27 – Choosing the right dog for you: Part two

It’s time again to set up the Animal Shelter Angel Tree at Kroger, so  Christmas has officially arrived.  Since this is the season of love and joy, maybe that’s not such a bad thing.  Love and joy involves dogs for many of us and many people think Christmas is the ideal time to get a dog.  As I’ve written before, this could actually be the worse time of the year to get a dog, especially a puppy.   Kids have their attention split between many new toys and free time with friends.  Family and friends use this time to gather, cutting short any time to bond with and begin training the newest member of the family.  A better idea may be to give a certificate for a new dog once everyone has settled after the holidays.

While I still recommend a trip to the shelter to find your perfect companion, it is possible that you may have your heart set on a purebred or designer breed and have made the decision to buy from a breeder.  Since you were wise enough to spend time finding which dog breed will fit your lifestyle and personality, it’s time to be equally as responsible in researching breeders.

Puppy mills still flourish, many in this area.  Puppies are advertised online, in the paper, and are sold in pet stores or on the street from the back of a car or truck.  Folks who own these mills often count on the public being uneducated or soft touches.  Unfortunately, puppies that come from these unethical breeders face long term problems such as chronic health issues, and behavior and training problems.  The price you pay for the dog will only be the beginning of the huge expenses you will face.  Since there is no list of puppy mills available (there’s not even a standard definition of “puppy mill”), here are some guidelines that may help you find a responsible breeder, bypass puppy millers, and avoid heartache.

Reputable breeders will concentrate on only one or two breeds.  These folks are interested in improving the lines of their dogs and can tell you everything about their breed of choice.  They know which health problems are prevalent in their breeds and will have their breeding dogs checked and certified against these weaknesses.  Two such certifications are OFA (http://www.offa.org/) or CHIC (http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/).  You should be able to check out the dam and sire online to see if the tests were passed. Permanent identification such as microchips or tattoos is required. A limited health guarantee should accompany your new dog and the breeder should have a clause allowing you to return a puppy for health reasons.  Many even require they be given first choice should you decide not to keep the dog.  Puppy mill operators usually offer many breeds and often have their crossbreeds.  Most do not offer recognized health certificates and will not take back a puppy for any reason.

Kennel environment is of utmost importance when looking for just the right dog.  You should be allowed to see the kennels and the puppy rooms.  Puppies should be separated from adult dogs other than the mother, who you should meet.  Ideally, the puppies are kept in the house, socialized with family and visitors, and acclimated to normal noises of daily living. Reputable breeders institute a  program to desensitize puppies to handling and grooming.  They learn the personalities of the puppies as they become evident around the sixth week of life.  Breeders will question you and your living situation and then match a puppy with the appropriate temperament.  Puppies will not be released to new owners before seven weeks of life, preferably later.  Run the other way as fast as you can if you encounter a situation where multiple dogs are kept in one crate or pen, the smell of urine is strong, and/or puppies are just left to fend for themselves.  You will likely have trouble house training the pup and there is a high probability of behavior problems such as aggression or fear.

Your breeder of choice should show interest in some activity with the dogs.  Most will compete in some venue such as obedience, agility, conformation, herding, or hunting.   Talk to people who own a dog from previous breedings and ask about their dog’s temperament and health.  AKC registration is no guarantee that a dog is healthy or sound, it only guarantees the lineage of the dog.   Likewise, there are organizations that will register any dog if you have the appropriate amount of cash.  Investigate any registering organization that does not sound familiar. What type of competitions does this organization support?

Choosing to buy from a reputable breeder may mean you have to wait for a puppy.  That’s okay, it gives you time to prepare for the changes in your life you will soon experience. Please, if you do encounter a puppy mill, do not buy from them.  The puppies will pull at your heartstrings and you may be tempted to “save” the dog.  You will only be providing income to the person whose interest is more in money than the welfare of the dogs.  You will be setting yourself up for a lifetime of expense and disappointment.  Take your time, do your research, ask questions.  Since you are committing a decade or more of your life to another living being, you owe it to yourself and the dog to make the best decision possible.

Jan Casey is a reward-based trainer and owner of Smiles and Wags Pet Services.  You can reach her at jan@smilesandwags.com.