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Archive-name: dogs-faq/getting-a-dog
URL: http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/getting-a-dog.html Last-modified: 20 Nov 1997 See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge ======= There are many FAQ's available for this group. For a complete listing of these, get the "Complete List of RPD FAQs". This article is posted bimonthly in rec.pets.dogs, and is available via anonymous ftp to rtfm.mit.edu under pub/usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/faq-list, via the Web at http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/lists/faq-list.html, or via email by sending your message to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with send usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/faq-list in the body of the message. This article is Copyright 1997 by the Author(s) listed below. It may be freely distributed on the Internet in its entirety without alteration provided that this copyright notice is not removed. It may NOT reside at another website (use links, please) other than the URL listed above without the permission of the Author(s). This article may not be sold for profit nor incorporated in other documents without he Author(s)'s permission and is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty. ========== Getting A Dog Author Cindy Tittle Moore, rpd-info@netcom.com Copyright 1995-1997. Table of Contents * In General * What Kind of Dog Should I Get? * What are My Responsibilities? * Where Do I Get One? * Where Do I NOT Get One? * How Do I Find a Good Veterinarian? * How Do I Introduce Several Pets? _________________________________________________________________ In General This article is intended to provide anyone contemplating a new dog, whether a puppy or an adult, with useful information. There are more detailed FAQ articles with further information if you get a puppy (new-puppy) or an adult (new-dog). _________________________________________________________________ What Kind of Dog Should I Get? Factors to consider There is an enormous variety of dogs in shape, size, personality, and abilities. Different breeds will have certain characteristics for which they were bred. Ask breeders at dog shows and look them up in breed books for further information. You must consider several things before deciding on a dog: * _How much time can you spend with it?_ Dogs are social creatures. They will not be happy left out in the back yard alone. You must be committed to spending several hours a day with it. * _What space can you provide it?_ If you live in a small apartment, you must take this into consideration: many dogs will not do well unless you expend a good deal of effort in meeting their needs. Dogs can be pretty adaptable so long as *you* help them out. Don't be fooled by size into thinking a dog will be OK in a small apartment -- Jack Russell Terriers require a LOT of exercise. Conversely, many Mastiffs are content to flop on the floor and do nothing at all while you are gone. * _How much money can you set aside for it?_ Even if you get a dog from the shelter or otherwise inexpensively, you will have to buy food, pay for veterinary checkups, vaccinations and routine medical care, and purchase other equipment over the lifetime of the dog. Not to mention replacing anything the dog may damage or destroy, or putting money out for medical emergencies. Do you have the financial resources for this? * _How much exercise can you give it?_ If your time is limited, you should look for smaller or less active dogs that can obtain enough exercise in your home or from short walks. Note that not all small dogs are less active, or larger dogs more active; research your breeds! * _How much training can you do?_ Regardless of the dog you get, training will make your dog much more compatible with you and what you want to do. A trained dog can go to more places with you without disruption, and can be more easily a part of your life. * _How much grooming can you do?_ How much hair are you prepared to have in your home? You should give serious consideration to these factors: some dogs shed little and require no grooming (clipping, stripping, etc); others shed little but require more grooming; others shed but do not require grooming; and still others both shed and require grooming. Do note that just about all dogs will require some nail clipping regardless of conditions. If you get a dog that requires regular grooming, are you prepared to pay for its grooming or learn to do it yourself and to do either regularly? * _Which sex do you want, male or female?_ There are pros and cons to either sex, all of which are generalities and may or may not apply to a specific dog. By all means, if you have a preference, get the sex you want. If you are not sure, it really doesn't matter -- look for the dog you hit it off with. * _What characteristics do you want in a dog?_ Different breeds have been bred with specific purposes in mind. Dogs bred for scent, for racing, for retrieving, etc, will exhibit these traits. Consider which characteristics you would like and which will annoy you. Reading up on dogs in breed books (some are listed below) and talking to breeders will give you some idea of these kinds of characteristics. This also may be a reason to choose a purebred: characteristics in purebreds appear more reliably because of their consistent breeding. Do recognize, however, that dogs show individual personalities, and variety exists within each breed. Breeds are only a general indicator of what to expect. Some questions to ask yourself: + What sort of exercise do I want to do with the dog? Walking? Jogging? Hiking? + Do I want a dog that is bouncy and ready to go, or more relaxed? + Am I prepared for a dog with some protective tendencies? How about a dog with possible dog-aggression (because of its background or breed)? + Do I want an indiscriminantly friendly dog or one that is more reserved? + Do I want a dog that must be near me whenever possible or do I prefer a more independent nature? + Will I want a dog that readily accepts other animals (e.g., cats, rabbits, etc.)