There are some simple things you need to ask before you buy a dog, or pup. First of all, do you own your own house, or do you rent? If you rent you must consider landlord permission for a pet. Do you need to pay an additional Pet Deposit? Is your yard fully fenced? If not, can you invest in a secure dog run? It has been proven that dogs who are kept tied or chained have an increased risk of aggressive behavior, and, as a result, many places are putting in bans against keeping dogs on chains and insisting they be confined to a yard or dog run. Are there any restricting laws on certain breeds or sizes of dogs in your area? Does anyone in your home have allergies?
Do you have sufficient time and money for a dog? A new dog, especially a puppy or intelligent breed, will require A LOT of time. A person who is busy with work or young children will not have time to devote to training a new dog or pup. Dogs have on going costs in terms of supplies and food, and also may require emergency vet care, so unless you have a cushion of money in the bank, a dog may only add stress.
Breed Choice
One of the biggest mistakes people make is in breed selection. They fall in love with a breed based on looks, or what they see on TV or in a movie. They do not do research on the behavioral issues of the breed, or what health issues to expect.
If you do not have a lot of time to spend keeping your dog mentally stimulated you will not want to get a high intelligence breed. Such breeds include most working dogs, such as Border Collies. These dogs NEED jobs… if you don’t give them a job, they will find one, and usually it is destructive. Terriers are also considered intelligent canines, bred to hunt and kill, they are also very mouth oriented and will chew on anything if not supervised, as such any children’s toys will be considered as the dogs own.
Some terriers will be a threat if you own any small animals such as rabbits. If you have cats, or small animals, you should avoid sight hounds, such as greyhounds. Other breeds like Huskies are known for being cat killers.
Make sure you do thorough research on several breeds before narrowing down your choices. Also consider what health problems are associated with that breed, and what breeds are common in your area.
Purebred or Mutt?
With a purebred you know what health problems to expect, and what the usual behavior of that breed is. It gives you a starting point. In order for a dog to be considered a Purebred it MUST have registration papers. Any dog without registration papers is a mutt. Registration papers DO NOT guarantee quality. If you want to determine the quality of a registered dog, you must see the show records of BOTH parents, as well as see the health certificates for genetic checks done on the parents (these checks may vary depending on breed and country, but usually include hips, eye, and ears.)
Mutts are generally less expensive, and easier to find, they make wonderful pets. “Mutt” should not be taken as a derogatory term. It is the correct term for any mixed breed dog, or dog who lacks registration papers. Mutts often have longer lifespans and may be overall healthier because of a thing called “hybrid vigor”, which basically means they have well mixed genes.
One caution though. Stay away from paying too much for a “designer dog”. These are dogs intentionally bred and given fancy names for no other reason than to make profit. Such mixes include, Puggles, Labradoodles, and Cockapoos. While there is nothing wrong with the dogs themselves, it is an ethical issue, as reputable breeders breed to improve the breed, and people who breed designer dogs, breed for profit. If either parent were good quality, they would be breeding purebreds. Sadly many of these animals are greatly overpriced and many naive new owners pay way too much for a pooch. There is no guarantee which genes from which parent a pup will inherit.
What Should You Ask a Seller?
How old is the pup? You should never take any pup under 6 weeks, and for smaller breeds, you should not take any under 8 weeks. Some breeders will take your name and down payment even before the pups are born to ensure you a pup from the next litter.
When was it vaccinated, vet checked, dewormed? You should NEVER pay a cent for a pup or dog who has not had these things done. You could end up paying a lot for a sick dog. The vaccinations should be done at least 24 hours before the dog leaves its home, and you should get a copy of the vet check and vaccination record. Vaccinations will need to be boostered.
What show record do the parents have? This will help you determine if the pups are over priced or not. If there is no show record the pups really are not worth more than the cost of the vet procedures already done. If there is a show record then it proves the person has invested money into selecting good dogs to breed
Can I meet the parents? If you are buying a pup you should at least be able to meet the mom. Pups tend to emulate their mothers behavior. Do not buy from a place with a female who is aggressive or fearful of people.
What kind of guarantee does the pup come with? Most breeders offer guarantees on health from two weeks, to 1 year, to a lifetime guarantee.
