FINDING A HEALTHY
PUPPY:
10 STEPS TO
SUCCESS
by Jan Rasmusen
You’ve
decided to bring a new puppy into your life.
Congratulations! You’d like to adopt a shelter dog,
but you have your heart set on a particular breed or
one of the new "designer" breed mixes. You’ve been
reading, visiting dog shows, and grilling friends,
vets and trainers and have determined just the right
breed for you and your family. Now it’s time to find
that right puppy. Unfortunately, you’ve heard so
many horror stories about sick and genetically
flawed pups that you’re worried--and rightly so.
No where is “buyer beware”
more important than when selecting a new puppy.
Although it’s about love, it’s also an important
business decision with a great deal of money at
stake. Following these 10 tips will help you make a
wise choice:
1) Check
out purebreds in shelters first. 25% of shelter
dogs are purebreds already checked for temperament
and common defects. Many are puppies. Search
shelters on-line (by age, breed, sex and location)
at
www.1-800-save-a-pet.com
or
www.Petfinder.com.
2) Be
patient! Breeders who always have pups
available may run cruel mass breeding operations
called puppy mills. These pups are often defective,
poorly socialized and diseased. They are raised in
deplorable conditions. Good breeders
generally have pups available only once or twice a
year, and don’t offer multiple breeds. Wait.
3) Beware
“sellers.” The best breeders don’t peddle
dogs; they screen potential “parents.” Be
especially wary of low-priced dogs and sellers with
sob stories. Today’s bargain will likely be
tomorrow’s huge vet bill. Always avoid dogs from pet
stores, flea markets, street corners and Internet
puppy emporiums.
4) Meet
The Parents! Meet the dog’s parents,
grandparents and siblings—as many relatives as
possible--to get valuable clues to the pup’s
temperament and eventual size.(Know that countless
“pocket” dogs wouldn’t fit into a steamer trunk when
full grown.) Look for dogs raised indoors as family
members, not penned up like chickens.
5) Avoid
inexperienced breeders. People “dabbling” in
breeding breed solely for looks with no idea what
genetic problems they are passing along. Look for
breeders who’ve studied the breed and are active in
breed clubs and showing. Whenever possible, get pups
from parents certified for soundness. For more and
more breeds, DNA testing is the “Gold Standard” when
screening for defects in puppy parents. Check out
www.offa.org
to learn more and read the breed-specific health
information at
www.caninehealthinfo.org.
And don’t just ask for references—actually check
them.
6) Don’t
rely on terms like “USDA inspected” and “kennel club
papers.” The USDA merely establishes
minimum-care standards, and papers are no guarantee
of quality, health or even lineage.
7) If
possible, buy locally. Selecting a pup from a
photo or video, even when accompanied by a health
“guarantee,” is asking for trouble. If you do buy a
long-distance dog, pick it up and carry it home on
the plane with you. The best breeders will never
ship any puppy by air cargo; shipping can cause
permanent psychological damage and even risk the
dog’s life.
8) Buy the
happy, friendly pup, not the cute shy one.
Insist on a dog that has been fully socialized as
part of a family, not one raised in a kennel or
cage. Many excellent breeders also have their
breeding stock and puppies tested for mental
soundness by outside organizations. If this
information is available, check out the exact
process used and the organization doing the
certification.
9) Beware
“designer” mixed breeds. Mixed breeds can
benefit from “hybrid vigor” because common defects
aren’t passed down by both parents.
Unfortunately, popular mixes are now showing up
on-line like so many ice cream flavors; when
multiple dogs are available, suspect a puppy
mill—and run!
10) Have
your pup vet checked! You must have your
pup examined by a vet before finalizing the
purchase. No exceptions! And don’t use the breeder’s
vet. You need someone representing you, not
the breeder. Research the breed defects yourself and
ask about common detects. Never “rescue” a defective
pup, no matter how adorable, unless you can afford a
mountain of vet bills and hours of nursing.
Remember, when you’re adding a
puppy to your family you're making a commitment that
could last decades and cost tens of thousands of
dollars. Your happiness—and your dog’s very
life--depend upon your making a wise choice. Save
money and heartache by selecting a dog with your
brain--not just your heart, and enjoy one of the
best experiences life has to offer.
##
© 2006 Jan Rasmusen – All
Rights Reserved
You may post this article on
your website, or in your newspaper, newsletter,
forum or group, ezine or blog with
attribution as follows:
Jan Rasmusen is the author of
Scared Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care,
2006 Ben Franklin Award Winner for the “Best Health
Book” of any kind. Sign up for her free
information-packed newsletter at http://www.Dogs4Dogs.com.
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