? + Am I interested in: obedience, agility, hunting, herding, coursing, showing, etc. with this dog? Purebred or mixed-breed dogs If you are interested in a purebred dog, you should pick up a book on dog breeds (most libraries will have a good selection) and do some research, with the above questions in mind. There are some breed-specific FAQ's available. Finally, you should SERIOUSLY consider attending a dog show where not only can you potentially contact breeders, but you can see ADULT specimens of the breed you are considering. It's very important to remember that cute little puppies remain cute little puppies only for a matter of weeks. There is a long period of ungainly and rebellious adolescence finally followed by mellow adulthood. If the dog's breed is not important to you, you should still consider the above list when choosing the dog. You do face a few more unknowns since a mixed-breed puppy (e.g., a "mutt") may or may not clearly exhibit what its adult characteristics will be. Many people have strong feelings about purebred dogs, especially the characteristics of the breed. Other people feel that the "stereotypes" are overrated. Jon Pastor made some nice comments about the usefulness and caveats of typical breed behaviors: Are behaviors commonly ascribed to specific breeds based in fact or are they just stereotypes? They are really a bit of both: they are informal statistical descriptions (i.e., stereotypes), and to the extent that they reflect reality they're also facts. "Stereotypes" -- or, more simply, "types" -- can be, but are not necessarily, evil: it depends on how you use them. Typical means "characteristic of the type," and is a statistical abstraction; it does not have any normative implications -- i.e., there is no claim that all (or even most) examples of the type in question have the characteristics that are stated to be typical. One of the ways in which people make sense of the world is by comparing entities they encounter with the types they've stored in their memories in order to identify them; it's a remarkably effective way of compiling knowledge about an infinitely complex environment so that it can be accessed quickly enough to (in the extreme) save one's life. Thus "typical" is a largely ad-hoc, somewhat personal label, until it is agreed-upon by some number of people who share the same notion of what common characteristics identify the "typical" object of a particular kind. If we could eliminate the biases that have been identified in such behavior (e.g., if the last 20 dogs you've seen have been Borzois, you will most likely over-estimate the true number of Borzois in the dog population), we would find that "typical" approximated some statistical tendency in the population we're addressing, typically the mean (average) or mode (most common). If you pick some characteristic and look in a particular population to see how many individuals have different levels of that characteristic, you'll find that when you graph the results they look like this (more or less): no. | | | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * --+---------------------------+------------------------------------------------ score There will be some value that occurs most frequently (the mode); in the case of a perfectly symmetric curve like the one above, this value will also be the average (mean). Symmetric curves like this occur surprisingly frequently, so I'll continue to use it as an example. For example, let's say that you want to plot the aggressiveness of various breeds. First, you have to come up with a way of ranking dogs on aggressiveness [an exercise left to the reader ;-)], and then for each breed you score a large number of dogs on aggressiveness and plot the results: no. with score | | * | | * | * o | * | * o | o | * | * o | o | * | * o | o | * | * o | o | * | o* | o | * | o * | o | * |o *| o | * o | | * o --+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------------- "aggressiveness" score Here, breed 1 is represented by '*' and breed 2 is represented by 'o'. Notice a couple of things: 1. the centers of the two curves are clearly separated, from which you'd conclude that the breeds differ to some degree in aggressiveness 2. there is some overlap, so that the most aggressive breed 1 dogs are substantially more agressive than the average breed 2 dog, and the least aggressive breed 2 dogs are substantially less aggressive than the average breed 1 dog. The significance you attribute to the results depends on the shape and position of the curves, but in most cases there will be substantial variation within groups and at least some overlap between groups. Now, by doing this in N dimensions you can play the same game on as many characteristics as you wish, and make statistically meaningful statements about tendencies of one particular breed or typical differences between breeds. By doing so, you are *NOT* saying that 1. all dogs of a particular breed have all -- or, in fact, *any* --of the "typical" levels of each characteristic 2. there is necessarily any real dog that has all of the "typical" levels of each characteristic 3. it is impossible for a dog of breed 2 to have some -- or, in fact, *all* -- of the typical characteristics of breed 1 This is not a True/False situation, it's an infinitely-graded situation. If you get a dog of that particular breed, the modal (typical) value is simply the one you'd be most *likely* to get. A big caveat: breed traits are not computed scientifically, and are thus not quite subject to the laws of Statistics. However, they do reflect the cumulative wisdom of hundreds (thousands?) of years of human observation and active breeding of dogs. The bottom line is that if you get an Newfoundland, it is highly likely that it will be a good lifesaving dog; it is possible, although less likely, that it will be a *great* lifesaving dog; and it is also possible, although also less likely, that it will show no aptitude for lifesaving. Similar statements hold for "typical" traits of sight hounds, Rotts, Poodles, GSDs, Goldens, Irish Setters, and any other breed you can think of. If you use this "stereotype" information to inform your choice of a dog, and make some effort to determine how "typical" a given dog is likely to be of its breed (by looking at parents and siblings, by observing the dog, by asking the owner, etc., etc.), it's innocuous and can be quite useful. If you use it blindly to make blanket judgements of breeds, use of stereotypes can be foolish. In the extreme, if you don't understand the meaning of the characteristics, or have mis-identified or mis-measured them, use of stereotypes can be positively evil, such as when "all Pitbulls" are identified as dangerous and banned. The only conclusion that this discussion licenses with respect to the purebred-vs.