How to Find A Dog
First, do you really want a dog?
Dogs are wonderful companions, they can perform all sorts of useful tasks, they never talk back and happiness is a warm puppy but before you take the plunge and get a dog, remember,
| 1. Dogs take time. | |
| They are very sociable animals who dislike being alone. Do you have the time every day to spend walking, feeding, playing with your dog? And they live for ten to twenty years, so this is a long-term commitment. | |
| 2. Dogs need space. | |
| Do you have a fenced yard? If not, can you make other suitable, realistic arrangements for your dog to get adequate exercise? | |
| 3. Dogs cost money. | |
| They must be fed, they need health care, they need grooming. Your house will need more cleaning with a dog, and you will have to replace or repair things that puppies will damage. | |
Second, what breed is best for you and/or your family?
Dogs are the most varied species in existence,
ranging in size from the six-pound Chihuahua to the 200-pound Mastiff,
and
from the
sociable Golden Retriever to the dominant, aggressive Akita.
Do not decide based on looks alone. Take your time before you decide on what
breed will become this important addition to your family.
| When selecting a breed for your new dog, carefully consider your own personality, your family situation, what you expect of your dog (watchdog, companion for your children, hunting, etc.), whether you live in a house with a fenced yard or in an apartment, etc. Become acquainted with the eight major groups (Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, Herding and Miscellaneous) and their characteristics. | |
| If your final decision is a sheltie, make sure you understand that the sheltie is a high energy dog. They are playful, have strong herding instinct so they have a tendency to be under foot, strongly bonded to their families, easy to train, and very loyal. |
Now that you know what breed you want,
| First, consider adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue organization. | |
| Millions of dogs are euthanized each year, and you might just find your perfect companion at the local pound or with through a rescue group for your favorite breed. See the AKC National Breed Club Rescue Network. | |
| Find a serious hobby breeder. | |
| A serious hobby breeder will usually belong to a breed club, be involved in showing dogs, present a clean environment with healthy, well-socialized puppies, be at least as interested in your qualifications to be an owner as you are in the breeder, give you a record of dates and types of inoculations and worming and insist that you take the pup to a vet for a check-up and to continue with inoculations, give you written instructions on feeding, training and care, provide a pedigree and registration application form; provide references; provide a written contract with conditions of sale and warranty; and assure you that the relationship between you and the breeder is a continuing one. | |
| Avoid: | |
| 1. pet shop or dealer puppies (who are poorly bred and raised and treated as merchandise) | |
| 2. backyard breeders (who own a dog but often are not knowledgeable and typically think it will be "fun" or "profitable" to have puppies) | |
| 3. a breeder who lets you handle a very young puppy (as there is a real risk of transmitting disease before they are vaccinated ) | |
| 4. signs of neglect ( lack of water, pans of uneaten food and dirty conditions) | |
| 5. a breeder who will sell a puppy under seven weeks of age ( early separation from the dam and littermates can be very detrimental both psychologically and physically) | |
Now that you have found a breeder, you must prepare for
Selecting Your Dog.
I
Have My Dog...
Now What?
|
Dogs need many things. Most of all, a dog needs a kind, gentle, and generous person who is responsible for its care. Are you this kind of person? It's never too late to become a good dog owner. Ask yourself the questions in the box and write the answers. |
|
 |
Write down 3 times that you have demonstrated responsibility in the past week and explain them. |
|
Write about 3 times that you have been kind and generous to people. |
|
Write about a time when you were gentle with an animal. |
|
Figure out how much extra time you have to share with a dog everyday. |
Think
about what you have written.
Are you a good dog owner?
Being a good dog owner means being humane. Do you know what this word means?
When you are acting humane, you are being kind and gentle with your dog. It means that you are generous with your pet, too.
Will you promise to be a responsible dog owner?
You can make that promise by printing and signing the "I Love My Dog Contract" below.
 How To Love Your Dog© http://loveyourdog.com
Your Signature_______________________________ Date____________________
http://www.loveyourdog.com
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Expect the breeder to ask you questions
Good breeders ask some or all of the following questions:
1. Have you ever had a dog before? If so, what type of dog? How long did you have it? (Some breeds are not suitable for first-time dog owners, and some are just what the doctor ordered for neophytes.)
