CHOOSING AND BUYING

Having decided that the circumstances are suitable for having a dog in the home, a whole series of questions then arise on how this can be done.  The most important are:  how to select a breed best suited to the new owner, and then how to find an individual dog which is the best possible example for the home where it will live.

THE ENVIRONMENT

A good home environment is vitally important for a contended dog.  The type of house and area where it is located are relevant.  Flats or apartments tend to have the least space, and detached houses the most.  Terraced and semi-detached houses come in between.  Similarly, a country house is more likely to be able to accommodate a dog than one in a town center.  Other urban and suburban houses come in between.

There will, of course, be plenty of notable exceptions to this rule.  Some city center apartments may be very spacious and a few rural, detached houses may be cramped and not very suitable for dogs.  These are merely points to review, as they will influence the decisions made.  So also is the amount of garden or open space available for exercise.

A very small garden may not be a handicap if there are plenty of open spaces within easy walking distance.  Nearby public open spaces will be no use, however, unless the new owner provides regular walks to take full advantage of them.  The large garden, meanwhile, retains its advantages only as long as the owner is not a meticulous gardener who cannot tolerate anything likely to damage revered plants.

Even if the local park or open space is not all that near, an owner who is willing to take some time and trouble, and make good use of what there is, can still enjoy the company of an active dog.  All this is provided the local authority allows access for dogs.

Having considered the geography of the house and its surroundings, a few points about the people in the house need to be looked at.  The age group of the new owner and his or her degree of everyday activity are obvious points.  It is also important to take into account the presence of aged or infirm members of the family.

No one would want to endanger members of the family who are not capable of protecting themselves from a boisterous dog.  Equally, some dogs are not best suited to a home where there are small children, although much will depend on how the children behave and on how the dogs have been brought up.  Dogs that have always known the ways of tiny infants or exuberant teenagers are better suited to coping than those that have not, whatever the breed of dog.

WHAT SORT OF DOG? 

Once the environment and the people in it have been looked at, the next points to examine relate to the dog itself.  What is the preferred size range:  is the potential owner thinking of a toy (2-5 kg/4-11 lb) dog, or a large breed (50-100 kg/110-220 lb) or something in between, such as a small (10-20 kg/22-44 lb) or a medium (20-50 kg/44-110 lb) breed?

The same applies to the level of activity in the dog.  Is a gentle, somewhat lethargic breed favored or a very energetic and boisterous little dynamo?  There are many reasonably quiet and plenty of fairly lively breeds in between.

The type of coat is a most important consideration.  Very hairy dogs such as Old English Sheepdogs or Afghan Hounds may look attractive when beautifully turned out at a show but unless an owner is prepared to put in a good deal of effort in every day of the dog’s life, the animal will not only look untidy, but will probably be unhappy as well.  Its matted fur will feel uncomfortable, and the dog’s life will be the worse for all the torment of unsuccessful attempts at grooming.

Whether the coat is short, medium or long, wiry or soft, it will make a good deal of difference to what turns out to be suitable for the household.

Whether the puppy is a male or female is a matter of choice.  The advantages of bitches are that you can breed from them (if this is what you wish) and that they tend to be more home loving and less likely to wander off.  In general, bitches are a little less boisterous.  Male dogs tend to be a little more outward going as companions.

Bitches come into season about twice a year and measures need to be taken to control the upheaval this can cause either by careful confinement, chemical suppression or surgical neutering.

Many owners need a dog that will help protect them, so for them the dog’s ability to be a guard matters a great deal.  Some owners may want a dog that merely acts as a ‘burglar alarm’, and many breeds are very effective as just that.  Others with more pressing needs may want a formidable guard dog.

COST CONSIDERATIONS

Lastly (though it might be as appropriate to make finance the first point to take into account) the amount of the family’s resources, which the new dog owner is prepared to set aside, is of crucial importance.  Anyone who is not prepared to commit some monies to the maintenance, health and welfare of a god should consider something else as a pastime.