-mixed-breed question is that prediction is easier with a purebred because the number of purebreds is (relatively) small and (relatively) fixed, while the number of possible mixes is essentially infinite; as a result, there has been more observation of individual "pure" breeds, and there is consequently more data to support generalizations about breed characteristics. This is not, by any means, to say that purebreds are necessarily better or worse; they're just more predictable. So if you want a dog with a particular set of characteristics, you will be more likely to get such a dog if you find a breed that typically has those characteristics and choose a dog of that breed *intelligently* than if you choose a dog of mixed breeds (unless, of course, you're talking about an older dog whose behavioral characteristics are already obvious and therefore observable). This is a statement about probability, not about quality, and anyone who attempts to apply an absolute value-scheme to it is making unwarranted and unjustifiable extrapolations. Statistics is a powerful weapon. As with any other such weapon, use it ignorantly or indiscriminately at your peril... Books Listed here some good references on dog breeds; others appear in the Publications FAQ. In addition, there are many that are specific to one breed. Space prohibits listing any of these type of dog books here, but you should look up breed specific books on the breeds you are especially interested in for even more detailed information. The breed specific FAQ's mentioned in the introduction will contain recommended pointers. One word of warning on breed specific books. In general, avoid the TFH "KW" series readily available in most pet stores. These are small books, about 150 pages. Most of them recommend pet stores as a source for puppies, blithely talk of the "joys" of breeding, and contain very little actual breed-specific information. Instead there is a large amount of general information repeated from book to book, and what amounts to advertising for a number of brands of dog products. Leaf through the book carefully before deciding (or not) to buy it. De Prisco, Andrew and James B. Johnson. _The Mini-Atlas of Dog Breeds_. TFH Publications, One TFH Plaza, Neptune City, NJ 07753 1990. This book lists and describes over 500 breeds from around the world. Abundantly illustrated with color drawings and photos. Includes a short forward on what criteria you should consider in choosing a breed, and a short description of the categories it chose to group dogs in (slightly different from, eg. AKC groupings). Mandeville, John J., and Ab Sidewater, eds. _The Complete Dog Book: official publication of the American Kennel Club_. Eighteenth edition. Howell Book House, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York. 1992. This is the reference for the AKC breed standards, each of which covers several pages and includes a black and white photograph and text on the breed's history, characteristics, and nature. Newly admitted breeds, such as the Shar-Pei, have been added to this edition. Sylvester, Patricia, ed. _The Reader's Digest Illustrated Book of Dogs_. 2nd edition. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc., Pleasantville, NY. 1994 Besides the excellent text and illustrations in the album, which cover 2 pages for each breed (175 total), the informative sections are also well-written and illustrated and include many color photographs as well. Tortora, Daniel F. The Right Dog For You. Fireside, Simon & Schuster Trade Books. 1983. Offers a complex decision procedure, with lots of questionnaires to alert you to the potential significance of various features of breed behavior and physical characteristics. One of the few that lists potential problems of each breed rather than giving a glowingly positive one for each. Wilcox, Bonnie and Chris Walkowicz. _Atlas of Dog Breeds_. TFH Publications. 5th ed, 1994. Over 900 pages long in large format. The authors are top notch writers and did extensive research to compile this comprehensive resource of the world's dog breeds. The book is profusely illustrated with excellent quality photographs and a 3-5 page article. This book makes a good effort to show every color and every coat type of each breed in the various photos. Expensive. The latest edition is out in two volumes. _Project BREED Directory_. Network for Ani-Males and Females, 18707 Curry Powder Lane, Germantown, MD 20874, 301-428-3675. 1993. There is a section on each breed (over 100 listed) listing specific breed rescue organizations and individuals throughout the US. It also describes each breed's appearance, origins, traits, and the most common hereditary health problems for that breed. No pictures. Check or money order ($15.95 plus $1.50 s/h) for a copy. Videos The _AKC Breed Identification Series_ is a set of seven short video cassettes that give a brief overview of each breed of dog recognized by the AKC. The tapes are categorized by AKC breed groupings (sporting, working...) The segments for each breed last less than five minutes each. The information is often erratically presented and incomplete. The tape set is probably unavailable at video rental stores. Since the set of seven tapes is probably quite expensive, the public library would be the best way to examine these tapes. Some breed clubs have much better videos describing their breeds. They are expensive enough that it's probably not worth getting them if you're still "browsing," but if you have a dog of that breed, they're often quite nice to get ahold of. _________________________________________________________________ What are My Responsibilities? There are responsibilities that go along with being a good dog owner. A dog will live from 10 to 20 years, depending on its breed, size and general health. This is a long term commitment, and you must be ready to provide the dog with a home for that duration. You must make provisions for it when you go on vacation. It needs attention, love, and respect from you: feeding and watering it are not enough. Consider it part of your family: this is no joke as that is exactly what the dog thinks YOU are: its pack, its family. * _You are responsible for its health_. An essential part of owning a dog is making sure that it gets good medical care. Check the vets in your area and pick out one before you even get your dog. Take your dog in to the vet immediately after acquiring it and take it in regularly thereafter. You will have expenses for yearly shots and, in many areas, heart-worm preventive. Puppies and dogs routinely die without adequate veterinary care. * _If you get your dog for protection, you are obligated to make sure that it is safe, reliable, and trustworthy around people_. Never chain it up in the back yard, or encourage it to snarl and bite other people. Never try to make a dog "vicious." Such irresponsible treatment results in tragic stories of children and