Getting-Selecting a Dog - Rational Dog Training

Finding a Dog, or, But I Just Want a Pet!
By: Laura VanArendonk Baugh

You've decided on the right breed or mix for you, and you're ready to begin looking for a dog. You reach for the newspaper classified ads and begin browsing internet puppy sites. After finding several listings, you call in your significant other to excitedly share images of darling furballs.

What's wrong with this picture?

You've heard vague horror stories about pet shops and puppy mills; you know that, no matter how cute, buying a puppy through a pet shop is a very risky gamble. Puppy mills (often referred to by pet shop employees as "private breeders," as in, "Oh, no! We don't buy from puppy mills, only private breeders") are places of obscene cruelty, where breeding stock is kept in tiny cages until physically incapable of producing another litter and then destroyed. Puppies are unhealthy, pedigrees are falsifed, socialization is nonexistant. Buying a petstore puppy even out of mercy only funds the system. You've firmly decided not to even set foot inside a pet shop.

But what could be wrong with a breeder found online or through a newspaper ad?

The sad paradox is, most who actively advertise puppies for sale are not good breeders. Generally these people are not health testing their dogs, much less evaluating them independently through competition. They are not cutting into their profits by testing for health conditions; they know cute faces will sell regardless of health guarantees. They are likely to say such things as, "Oh, only show dogs need all those fancy tests. We're just breeding pets, here" or even "our lines don't have any health problems." (It's easy to say you don't see problems when you don't look for them!)

Don't you want a healthy puppy?

A woman gave permission to share this story: She found a litter of adorable pups, available locally, and took one home Saturday afternoon for $150. On Monday the dog was at the vet, sick with parvo; the cost to treat her was over $1000. As time went on, the woman paid about $500 trying to identify and treat CVI and then $2600 for CVI surgery, $3300 for bloat surgery and follow-up, and hundreds more on testing and treating CAH, hypothyroidism, blood transfusions because of vWD clotting disorder, special diet for weak liver, etc. All but parvo are inherited conditions or tendencies; the parvo was a result of the seller's poor practices.

A little forethought and health testing on the "breeder's" part would have saved this woman thousands of dollars and lots of heartache, not to mention made the dog's quality of life much better. And what would have happened had she not been able to afford treatment for her companion?

Other health conditions which are often a sign of careless breeding are allergies, hip dysplasia, arthritis, cancer, poor temperament, etc. Taking the time and money to find a healthy dog is well worth it in the long run. While testing does not absolutely remove the risk of a health problem, it certainly improves the odds. And EVERY breed has health problems; if someone tells you otherwise, leave tire tracks out of the driveway! It's not impossible to find an ethical breeder (breeding without proper health testing is unethical; no one wants an unhealthy puppy) who doesn't show and advertises in the newspaper, but the odds are strongly against it.

People advertising cock-a-poos, peek-a-poos, puggles, etc., are much the same, merely trying to make money on popular mixed breeds. Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with mixed breeds, but deliberately cross-breeding to make a quick buck is questionable at best -- and again, these people are not doing necessary health testing. If you want a mixed breed, go for it! -- but get him or her from a shelter, don't support irresponsible puppy factories.

Finally, beware of high-priced commercial breeders. These often have beautiful ads in dog magazines or glitzy websites, and they may even mention awards, championships, and health testing. Prices range from relatively inexpensive to outrageous. Do your research here, too! Anyone can build a website, and many have been deceived by lies about a dog's background, show record or health. This is the land of the unscrupulous con artist, preying on those who are thinking only of cute puppies.

If you are not shown extensive health testing results, specific to your chosen breed, you are not dealing with an ethical, responsible breeder -- no matter what their claims as to pure, untainted bloodlines.

A responsible breeder, on the other hand, carefully considers the qualities and faults of her dog and seeks a mate to compliment and balance it. She has done health testing on her own dogs and closely examined the test results of the potential mate. She has competed with her dogs in the show ring, obedience or agility trials, or working trials such as hunting or herding tests; she is a member of her breed club or working clubs.

When someone comes seeking a puppy, she questions him to be sure they will be a good match. At the end of planning, testing, breeding, raising and caring, she has just barely broken even or has lost money on the litter -- but she's not doing this for money. Her puppies will cost a little more, but the difference will be made up in future vet bills and peace of mind.

Your responsible breeder will be able to tell you what the dogs in the last three generations AND their siblings and offspring died of, and at what age. She will be eager to show you the results of the many health tests she has done (not, "The vet said they were healthy") and the results of actively showing or trialing her dogs. These are signs of a breeder putting the most effort into producing healthy puppies.

Good breeders will sell you a wonderful pet puppy for less than their show quality pups; no litter is ever 100% show quality (if a breeder tells you that, run for the nearest exit!) and those pet puppies have had the same health testing and careful forethought as the more expensive pups. These pet puppies will be sold with health guarantees, a buy-back clause or the right to take back the dog at any age if you ever cannot keep it, and a spay/neuter contract. These are important things to look for.

Don't be offended if the breeder asks many questions or even seems to question whether you're "good enough" for one of her puppies -- this is a good sign! You'll probably have to wait for one of her puppies, as she doesn't breed often enough to always have dogs available. She is involved with only one breed, possibly two -- never more. The puppies are raised in her house, not the backyard or garage, and are constantly underfoot. She will not send them to their new homes until they are seven or eight weeks old, by which time they are accustomed to the normal noises of a household, used to being handled, brushed and having their nails trimmed, and have a good start on housetraining.

This is the kind of breeder you want.

Finally, if you want a particular breed, be sure you consider rescue as an option. The advantages are many:

It is less expensive than buying a pup (usually about $200, depending on several factors) you don't have to go through the teething/housetraining stage you know you have saved a dog's life you can see exactly what personality you're getting rather than gambling on what a pup will grow up to be puppies grow up to be adults, anyway!

Rescues come in all sizes, puppy to adolescent to senior; they are generally very nice dogs who just have had bad luck. An example: I received a call only a few days before writing this from a client who had had serious health problems and was going into hospice, and she had to give up her absolutely wonderful dog. This friendly dog who had done so well in training class was suddenly without a home. I referred her to the appropriate breed rescue, and today there's a truly fantastic, well-trained dog waiting for a new home because her loving owner is too ill to care for her.

You can find a responsible breeder or rescue contact through the local or national breed club of your preferred breed. The AKC's website, akc.org, is a good place to start. Your local shelter may also have breed rescue information, and they probably are hosting several wonderful pets themselves.

One of the saddest sights I see as a professional trainer is someone who has tried to save money on his new best friend, or was too impatient to wait for the right dog, and now faces years of disappointment and heartbreak when problems surface. You will have your dog for the next ten or fifteen years; take the time and effort now to make sure you'll have no regrets.