2. Are there children in the
family? How many? What ages? (Some
breeds are good with children, some prefer older, considerate children, and some
don't get along with children at all.
(More on children and dogs))
3. Do you live in a house or
apartment? If an apartment, does the landlord allow dogs? (Some
breeds do quite well in confined spaces, while others need room to stretch and
wander.
4. Do you have other pets? (Some breeds are naturally aggressive to other animals, including dogs and cats, and some get along very well with all God's critters.)
5. Do you have a fenced yard? (No dog should be left outside unattended, and no dog-aggressive or guardian breed should be confined by only an electronic fence. These fences may keep the dog in but they do not keep trespassing children or other dogs out.)
6. What do you do for exercise? (High energy breeds such as Dalmatians, retrievers, Border Collies, and Australian Shepherds need a brisk daily walk or jog of a mile or more to satisfy their physical and psychological need for exercise.)
7. Do you know the dog laws in your community? (No responsible breeder wants to sell a puppy to a buyer who does not plan to obey leash and confinement laws.)
8. Do you plan to obedience train this puppy? (This is a crucial question for breeders of guardian dogs such as Akitas, Rottweillers, Boxers, German Shepherds, Dobermans, etc. An untrained guardian dog can easily become a domineering pet with severe behavior problems.)
9. Are you aware of the costs involved in veterinary care, including spaying and neutering, purchasing a good quality dog food, boarding the dog when you are away, annual license fees, etc.?
10. Are you aware that you are taking on the responsibility of another living creature who will, for the rest of its life, be dependent upon you?
I have provided a series of questions to aid you in your quest for the right puppy. Also included here is a series of questions that the breeder should ask you.
When you decide the time is right for a puppy, spend at least as much time looking as you would in shopping for a new car or a special dress or suit. A puppy is a long-term investment: hopefully he'll be with you for 10-12 years or more.
Here are some questions to ask breeders.
1. Will you help us pick the right puppy for our needs? (This is customary since the breeder spends so much time with the puppies therefore the breeder should know the temperament, behavior, and needs of each puppy.)
2. Ask about the genetic diseases that affect the breed. (For shelties there is hip dysplasia. Von Willebrands disease, PRA (blindness), thyroid problems, heart problems, and Sheltie Skin syndrome)
3. What health guarantee do you provide for the puppy? (Most breeders will give at least a 72 hour health guarantee but I would recommend looking for that breeder who gives a lifetime guarantee.)
4. Are your breeding animals registered with the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Hip Dysplasia Registry? (Ask for the OFA ratings on the sire and dam, not only the OFA number. Ratings should be no less than a good, or excellent. Chances of good hips in the offspring are higher with parents rated good than with those rated fair, and are even better with parents rated excellent.)
4. What are their registration numbers? (This may be one way to stay away from back yard breeders who only breed for the money not for the betterment of the breed.)
5. Are your breeding animals certified free of PRA and other eye diseases? (This
is an actual paper from a certified canine opthamalogist and is registered with
with those results.)
6. Can we visit the parents of the litter? (Ask
to see the pedigrees of sire and dam. If there are lots of champions or titled
dogs in the pedigree, the puppies are most likely good physical examples of the
breed.)
7. Will you provide us with references of families that have bought puppies from
you previously?
8. Are your dogs active in dog events? (Even if you never intend to participate. Dogs that earn obedience, tracking, herding, or conformation titles; work as therapy dogs, assistance dogs, or search and rescue dogs; or participate in sports such as agility, Frisbee, or free style are definitely trainable. The more complex the sport, the more there's a need for intelligence)
9. Do you require that pet puppies be spayed or neutered? (The
breeder should provide a contract that states all pets are to spayed or
neutered.)
10. Will the puppies have their first shots? (Puppies
should have their first three wormings and two sets of shots, not inclusive of
rabies prior to six months, prior to them going to new home.)
11. At what age do you place puppies? (Puppies should stay with Mom and
siblings for at least ten weeks.)
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I will give food and water to my dog in a clean dish everyday.