adults being mauled or even killed, the dog being put down, and various dog bans being enacted. A dog can protect you just fine by barking at suspicious noises and allowing you to investigate. It does not have to be vicious. A good protection dog is always well trained, properly socialized, and has a relationship with its owner that encourages it to be protective. Higher levels of protection (such as attack dogs) require considerable training and experienced handling and are most definitely not for everyone. * _You are responsible for your dog's reproduction_. You must either get it neutered, or make provisions for keeping your bitch away from dogs when in heat. If your male is intact, you must keep him under control when he smells a bitch in heat. If you breed, you are responsible for making sure that your dog or bitch is suitable for breeding (i.e., good health, good temperament, good specimen of the breed, and free of genetic defects), and making sure that all resulting puppies are placed in good homes. The millions of dogs that must be put down annually in the US are the result of owner irresponsibility about their pet's reproduction. * _You are responsible for your pet's behavior_. This means keeping your dog under control. Do not let it roam; do not let it become a nuisance to others in your neighborhood. Keep it on a leash when walking so that it does not run up to other people or dogs and bother them. Clean up after it or curb it (make it go in the gutter) when it eliminates, *especially* in public areas. Many parks, beaches, and lakes are closed to dogs because of irresponsible owners in this regard. * _You are still responsible for the dog when you "get one for your kid_." Unless your child is old enough, at least 13 (and highly variable at that), she or he will not have the sufficient maturity to take responsibility for the dog. A dog can be a good way to teach children about responsibility, but the dog is still *your* main responsibility. Dogs acquired for this reason often wind up in the shelters when the parents find out that they are the dog's primary caretaker. * _You are responsible for becoming more knowledgeable about dogs_. Find some good books and read up. Enroll in puppy and dog classes where you can learn much from the instructor; attend them even before you get a dog or puppy for first hand knowledge of what you can expect. Many dogs are in animal shelters with a note that says "couldn't be housebroken" or "couldn't be trained." * _You are responsible for being prepared for the new dog_. Never get one as a "surprise gift." All members of your family must agree on having a dog. Have food, water and food dishes, bedding, collars and leashes, chew toys, and a veterinarian lined up before you pick up your dog. Many "Christmas puppies" are found in the shelters by New Year's Day. Some books to try: Milani, Myrna M., DVM. _The Weekend Dog_. Signet (Penguin Books USA, Inc.) (1985). ISBN: 0-451-15731-1 (paperback). This book outlines practical solutions for working people with dogs. It has excellent suggestions for understanding dog behavior, particularly destructive or unwanted behavior. Gives all kinds of practical solutions to the problems of adequate exercise, adequate training, housetraining, and so forth. Miller, Harry. _The Common Sense Book of Puppy and Dog Care_. Bantam Books, Third Edition (revised) (1987). ISBN: 0-553-27789-8 (paperback). This small book provides a surprising amount of useful information. A little on the "lightweight" side, nevertheless, it gives a good outline of what you should know about your puppy or dog. You can use this to decide how much you do know and where you need to brush up on what you don't. Besides sections on how to select the right dog, it covers basic puppy needs (housetraining, feeding, illnesses), basic training, basic pet care, and a complete list of AKC breeds. Monks of New Skete, The. _How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend_. Little, Brown & Company. 1978. ISBN: 0-316-60491-7 (hardback). A monastery in upstate New York breeds, raises, and trains German Shepherd Dogs. On the basis of their considerable experience, they offer troubleshooting guides, discuss discipline, environmental restrictions, basic and puppy training, and much more. Extensive bibliography. The emphasis is on understanding the dog in order to communicate with it or to solve problem behavior. An excellent, well written classic, although becoming a little dated. Spadafori, Gina. _Dogs for Dummies_, IDE Press, 1996. This book is my current favorite and most up-to-date volume on dog ownership, especially for the novice owner, although there is something for everyone here. The author writes a newspaper column and has been answering basic questions every day for years, the same type that show up in rec.pets.dogs. This experience and helpful advice comes through in every page on this book. Taylor, David. _You and Your Dog_. Alfred A. Knopf, New York (1991). ISBN:0-394-72983-8 (trade paperback). This useful book is an overall guide to the health and care of dogs. It includes a basic listing of dog breeds (AKC). This is a good general purpose book that gives you an idea of what all is involved in owning and caring for a dog. _________________________________________________________________ Where Do I Get One? There are really only three places that you should get a dog from: an animal shelter, a _responsible_ breeder, or a rescue organization. Typically, dogs from shelters or rescue organizations are neutered, or you will be required to neuter them as condition of purchase. Animal shelters The animal shelter is a good place to pick up a dog and save it from death in the bargain. Look for a clean, healthy dog, keeping in mind any constraints you may have. Look for signs of friendliness and liveliness. Does it approach you in a friendly manner? Talk with the people caring for the animals for any information on a particular animal they can give you. The best thing to do is to go the animal shelter every weekend and spend time with the dogs. Try to put their plight out of your mind for the moment--it would be nice to save them all, but you can't. Instead, you should get to know the dogs on an individual basis. Read the tags on each cage and see whether the dog was a stray, or whether its owner turned it in for some reason. There are some beautiful adult dogs in the pound that have been given up reluctantly by ill or elderly, or even deceased, owners. Don't overlook these! Ask to see the dog in the holding area most shelters have. You'll be able to check for signs of hostility, see if the dog knows