Who can resist the appeal of a young puppy? How can you not fall in love with those pleading eyes and wagging tail? It seems that the little guy is just begging you to pick it up, take it home and love it. Many people do just that — their hearts melt, reason goes out the window, and they bring the youngster home. Many times this arrangement works just fine. Sadly, sometimes it doesn’t. Many of the problems clients bring to a dog trainer could have been avoided if the person had made an informed decision prior to obtaining a dog. Unfortunately, too many pets are impulse purchases, and that can lead to problems.
Before succumbing to those eyes and that adorable coat of puppy fluff, think about what the pup is going be when it grows up. Are you ready for a 90-pound shedding machine? Does the very thought of long strings of doggy drool make you cringe? Are frequent rounds of sustained yapping going to drive you or your neighbors nuts? Will you be able to keep your frustrated shepherd from attempting to herd cars on the street? Will you be able to keep your four-legged explorer safely contained in your house and yard? Are you strong enough physically and temperamentally to handle one of the big, potentially tough breeds? Do you have the time and ability to provide the significant amounts of exercise most medium and larger dogs need? Are you ready for a dog who may have an extended puppyhood of up to three years before beginning to settle down a bit? Are you ready to deal with the possible health problems that come with this breed? Is everyone at home going to be happy with the acquisition of this dog?If you did your homework and have decided on a suitable breed, you still have work to do. It’s relatively easy to find any breed of puppy, especially now with the Internet, but locating a puppy is only the first step. Pretty much any breeder and his dogs look good on a Web site or in a magazine or newspaper ad, but the reality may be quite a bit different.
You’ll want to know how the pups were raised and socialized. Have they had lots of handling by the breeder and carefully supervised contact with other people? Have they spent at least seven or eight weeks with their mother and littermates? Have they and their mother had good nutrition and veterinary care? Prior to mating, were the parents tested for the genetic problems inherent in the breed? Are the sire and dam dogs you would be able to live with? Many breeds have family lines that are completely different in temperament and energy level and you’ll want to choose wisely.
How do you find that perfect puppy or dog for you and your family? If your heart is set on a purebred, go the parent club’s Web site. Each breed of dog has a parent club that oversees the breed in this country, and they can provide you with a list of member breeders who have agreed to conform to the club’s code of ethics. The American Kennel Club will provide contact information for the parent clubs for each breed that can be registered with them.
If it’s a rare breed you want, you can find its parent club with a little research on the computer. Rescue organizations are a great source, too. Many dogs in rescue have lived in foster homes for a while and the good people caring for them can give you helpful background information on their charges.
This advice is not limited to purebreds. Mixed breeds and “designer breeds” will inherit their temperamental makeup from the breeds that are behind them. Would each of the breeds in the combination make a good choice for you?
A puppy bought on a whim may turn out to be the best pet you ever had, but it could also be a nightmare ending in the re-homing or even the death of the dog. Make your choice with your brain as well as your heart and most likely you and your dog will enjoy a happy relationship for many years.
Dorothy Miner is a long-time dog trainer, obedience and tracking instructor and judge of canine events. She is a published author and contributes regular columns to several dog publications. Dorothy currently teaches at the Hollowell Academy of Dog Training and, with Diane Laratta, teaches weekly classes for the Allen Correctional Institution PETS Program.
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