder
willing to give references?
PICKING OUT THE PUPPY
It's not uncommon for breeders who really know their breed and their
line to not allow the customer to pick his own puppy. For instance, a
family with small children will not be happy with the most aggressive
puppy in the litter. This is the pup who will constantly be using his
teeth and testing his limits. The sharp baby teeth of a pup can do
damage to a young child even though they're being used in play. This is
a puppy who will need to have firm discipline in order to fit happily
into his niche in the family. A better suited puppy for a family with
young children will be the one who approaches happily, perhaps licks
your hands and wants to cuddle or play gently without constantly using
it's teeth.
Breeders who are aware
of these things know that they're only courting trouble to allow an
unsuitable puppy to go to the wrong home. Chances are high that that pup
will be returned, or worse, taken to the pound or resold or placed in
another home. Permanent, happy homes for both puppy and buyer alike are
the goals of all good breeders.
However, if you are
allowed to choose from a litter, avoid any puppy who seems ill. Actually
if only one puppy seems ill, I'd advise avoiding any pup from such a
litter. So you want the pups to be healthy with no evidence of discharge
from eyes, nostrils or ears. They should be active, happy and outgoing.
There should be no sign of fear. It's OK if initially they approach you
with caution as long as they then relax and play. Pups that cringe in
the corner with fear are either going to develop into fear biters or are
going to need a very special home who can deal with their fearful
temperament. On the other hand, the pup that rushes happily up to you,
shoving his littermates aside in his eagerness to be the first one to
greet you, who bites at your hands and jumps at your chin, occasionally
giving you a few little nips, is going to be a true handful, needing
strong discipline. Puppies with this type of temperament can become
child biters as they seem to view a child who is smaller than adults as
a 'littermate' rather than a person to be obeyed.
If you've been lucky
enough to find a breeder you trust and purchase your puppy from them,
you can look forward to many happy years with the new member of your
family.