anything, and in general how it reacts to you. Expect some fear and nervousness! A few doggy treats may help calm it. If things seem to be going well, ask if you can take it on a walk, even just around the compound. If you are curious to know its reaction to cats, take it by the cat compound. Finally, don't be afraid to say "not this dog," and walk away. It is hard, hard, hard to walk away from a sweet dog, but you are looking for a companion for life, so you will have to be honest with yourself about what you want. There are heartbreaking stories from people who made an impulsive decision in the pound and lived to regret it. Bring along a friend who can help you look at the dog more objectively. Breeders If you plan to show your dog, or desire a healthy pet-quality purebred, find a responsible breeder. Don't use newspaper advertisements. Attend dog shows or performance events instead and talk to the owners and breeders there. Try contacting the local breed club for the breed you are interested in. It's best to get to know several breeders before they actually have litters you would like to get puppies from. This gives you a chance to learn more about the breed, learn more about the philosophies and intents of the breeders you know, and learn more about the prospective parents of your pup. The more information you have, the better off you will be. Remember, though no breeder is *automatically* responsible or ethical just from the source you were referred from. You must determine whether a particular breeder is suitable for your needs, and the more time and research you put into this, the better your results will be. Selecting the breeder After you compile a list of potential breeders to contact, screen them through the phone first. Here's a list of questions to ask (in no particular order). * Can you see the dam and if possible the sire? * Where are the pups being raised, in a family setting or in a kennel? * What health problems occur in the breed? * Have these problems been checked in the parents? As appropriate: OFA certification, CERF certification, blood tests, etc. * Request a copy of the sire and dam's lineage/pedigree. * Titles on sire and dam. * Info on puppies the sire and dam (together or with other mates) have previously produced? (That is, are either of the parents "proven"?) * Has the puppy been crated trained, paper trained, etc. * What breed clubs do you belong to? Do you have references? * How many puppies were in the litter? * Any difficulties during delivery? * How often is the bitch bred? * What guarantees do you offer on your animals? * What is in your sales contract? * Do you offer a spay/neuter contract for pet quality puppies? * Have they been to the vet yet? Wormed? Shots? Are the dogs bred for the ring, field, or for general pet purposes? * How many breedings have you done to date? How long have you been breeding? Names and phone numbers of several customers, and the vet you use. * How many different breeds have you bred? How many breeds are you breeding now? * If for some reason I cannot keep the dog, will you take it back, no matter how old it is? * If I want a bitch puppy so I can breed her as an adult, what kind of, if any, restrictions will you include in the sales contract? * Do you have a litter available? If not, when are you planning one? (If a litter isn't presently available, ask if/when they are next planning to show their dogs in your area. If you can go, this is a golden opportunity to observe the structure and temperament of the dogs they breed.) When you meet with breeders, look for people that seem more concerned with the welfare of their dogs than the amount of money they're making. Look for ones raising the puppies "underfoot" and around people. If the breeder is using kennels, check for cleanliness, happy dogs, no overcrowding, shelter from the elements, plenty of fresh water. Check and see how many different breeds the breeder is breeding -- good breeders limit themselves to one or two (usually related) breeds because of the time, expense, and energy involved in producing excellent specimens of a particular breed. Otherwise, the breeder may be operating what is essentially a puppy mill (check this against how often the dam is being bred & what condition she is in). A responsible breeder should have some history of breeding animals. They may be breeding for show or field work or just plain good pets. They should be able to tell you about some of their previous puppies. They should be able and willing to discuss the health and well being of the parents of your puppy including: eye conditions, hip dysplasia, etc. In general, be suspicious of puppies from anyone who has not had the parents at minimum x-rayed for hip dysplasia and had the eyes checked by a veterinarian, or for other problems associated with the breed. Not all breeds have the same problems, but breeders should know what they are and be able to tell you which ones they've tested for. And if you've done your homework beforehand, you'll know if they're checking the right things. Here are some red flags that should make you wary. The presence of any one of them is not necessarily an indication that something IS wrong, but you should definitely check further if you see any of these: * Breeding more than one breed A few breeders branch out into a second breed, but the truth is that there is so much work involved in breeding right that one breed is more than enough for most people. If they are breeding more than two breeds, something may be very wrong. * The sire and dam are both on the same premises Now, sometimes the breeder owns the dog they decided would be best for their bitch, it does happen. If you see this, ask who else the bitch has been bred to and generally try to find out if the breeder always uses her own stud dogs (a BIG red flag), or uses a variety of dogs depending on the bitch (the flashing red lights can turn off now) * The bitch was bred her previous season as well as this one This is called back to back breeding and is extremely rare among responsible breeders and all too common among unethical breeders. Unless the previous litter resulted in no live puppies (or perhaps only one or two pups) or there was a compelling reason to do this THIS TIME (the sire is on his last legs, etc), this should be reason enough to leave. Expect to be shown the paperwork on the parents: OFA hip certificates are printed on heavy stock, white paper with a blue background; elbow certificates are similar but with a green background (and no grade is given). ACVO (eye examination) paperwork is on light tissue apper and will be a carbon copy; if