If my family have a problem with the dog, such as allergies, how long do we have to return it for a full refund? If you cannot return it within a week or two, are you willing to take the risk?
Where to Buy
If you are looking for a Purebred, buying from a reputable breeder is the best place to buy. You can determine if a breeder is reputable by asking for references, and by them proving (through show records) that they have invested time proving their dog was worth breeding. Many breeds also have breed rescues you can adopt from. You can find a reputable breeder by checking dog magazines, asking your vet, dog groomer, or local dog club.
If you are looking for a Mutt, then adopting from an animal shelter or SPCA (etc) is probably your best option. They will be vaccinated, vet checked, and often come with incentives for spaying or neutering. Most of these are non-profit and genuinely care about finding the pets good homes. They will be as honest as possible and will offer reasonable guarantees. Generally it is less expensive for you to adopt from a shelter than it is to take a “free” one and having all the medical done to it yourself.
I caution you against shopping at pet stores. Stores are stores, they are in the business of making profit, they buy cheap and sell high. They are not always honest in an effort to get a sale. Why would a good breeder use a store to sell a pup rather than selling it themselves? Why would anyone want to hide anonymously and use a store to sell for them? Pet stores will deny using puppy mills, but no reputable breeder would ever sell to a store.
If you go to a place to select a pup, and the place is overrun or filthy, DO NOT pity the pup and buy it. In doing so you are actually rewarding them for keeping dogs this way. You are better to walk away and if the place is really bad, call the SPCA to report them, and hopefully they will seize the animals and shut the place down.
What to Pay
Do not pay a cent for a dog who has not been checked by a veterinarian, dewormed, and vaccinated. If you adopt, the shelter will have a set rate for their animals. If you are buying from a breeder they will have the price set. Less common breeds will be more costly. It is impossible to tell you what each dog is worth. You need to get a feel for dog costs in your area, and understand that many sellers ask for whatever they feel people will pay based on demand. A breeder who has shown their dogs will have a price that shows their investment. A back yard breeder will have a price based on how much money they want, or think they can get. You need to figure out what you are willing to pay with out being taken advantage of.
Male vs. Female?
If you are planning on getting your dog fixed then gender usually won’t matter. Males lift their legs and urinate on things, females urinate on the ground. Males may get a bit larger. That is pretty much it. Spaying or neutering helps eliminate, or reduce, many health risks and aggressive behaviors.
Adult vs. Pup
Puppies are jumpy, unpredictable and require A LOT of attention. If you are not fully prepared for a hyper ball of destructive activity, do not get a pup. If you have young children then a pup is probably not a good idea, it will be virtually impossible to house train a puppy successfully unless you can devote your full attention to it. A pup will jump up on the kids and chew their toys. Children can get bit by teething pups or send mixed signals. You really do not know what the personality of a puppy will be when its older. You can shape behavior, but not personality.
Adult dogs may be a better choice for somebody who does not have time for house training, or who has young children. Adult dogs are usually the economical choice.
Choosing The One
If you are at a shelter you will have many dogs and pups to look at. Ask the staff to help you make the right decision based on your lifestyle. They know the dogs and may have some back ground information that can help you. They will be honest, because they want the animal to get a good home. If you do not find the right pooch, you can always come back the following week or leave your name and number for a request.
If you are looking at a breeder with a litter of pups, ask them their opinion of the pups. Do not pick the smallest, while people are often drawn to the runt, it is usually the weakest choice.
If you are looking at a private home that has one dog, take the time to think about it, go for a walk with the dog and owner. If it sells before you decided, then it was not meant to be and other dogs will come along.
Overall make sure the dog you pick is healthy looking, bright and alert. Make sure it is not shy or fearful. Always ask for a health guarantee.
Bringing Your Dog Home
Congratulations…
For the first few weeks keep the dog on the food it was currently on. If you plan on switching brands you should do so gradually. If you got a puppy then chances are it is not fully vaccinated, do not take a puppy off your property (except to the vet) until it is fully vaccinated. Make one of your first commitments to the dog to get it into Obedience lessons. These teach far more than just “sit” and “stay” they are a basic (and often over looked) step towards socialization.
If you experience problems, seek the help and advice of others, especially the person who sold you the dog or pup.
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