Photo courtesy of Photos by Bea
ARE
YOU READY FOR A DOG IN YOUR LIFE?
Photo courtesy
of Photos by Bea
Here
are ten questions to help you decide
if you're really ready for the responsiblities of dog ownership:
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1. Do I have enough time for a pet? Daily care includes affection, grooming, feeding, training and exercising. 2. Do I have adequate space and housing area (including a secure yard) for a dog? 3. Can I afford veterinary care, licensing, food, training and grooming costs? This can run up to thousands of dollars a year. 4. What would I do with my dog when I go on vacation or have to travel for my job? 5. Am I willing to obey community laws concerning animals? 6. Am I willing to be patient in training and housebreaking? 7. Can I deal with my favorite shoes being mauled, my furniture being chewed and all of the messes and accidents pets have? 8. Are my children responsible enough to help care for the dog? Will they be gentle with it and treat it well? 9. What happens if I move? Am I willing to deal with the frustrations of finding Bowser-friendly housing? 10. Am I willing to make a commitment to this dog for its entire life? Have I ever made a commitment that spans 15 years or more? |
Select the Right Dog For YOU!
Research
& Realistic Expectations
We encourage you to do
your homework about the breed you are interested in adopting. Knowing a breed’s
characteristics, whether purebred or not, is an important step to finding the
best match for you. We actively discourage impulse buying or adopting. Our pets
deserve homes that are prepared for their arrival and owners who have realistic
expectations about lifestyle changes and temperaments.
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Recommended
reading:
"The Perfect Match"
by Chris Walkowicz and "Harper's Illustrated Handbook of Dogs";
"The Secondhand Dog" and "The Chosen Puppy"
by Carol Lea Benjamin; "Childproofing Your Dog" by
Brian Kilcommons, and "The Perfect Puppy - How to Choose Your Dog
by Its Behavior" by Benjaimin & Lynette Hart.
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Visit SelectSmart.com
for
a complete dog & cat online selection program!
This
little Australian Cattledog can go-go-go for hours. Photo courtesy of Cathy Fox |
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Are
you considering a purebred dog?
Do your homework. Talk to reputable breeders about the breed's personality
and characteristics. A reputable breeder will be just as interested in your
home as you are in the dog. They will be more interested in making a good match
than making a sale. Most breeders are happy to help you make the right choice.
A reputable breeder will require that you sign a spay/neuter contract for a
pet quality dog and will be able to give you lots of information on the potential
"undesireable" qualities and hereditary health problems the breed
may possess. Ask for references—from dog owners and other breeders. If your
breeder has a good reputation, they will be well respected within their breed
clubs.
What
IS a "responsible breeder"? Click HERE.
Responsible
breeder / backyard breeder comparison ... Click HERE.
Finding
a good purebred dog ... Click HERE.
Know the true meaning of AKC Registered... "AKC registered" means nothing about the quality or temperament of your dog. The American Kennel Club (AKC) is merely a record keeping agency. They do not police breeders who register their litters. That is up to you. Meet the parents of your puppy...temperament is most definitely passed on. Ask about screening and certification regarding hereditary health problems. Is there a health guarantee?
Great article from the Newfoundland Club. Look passed the cute face - what you don't see could break your heart. Ask about early socialization and health screening. Meet the parents. Don't buy a purebred from a pet store!!
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Dogs must be AKC registered to be shown, but not all AKC registered dogs are show quality. If what you want is a show prospect, a perfect example of the breed - choose your breeder carefully. Visit them, observe their dogs, talk to people who own their puppies, ask if they have health/temperament guarantees - are the parents certified clear of genetic defects? If a good family pet is what you want, these breeders will also have "pet quality" puppies from the same litter, at a lower price - probably LESS than you would pay for a poor quality dog at the pet store with ALL the careful early socialization and health and temperament guarantees of a show quality pup! Mixed breed or Purebred? It's a matter of personal taste. Some people assume that mixed breeds must be healthier than purebreds. Both pass on their genes to their offspring, both good and bad traits. Genetic problems occur in all animals, not just purebreds, but we can only track the diseases as being hereditary when we have a long pedigree, as we do with purebreds. Choose a responsible breeder if you choose a purebred! Mixed
breeds have a charm all their own. But beware of the latest fad in puppy mills, selling high priced trendy mixes to pet stores. You may feel like you are "rescuing" that poor dog from the pet store window, but in handing over your hard earned cash, you ensure that your pup's parents are destined to be used again and again to produce more for the pet trade. We can only put them out of business by NOT buying pet store pups. |
JoJo
is a Sheltie/Poodle cross. |
How Much
IS that Doggy in the Window?
Don't fall into the Puppy Mill trap ...
REPUTABLE BREEDERS DON'T SELL TO PET STORES! They are very particular and insist on meeting and screening the homes their puppies go to. They are also willing to give you ongoing support and are willing to take that puppy back if for any reason you cannot keep it.
Ten Reasons to Not Buy a Puppy From a Pet Shop
AMERICA'S MOST WANTED: The top 10 most popular dogs.
With popularity, comes a price. "Popular" breeds are the most saleable - which means puppy mills, backyard breeders and unscrupulous breeders single out these breeds as "money makers." This often leads to an upsurge of genetic problems in both physical and temperamental defects. The larger numbers of these breeds "trickle down" - showing up more frequently in shelters. Dedicated individuals and clubs create breed rescue groups to rehabilitate the abused and find homes for the cast-offs. Small breeds are favorites of pet shops - not only are they irresistable to the public, but they have a longer "shelf-life" (they retain their puppy looks longer.) Plus a smaller dog is more likely to be a "spur of the moment" decision. Take note: does your local pet store have a regular "supply" of Miniature Schnauzers, American Eskimos, Shih Tzus and Poodles? Do the above "top ten" appear on its inventory often? You must ask yourself, where do these puppies come from? Would a truly reputable breeder provide a regular supply of top quality puppies to a pet store ... ? Would a person who really cared about the future of its puppies ever turn the placement over to strangers in a pet shop - or the dealers who supply them?
Don't forget the shelter... 40% of the dogs that come through shelters are purebred, meaning that if you are patient and persistent, you can usually find what you are looking for. There are also several pet rescue organizations in Spokane, as well as purebred rescue clubs, and thousands of these groups all over the country. Ask around and do your research. The internet is also a great resource. Check out PetFinder.com
Visit our Pet Placement Forum or SpokAnimal's list of Shelters & Rescues!