they have the CERF paperwork, that will be a narrow computer printout with some blue lettering (and they will no longer have the original ACVO paper but a copy as the original is turned in when requesting a CERF number). Take note of the numbers assigned and CALL OFA and/or CERF and verify them. The sire's paperwork will probably all be photocopied unless the breeder owns the sire as well. Here are additional things you can do to verify the information the breeder gives you. * Call the AKC and confirm claimed points: 1-900-903-4252. Be prepared to enter the dog's AKC number when prompted. It costs 99 cents a minute, but most queries take just two minutes or so. * Use OFA's web site to confirm the certificate. Go to http://www.offa.org and enter the dog's OFA number or AKC number to verify. Yes, it's possible to fake all of these, but generally folks who are lying will trip up somewhere when you double check on the numbers and such. This is where checking references come in...you want to be satisfied of the breeder's overall integrity, etc. Get references of previous clients and call them up and ask them how they liked their dog. Don't overlook this step, you can learn a lot about what the puppies are like and how well they did this way. A responsible breeder should have no problem supplying you with such references. You should be able to see the mother of your puppy; her temperament will give you a good idea of your puppy's adult temperament. Obedience and temperament titles can indicate good temperament. Being unable to see the sire is not uncommon, picky breeders will often ship their bitch cross-country to a good prospect. If you've done your homework, though, chances are you are already familiar with the sire and know that he has the qualities you want. If both parents are owned by the breeder (and those are the only two), chances are this breeder is not responsible: what are the chances you'd own the perfect stud dog for your bitch? On the other hand, many long term breeders have developed distinct lines and will have breed two dogs of their breeding (whether they own both or not) for the puppies. So consider the big picture as well. Check for some basic health problems: a litter that was larger than the breed average may mean that the puppies are smaller and not as healthy, a small litter might indicate trouble during pregnancy. A litter of size one or two means that the puppies are getting little or no socialization with littermates, regardless of health. The puppies should look vigorous and be strongly sucking, beware of listless (though sleeping is OK) puppies and indifferent suckling. Try to see the puppies when they're likely to be active. "Runts" are puppies that are significantly smaller than their littermates. If they are otherwise healthy (actively rooting and sucking, playing with littermates, etc.), then they are probably simply younger than their siblings. When dogs are bred, they mate over a period of several days, and it's possible for some of the puppies to be concieved on the first mating and others on subsequent matings. Over a period of four days, this can make the youngest puppy significantly smaller. These puppies frequently catch up several months later, and it's not uncommon for such a pup to turn out to be the largest one in the litter! Puppies that are runts due to health problems should be avoided. A responsible breeder will let you know which kind of runt the pup is. Puppies should be at minimum dewormed by eight weeks of age. The first set of puppy shots is desireable as well. Beware of breeders who have not had a vet see the puppies (or mother) at all. Many responsible breeders only guarantee the general health of a pup for a limited time (e.g. 48 hours). This is not a rip-off. The breeder has no control over the pup once the new owner takes it. Reputable breeders will stand by that guarantee *if* the new owner takes the pup to a vet who finds something wrong (e.g. a communicable disease) within that period but the breeder can hardly be held responsible for a disease contracted after the pup is in its new home. Thus, such an early trip to the vet is for the protection of all concerned. Guaranteeing against genetic defects is common: such a guarantee generally means a refund or replacement in the case of a defect occurring; it does NOT mean that the puppy will "never" develop a genetic defect. Be wary of breeders that claim their puppies can never develop some defect that does occur in the breed. The breeder should also guarantee to take the puppy back if you are unable to keep it rather than having it go to the pound. The breeder should also be concerned about your living conditions and what you plan to use the dog for before they allow their puppy to go live with you. Many breeders will want to know what you plan to do about reproduction. Many will require that a pet quality puppy be neutered, and withhold registry papers until receipt of proof of neutering (thus making any puppies from that dog unregisterable). If guarantees or other contracts (such as spay/neuter) are involved, get it all down in writing. A responsible breeder will not be offended by such a step. If something goes wrong, you have no legal recourse if there is nothing in writing, verbal contract laws in some states to the contrary. If you're planning on a puppy for show (conformation or hunting or whatever else your breed does) and possible breeding, look for a breeder that is very picky about selling such puppies. If this is your first such puppy, expect an offer of co-ownership if they think you're serious. At the minimum, the breeder should be discussing how they'll remain involved with the puppy. This is a valuable resource, by the way, the breeder will be able to explain what the puppy's pedigree means, what other dogs it should be bred to, how to show it, and so on. Moreover, if you are planning something like this, definitely take your time and get to know several breeders doing the same things you are interested in. This will give you contacts, information, and a break when a good litter comes along and the breeders know you or you are vouched for by another breeder. It can be hard to "break into" showing and breeding, but a little patience on your part will give better results. Good breeders often have a waiting list of potential puppy buyers and often will not breed until they know they can place all the resulting puppies. If you find a breeder you like, do not be surprised if you are placed on a waiting list for a puppy. The wait will be worth it! Approach getting a puppy as if you were adopting a child. Expect a lot of