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Is it time
for a Puppy?
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Please
make an informed decision, not a spur of the moment weakness that you
may regret later. |
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These
are a few tips for making this important decision: |
- The most important thing is to really
think about adding a puppy to your family. It is a life
altering decision that will be around for the next 10+ years.
- Can you afford all of the expenses that go
along with the puppy? Sure there are vaccines, exams,
spay/neuter etc., but what happens if there is an accident or the
pet develops a disease or needs long term medication or care?
- Should you get pet insurance?
- Do you have time to train the new addition?
Socializing and bonding with your new pet is very important
especially when they are 6 to 12 weeks of age. Puppy/dog
training classes are a great idea for a well behaved pet for the
future.
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Are you planning an extended vacation this summer? Will you need to
board the puppy?
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What happens when summer is over? Will you still have time to spend
with the pet when everyone goes back to work and school? Will
I need doggie day camp?
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What breed is right for you?
The internet is a great resource for breed information. (check our
"links" page) |
- What size/weight will match my
house/apartment?
- Long/short hair?
- Shedder or non shedding?
- Will he need to be professionally groomed or
can you bathe him yourself?
- How much exercise will the dog need?
- What kind of temperament will work with my
family?
- Is the breed good with children?
- Is this going to be a guard dog or a lap dog?
- Do I want a purebred or a mutt?
- What health problems or breed tendencies might
you expect from this breed
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Once you have found your
perfect breed, where will you get the puppy?
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A shelter may be a good place to save a
dog that may otherwise be euthanized if not adopted. There is
usually a wide variety of mixes and purebreds of all ages to pick from.
These dogs are there for a variety of reasons from behavior problems, to
owners moving, or owners that can no longer care for their pets.
Sometimes it's because the owners picked the wrong breed to begin with
or got a pet without thinking through all the responsibilities and costs
related to pet ownership. |
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There are many breeders to choose from.
Go to local dog shows to see your breed. Talk to breeders.
(they're always happy to talk about their dogs). Check out some of
the breed clubs. They will be able to steer you in the right
direction. Reputable breeders will give you a guarantee, show you at
least one of parents, show you the registration papers, vaccine history,
and heritage. Remember, anyone can breed dogs! They don't
need to know what they're doing. |
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We've all stopped in the pet shop to pick
up fish food or other supplies and noticed the cute puppy in the cage.
Sometimes we think "Oh it's so cute! I should save it and take it
out of this place!" Well, that's an impulse buy. That's why
pet stores are in business! It's really not the way to go.
Breeders who sell to pet stores are puppy mills. Reputable
breeders have waiting lists for their puppies and have no need to sell
through stores. Buyer beware! You may find a great pet at a
puppy store, but the chances are not very good. |
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Breed rescue's are great if you have a
particular breed in mind. They are a great resource for
breed information and care. They may or may not have puppies, but
sometimes it's nice to have an older dog that may be partially or
completely trained. |
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This is the worst place to purchase a
pet. You may or may not find a "cheap" pet, but remember that you
usually get what you pay for! Watch for fleas, ticks, snotty
noses, diarrhea etc. |
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This may or may not be a
good resource. Sometimes this works out well for both parties, but
could lead to problems should the pet be sick or hard to train etc. .
It's like the old saying "don't sell a used car to a friend or relative,
you'll never hear the end of it if something goes wrong." |
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In any case, here are some
questions to ask before you purchase the puppy |
- Can I see the puppy's parents?
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Sometimes the parents are owned by
different families and the father isn't always present, but you should
be able to see the home and the mother along with the litter of puppies. |
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- Can I take the puppy for a pre-purchase exam
to my veterinarian?
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If the answer is no, go to another
seller. If the seller says "you need to take it to my vet", go to
another seller. Do not pay for the puppy first with the promise
that you will get your money back if your veterinarian considers the pet
a health risk. |
- Do you sell more than one breed?
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When a breeder sells multiple
breeds in the same facility, the chances of cross breeding is high.
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- Is there a health guarantee?
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If the seller is reputable, they will
offer you a health guarantee. This should have specific coverage
and include money back and/or replacement. |
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- Can you tell me about this breed?
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If the breeder cannot have a semi
intelligent conversation about health testing, problems in the breed,
puppy raising, breed standards and how close the parents come to it,
faults/weaknesses as well as strengths, pedigrees, temperaments, you
should go elsewhere. |
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- Can I contact some other people who purchased
puppies from you?
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If the seller can not or will not give
you people to contact, leave. Reputable breeders will be very
happy to give out names of previous customers. They are proud of
their pups and breed. |
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- What veterinarian has examined and vaccinated
this puppy?
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If the seller cannot furnish this
information or tells you he did the examination and did the shots
himself, leave. |
- Is this puppy AKC registered or does it have
papers?
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It is nice to have the registration
papers for your pet, but it does not mean that the pet is a show dog.
It just means that the person who filled out the original paperwork when
the dogs were bred, stated that the parents were registered and had
puppies. AKC does not regulate the breeding or the facility they
are raised in. The papers are more like a dog registry with no
regulations. |
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| There are hundreds of good
questions to ask, these have been just a few. Please do your
research before purchasing a puppy. Make sure you are ready.
Ask everyone you know about their experiences with their dogs. Ask
your veterinarian for his/her input. Use the internet, library,
breed clubs, dog shows, dog trainers and anyone else you can think of to
make your final decision. PLEASE DON'T BUY IT JUST BECAUSE YOU
THINK IT'S SOOOOOO CUTE!!! It may not be so cute when it bites
someone, gets huge, barks continually, ends up with hip dysplasia,
sheds/drools all over the house etc. Make an informed decision.
Remember, the number one cause of death for dogs is euthanasia because
of training ( or lack there of), behavioral, and just not the right pet
for the situation! |
If you are having trouble deciding or need help with breed selection, give us a
call at
414-541-6440
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