Think Before You Buy!

The following is a guide only

Ask yourself "Why do I want a dog?"                                                                                                                                                                                             1. Pet/companion                                                                                               2. Showing                                                                                                      3. Breeding                                                                                                     4. All of the aboce

Learn how to choose the right breed for you.                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Read about the breeds that intrest you                                                                 2. Attend a few dog shows and observe the characteristics of the breed you have chosen           3. Find out what type of grooming or special care this breed requires                                   4. Talk to and visit several breeders

• Ask about specific characteristics
• Ask about inherited problems
• Look at adults
• Look at puppies
• Remember: This puppy will be an adult longer than it will be a puppy - do you like the adults of this breed??

5. Always look at more than one litter before deciding on a specific puppy i.e visit more than one breeder to view two separate litters, this way you will have some basis for comparison              6. Have you considered rescuing an older dog rather than purchasing a puppy? An older dog maybe more appropriate for your household and your work schedule.

Questions to ask the breeder.

A. About the parents & grandparents.

1. Temperment of the ancestors.

• Shyness
• Viciousness
• Hypersctive
• What are they like??
• How are they to live with on a daily basis?

2. Known hereditary problems (ask for certification that the parents are clear).

• Hip displaysia
• Eye problems
• Thyroid problems
• Bleeding disorders
• Other specific to your breed of choice

3. Results of prior breeding (if any)

• What type of puppies (mentally and physically) has this dog produced in the past?
• Mental and physical soundness of aunts, uncles, etc.

B. About the puppies.

1. Health record.

• What shots have they had
• What shots do they still need
• Have they been wormed
• What type of food are they eating

2. Environment they were raisd in (home vs. kennel).

3. Describe an average day in the puppy's life at the age of 6 or 7 weeks.

4. Anticipated temperment of each puppy in this litter (it is important to know as much as possible about the siblings of your puppy)                                                                                                                                                                                      Note:                                                                                                            If you are buying a show or breeding quality puppy, it is even more important to find out about the siblings. Be certain that siblings are free from hereditary defects.

5. Which puppy is breeding quality, show quality or pet quality (you don't want to get your heart set on one puppy then to be told it is a show puppy and is not for sale)

6. What type of health guarantee does the breeder give you for a show puppy? Or pet puppy?

7. Will the breeder take the dog back or assist you in placing the dog should you ever decide that you cannot keep it?

Questions the breeder should ask you. Click Here

 How to evaluate the breeder (not the dogs).

1. If the breeder does not ask you most of these questions, maybe you should choose another breeder.

2. Do they seem truly interested in your home environment?

3. Are the puppies in a healthy environment?

4. Do the puppies receive adequate attention, socialization, nutrition? Ask what and how often they are fed, look for toys if there are none it maybe a sign they are not receiving enough attention/socilization.

5. How are the adults kept?

6. Speak to several breeders, if most breeders are telling you one thing and one does not either he/she is ignorant of the fact or just does not care. Niether situation is good. If they cannot give you a satisfactory answer when you directly ask, choose another breeder to buy your puppy from.

7. Do you get the feeling that once you walk through the door with the puppy, you would be on your own? Or do you feel that you could call the breeder for help at any time in the puppy's life?

How to choose your puppy once you have chosen the breeder you wish to work with.

1. Male vs. Female (if you have done your research you will already know what the character differences are between the two sexes)

2. What type of adult dog do you want?

• Active vs. docile
• Show vs. pet

3. Ask the breeder to project what the puppyies temperment will be like as an adult.

4. Evaluate the temperment first as the dog will be your pet first and foremost. He cannot be anything else unless he is a good pet. If you cannot enjoy living with the dog, why have it? We choose to have a dog - it should be a pleasure not a burden.

5. Coat color, markings and eye color should be the last consideration after you have decided on the type of temperment you can live with and which sex you prefer. If you are adamante about specific color or markings, wait until they are on the puppy with the appropriate temperment for you.

6. If you are buying a show puppy, attend enough shows, read enough books to have a basic idea of what you want in a show dog then ask the breeder to help project what each puppy may turn out like as an adult. REMEMBER: No one knows for sure it is just an educated guess at best!

Note:                                                                                                            1. If you have questions or concerns about your puppy (behaviour, physical development, etc.) at any time after your purchase - call the breeder immediately. Don't be afraid to ask for help! It could save you alot of heartache in the long run.                                                                                                                                                                             2. Remember, by purchasing this puppy, you are committing to it's care for the rest of it's life. But, in the event that you cannot keep it as you had planned call the breeder immediately. A good breeder always wants to know where their pups are. They will also help you place the dog or approve a new home if you have one lined up.                                                                                                                                                                                   3. It is very important that you maintain contact with the breeder of your puppy. If you do not feel comfortable doing that, perhaps you chose the wrong breeder to purchase your puppy from. You buy the breeder as well as the puppy so try to be sure you get a good one of each!!!

For training and understanding your new puppy I recommend reading:

The Cluture Clash by Jean Donaldson.                                                                            Dogs by Raymond & Lorna coppinger.                                                                  Dominance: Fact or Fiction by Barry Eaton.                                                               Don't Shoot the Dog!:The New Art of Teaching and Training by Karen Pryor.                                  Clicker Training for Dogs by Karen Pryor.