questions and ASK a lot of questions! A responsible breeder is also looking for a responsible owner. Selecting the puppy Many breeders let you see and play with the entire litter at once. One puppy may come right up to you and investigate. Of course, it's cute -- all puppies are. You may think this puppy has "chosen" you. Instead, it's likely to be the most dominant puppy in the litter. Dominant puppies will check new things out before the rest of the litter does. Your "chosen" puppy may not be right for you if you're a novice at dog ownership or obedience training. A better way to select a pup from a litter is to do a little temperament testing and pick the dog with the temperament that best meets you and your family's needs. The Monks of New Skete's book, "The Art of Raising a Puppy," discusses the Puppy Aptitude Test developed by Joachim and Wendy Volhard. They indicate the degree of social compatability and how readily a pup will accept human leadership. If the breeder picks a puppy out for you, that's also normal: responsible ones will have evaluated their puppies and match one to you based on what you've indicated you want. Rescue organizations Another excellent source for a purebred dog is from a rescue organizations run by various clubs across the country. If it is a breed rescue, dogs of that breed are rescued from shelters or private homes as needed, fostered while a placement is found, and then placed. The adoption fee usually is less than the cost of a purebred from other sources. For addresses of rescue services for various breeds, call the American Kennel Club library, 212-696-8348, or check the breed-specific FAQ, if one exists for your breed. You can also check the BREED book (listed above); it contains over 1500 sources for rescue assistance for 72 breeds throughout the US. Breed clubs often run a rescue program; try contacting the local breed club for the breed you're interested in. There also exist all-breed and mixed-breed rescue groups; this is another source besides the shelter to obtain a dog. You should try to spend some time with each dog you consider adopting, as recommended and described for shelter dogs. Talk to the people who are fostering the prospective dog for a better idea of the particular dog's temperament. Ask questions like you would with a breeder; expect a good outfit to screen you as well. Expect them to ask for a donation and require that the animal is neutered, if it isn't already. Further breed-rescue resources: The newsgroup rec.pets.dogs.rescue; the mailing list dog-rescue (see the Email List FAQ); the November 1994 issue of the AKC Gazette. _________________________________________________________________ Where Do I NOT Get One? Backyard breeders "Backyard breeder" is a nebulous, ill-defined term often applied to people who have unplanned litters or who breed for profit as sort of a cottage industry. A better term is probably "Ignorant" or "Careless" breeders. By whatever name, they are not a good source. If you must try these, check the health of the puppies carefully. As with breeders, look for people more concerned with the welfare of the puppies -- people out for a fast buck will not likely have seen to the health of the puppies. If you are looking for a purebred, forget these breeders and find a responsible breeder instead. It will save you time and money and heartache. If you don't care about having a purebred, you will do better at the animal shelter. It is not impossible that you will find a conscientious breeder through the newspaper. Just check them carefully when you go and visit them, like you would any other breeder. Don't make the mistake of thinking that because you "only" want a nice pet, there is no reason for you to look for a high quality breeder. On the contrary, no litter is 100% up to the criteria the breeder is looking for...and the pup that doesn't quite meet the expectations of the breeder in ability or looks will make an excellent pet as he will otherwise be healthy and good tempered...just what you want in your new companion. Irresponsible Breeders Any breeder that has in mind one single goal and breeds only for that must be considered irresponsible. Many "backyard" breeders (goal = money) fall into this category, but so do "professional" breeders such as: * those who breed ONLY for the perfect show dog * those who breed ONLY for top performance The key word is ONLY. Responsible breeders seek a balanced dog: they will breed for: * proper conformation (good structure is key for comfortable and free movement) * good level of appropriate ability (if a hunting breed, dogs in the pedigree have hunting titles or have been used for hunting; same for herding, coursing, etc.) * good overall temperament * good health Irresponsible breeders with a single goal in their view will frequently sacrifice many of these points; a breeder seeking top performance often lets temperament or health slide, just so long as the dog can perform; a breeder seeking top show dogs may let the dog's abilities and health slide. Someone out to make a fast buck may niot have checked any of these criteria in their dogs! Examine your breeders carefully and go with the ones that match your overall philosophy and goals. Pet Stores Don't buy pet store animals. These are often obtained from irresponsible sources such as "puppy mills" (where animals are bred (and bred and bred) only for profit). By buying from the store, you are supporting these mills and adding to the pet population problem. In addition, you are obtaining an animal of dubious health and any money you might save will likely go directly into vet costs as its health deteriorates and you may even have to put it down. If it is purebred and has papers, chances are very good that the papers have been forged in some way and even that the puppy is not really purebred. Even if the papers are legitimate, the pedigrees are often extremely poor. Many behavioral problems appear in these puppies as they are carelessly bred, separated too early from their mother and littermates, improperly handled, unsocialized with either humans or dogs, and forced to live in their own feces. A graphic article in LIFE Magazine (Sept. 1992) illustrates the kinds of problems with puppy mills. Many pet stores have been instructing their employees to tell prospective clients that all the animals in the store are from local breeders. In many cases, this is simply not true. Other stores will have pictures and commentaries on their walls to inform you how clean and sanitary THEIR puppy mills are -- but "clean and sanitary" still does not obviate the problems with socialization and