101 Things to Know Before Getting a Dog. Susan Ewing M.

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СКАЧАТЬ United Kennel Club’s website at www.ukcdogs.com. On these websites, you’ll find information on the national clubs—also called parent clubs—of the organization’s registered breeds. Your chosen breed’s parent club can help you find a breeder.

      A local kennel club in your area may also be able to put you in touch with a breeder. Or, attend a dog show. Dog shows are a great way to see many different breeds all in one location. If a particular breed catches your eye, talk to the handler about what the breed is like to live with.

      If you decide to attend a dog show, there are some things to keep in mind. First, morning is a great time to see obedience or agility, if these events are part of the show. Second, unless it’s a benched show, of which there are very few, people may leave after they’ve shown. Get a judging schedule or check InfoDog online (www.infodog.com) if you want to know when a specific breed will be shown. If you’re interested in Corgis, for instance, and they are being shown at 8:00 a.m., don’t go at 11 a.m. with hopes of talking to Corgi people.

      Finally, ask when you can talk to someone about your chosen breed. If a handler is busy grooming or rushing to the ring, he or she is likely to be abrupt because the main concern at that moment is showing, not talking. Once the judging is over, you’ll find that most dog people are happy to talk to you and answer questions. This is an excellent way to learn about a breed’s temperament, energy level, and grooming needs.

      If you’re doing a general online search for a purebred, rather than looking at breeders you found through a reputable registry, such as AKC, the UKC, or a parent club, beware. Not all those who have websites are good breeders; they may just be fancy puppy mills. If a site offers more than two breeds, that’s a red flag. If the site says that the breeder always has puppies, that’s another red flag. Reputable breeders plan their litters carefully and rarely “always” have puppies.

      Beware of anyone claiming to have “rare” examples of a breed. “Rare” frequently means “more money,” and “rare” is not always a good thing—there is probably a reason that a particular trait is rare. As an example, in Pembroke Welsh Corgis, a longhaired Corgi is called a “fluffy.” This is a fault that would count against the dog in the show ring. A recessive gene causes the fluffy coat, and breeders try to avoid producing fluffies. For that reason, a fluffy is “rare.” A fluffy makes a perfectly good pet for someone willing to groom the longer coat, and it’s acceptable to sell such a dog as a pet. It is not acceptable, however, to ask for more money because the dog is “rare.” In another example, a “rare” all-white Boxer may be deaf.

      Avoid dogs being sold as “teacup.” Some dogs are supposed to be tiny, but the “teacup” designation is not used in the standard of any breed. In some cases, dogs have been bred down to such a small size that health problems multiply and their life spans may be drastically shortened.

      You may also find a specific breed in a rescue organization or at a shelter. In these cases, you won’t know if the dog has been tested for genetic diseases, and you won’t be able to see the parents or any siblings. However, adopting from a rescue or shelter is a great way to bring home your chosen breed while giving a deserving dog a second chance at a good home.

      Rare Breeds

      Certain breeds are considered rare. The Norwegian Lundehund, for example, is a rare breed in the United States because there aren’t very many registered Lundehunds in the country.

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      Interviewing a Breeder

      If you’ve decided on a purebred, you’ll have to choose a breeder. You’ll want to talk to the breeder and ask her any questions you have about the breed, and the breeder will have questions for you, too. At first, it may seem like a good breeder doesn’t want to sell any of her puppies because she will start off by telling you everything negative about the breed. Yes, she wants to sell the puppies, but she wants them to go to good homes and to people who are ready for the pros and cons of that particular breed.

      Using Corgis as an example, they shed a lot, they bark—some more than others—and they can be stubborn. If you want peace and quiet and very little shedding, a Corgi wouldn’t be the right choice. If you treasure your perfectly landscaped yard, a terrier, with his instinct to dig, may not be a good choice. Newfoundland and St. Bernard breeders may warn you that when the dog shakes his head, you could end up with drool on your walls and maybe even your ceiling. Don’t fall so in love with a breed that you ignore the negatives. You will be living with that dog for upward of a decade. Be prepared.

      For your part, ask about any hereditary diseases and if the parents have been tested for these problems. Don’t believe a breeder who says she never needs to test her dogs because they are all perfect.

      If you are looking at a puppy, ask to see the mother of the litter as well as all of the puppies. You may not be able to see the father if he doesn’t live with the breeder. Your breeder may select the puppy she thinks best fits your lifestyle, but you should still be allowed to see all of the puppies and the mother. If the facilities aren’t clean or if any puppy looks ill, find another breeder.

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      Questions and Contracts

      A good breeder will have many questions for you before she agrees to sell you one of her puppies. For example, a breeder will likely ask if you’ve ever had a dog before and, if so, what happened to him. If you say you’ve had five dogs who have all been hit by cars and killed, the odds are good that you won’t get a dog from this breeder. The breeder will also want to know if you’ve ever owned this specific breed before. Not every breed is right for every person or family.

      The breeder will ask about your yard and whether it’s fenced. She’ll ask how you plan to exercise your dog. She’ll ask if you own or rent your home. She’ll ask if you have children and, if so, how old they are. Be honest with your answers. Your breeder wants the best for both you and the dog, and she may be able to give you advice on the best way to exercise your dog or how to teach your children to respect the dog. Breeders want everyone, human and canine, to be happy, and they’ve learned what questions to ask and what the best responses to those questions are.

      Dogs and Kids

      Generally, breeders of toy dogs don’t like to place them in homes with children under five years of age, who may not fully understand how gentle they must be with a dog. Sometimes breeders of giant breeds have the same restriction because a clumsy, playful puppy that weighs 40 or more pounds could inadvertently injure a small child.

      A reputable breeder will have a sales contract that spells out just what is being offered and what each of you promises. For instance, a contract may say that the puppy, depending on his age, has already had certain vaccinations. It may give you a window of time, anywhere from forty-eight hours to two weeks, for you to have the puppy examined by a veterinarian. If the doctor finds anything seriously wrong with the puppy during this time frame, you may be able to return the puppy to the breeder for either a refund or a replacement puppy. The contract may require you to spay or neuter the puppy at a specified age and to show proof of the procedure to the breeder. The contract will also say that the breeder will take the dog back at any time. Responsible breeders are responsible for the dogs they breed for the dogs’ entire lives.

      Sometimes, a breeder will offer co-ownerships. Breeders frequently do this with show-quality dogs because they want to get their kennels recognized for their quality. Such a breeder may make showing the dog a condition of ownership СКАЧАТЬ