bloodlines. Don't be fooled! And you may not even want to patronize the stores for pet supplies as this will indirectly support the mills, too. _________________________________________________________________ How Do I Find a Good Veterinarian? Before you even bring your new dog home, take it to the vet you have already selected. Annual shots and examinations are a must for keeping your dog healthy. If you cannot afford veterinary care for a dog, don't get one. Preventive and consistent care is less expensive in the long run. Choosing a vet Choose a vet who you are comfortable with and who will answer your questions. Check out the office: do animals seem just frightened or are they also out of control? Is it bedlam, or reasonable for the number of different animals there? Do you have local recommendations from friends? Does the vet specialize in small animals as opposed to, say, livestock? Try to get word-of-mouth recommendations. Asking other pet owners isn't always effective because they may not have had any unusual or challenging health problems with their pets, and vets that can be okay for routine stuff often are less impressive with unusal stuff. Call vets in your area and ask the vet techs, not the vets themselves, who they would recommend other than their own current employer. Another good source is groomers, as they tend to hear a lot of stories from their clients. If you find the recommended vet is very expensive, he probably owns the practice. Try one of the associates. They tend not to run up the bills so much, and a good vet will usually hire good associates as well. Look for a vet who is willing to refer you elsewhere if they don't know the answers rather then saying something like "It must be an allergy", etc. Check to see if the vet is licensed by the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). They do extensive and picky inspections of the facilities. 24 hour emergency care A good vet will either be associated with a 24 emergency care plan or be able to give you the number of a good place in your area. Keep this number on your refrigerator and check with your vet when you visit that it's still up-to-date. Fecal samples Any time you bring your dog to the vet, try to bring a fresh fecal sample. Put a small, fingernail-sized sample into a plastic bag, or ask your vet for a supply of fecal samplers. The vet cannot always get a fecal sample from the dog, and this saves you extra trips to return the sample and then bring the dog in if the tests are positive. Try an ordinary sandwich bag (e.g. a "Baggie" -- ziplock is convenient but not necessary) and turn it inside out over your hand like a rubber glove. Then simply pick up the stool with your covered hand, turn the bag right-side out, enclosing the sample. Zip if ziplock otherwise use a twist tie. This is perfectly sanitary (and you can use the same procedure to clean up after your dog on walks). _________________________________________________________________ How Do I Introduce Several Pets? Creating A Peaceable Kingdom: How to live with more than one pet by Cynthia D. Miller. Animalia Publishing Co., 1997. 1-888-755-1318. It includes dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, children, and any combination thereof. When you get your new dog, you might already have pets that you will need to introduce the new dog to. Exactly what you will need to do depends on the kinds and temperaments of the animals involved. Introducing a puppy to an older dog is probably the easiest combination. If the older dog is properly socialized with other dogs, you will not have problems. If the older dog is not, you may have to keep the dogs separated until you're more confident about their getting along. (In any case, a puppy will often be restrained as per housetraining efforts when you are not at home.) If you are introducing a puppy to a cat, you will probably have some trouble for a few months. Older cats, unless they've dealt well with dogs before will probably hiss and spit at the puppy or avoid it for a long time. As long as the cat has a place to retreat to and you teach the puppy to leave the cat alone (granted, easier said than done), you will work through problems eventually. Puppies and kittens tend to get along just fine. Watch out for possible accidental injuries if the puppy is (or will become) much bigger than the cats. If you are introducing an adult dog to an adult dog, it will depend on their temperament and how well they get along with other dogs. You might have some scuffles to establish a hierarchy -- keep an eye on it but don't forbid it unless things get out of hand. If one dog reacts very poorly to the other, you will have to separate them for a while and work on introducing them slowly. You may have to keep them separate when you are gone. An adult dog with a cat can present problems if the dog thinks cats make tasty snacks, or if the cat takes a dim view of dogs. You may have to keep them separated, or expect a longer period of adjustement. If the dog is fine with cats, introducing it to a kitten is easy. In sum, it depends on the temperament and ages of the animals involved. In most cases, you can simply introduce them, let them work it out, and after a week to a month or so, things are fine. However, sometimes this is a lengthy process that you will have to work through, especially if it is cross-species. In general, this will work: Put the dog in its own room, where the original pet can smell it, but not see it. After a day or so of this, remove the dog from the room and let the original pet smell and explore the room thoroughly. Put the dog back in. Depending on the reactions involved, let the pets meet under supervision. If there is some hostility, separate them while you are gone until you are certain that they get along. It is best if you can arrange a "retreat" for each animal. Meeting first in a neutral area such as someone else's house or in a park, if possible, may help. Arrange a retreat for a cat by blocking off entrance to a room with a child's gate that the cat can jump over but the dog cannot. Be sure that the original pet gets plenty of attention after the arrival of the new pet. Resentment at loss of attention and change in routine can exacerbate the problems with the two getting along. Finally, remember that it can take several weeks to a year for the animals to adjust. Don't rush things. Your best resource is patience. _________________________________________________________________ Getting A Dog FAQ Cindy Tittle Moore, rpd-info@netcom.com Hosted by K9 WEB User Contributions:
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