The cost of actually buying a good specimen is the first, but by no means the only consideration.  A dog will need vaccinating and possibly neutering.  Vaccinations must be boosted annually.  Proper health and veterinary care is essential, and this is best covered by pet insurance.  This should also include third party liability, as we are all responsible for our dogs.

Table 1 shows the main cost considerations of owning a dog.

Neglecting third party liability can result in some fairly hefty fees or legal penalties, in certain circumstances, although some household policies do cover this type of risk as well.

PUREBRED OR CROSSBRED?

Not everyone wants a purebred dog and in some ways crossbred individuals can be very appealing.  However, it is impossible to predict how a crossbred puppy will develop if its ancestry is unknown.  Even when the dog is of one known breed crossed with another, it can be something of a gamble how it will turn out.

Even purebred dogs are not totally predictable in this way, but the breed characteristics and the nature of the mother and father give a strong indication of the potential there is for developing into the sort of dog the new owner wants.

ADULT OR PUPPY?

It may be possible to obtain an adult dog rather than a puppy.  There are some obvious advantages, as the puppy stages have passed and the adult nature of the dog is evident.  But it is vital to consider why the dog has become available; when discovered, the reason may turn out to be a powerful argument against taking the dog on.

SOURCES

The usual and the most reliable source of healthy dogs is the dog breeder.  These are people who devote a good deal of their lives to breeding from their own stock and rearing puppies for sale.  Breeders therefore offer a good chance of fulfilling the needs of potential dog owners who are seeking a new pet.

Many dog breeders are active in the world of showing, which has as its main purpose the exhibition of individual dogs, which are nearest to what is judged to be a standard of perfection for each breed of dog.  The conscientious and caring breeder is therefore deeply concerned with producing and maintaining sound stock.

Equally, breeders who have the welfare of the breed and their own dogs as a matter of concern, will be anxious to be sure the dogs bred from their kennels always go to homes where they will be well cared for.

It is up to the new owner to take the greatest care in selecting a breeder of healthy, happy dogs.  In the same way the new owner must expect to be asked a few pertinent questions to reassure the breeder that each puppy will be properly looked after.

The final decision on the actual breed of dog may take a long time to complete.  It helps a lot to visit a large dog show where all the popular breeds of dog can be seen together in one place, usually in quite large numbers.  It is then possible to make an assessment of how a particular breed will fit into the household for which it is intended.

This is much better than picking a dog just because it looks ‘cute’ without another thought on how it will adapt to a particular home.  It is also more effective than reading accounts of the characteristics of breeds from a book.  This is especially so when the descriptions have been written by fanciers who may not recognize any inadequacies in ‘their’ breed and record only a eulogy for their favorite.

Dog breeders can be contacted at the shows, but normally their attention is taken up with the business of the expedition.  A follow-up telephone call and visit can easily be made afterwards.  Alternatively, the weekly and monthly dog magazines are full of information on puppies that are or will be available.  The Kennel Club can normally provide the address of the breed club that will have all the information on breeders in any locality.

Any friend who has the breed desired will also usually be happy to provide particulars on the source of their puppy.

VISITING THE BREEDER

The investment in the puppy is a long-term one, that is, the actions taken will affect the whole family for ten to fifteen years or even more.  A lot of care is needed to make sure the right decisions are made.  There are certain guidelines which, if followed carefully, are more likely to lead to a happy result than if the owner does not think ahead a little.

The first move is to telephone or write for an appointment to see all the puppies for sale at each kennel.  It is best to try to see all possible puppy candidates before making the final decision, rather than just forming an attachment with the first one seen.  If, however, a selection is made without seeing all the puppies, the normal rules of courtesy apply and appointments not required must be cancelled.

It is a mistake to take the children along, as it is too easy to spend the time watching the behavior of your own family when attention needs to be directed towards the puppies and their environment.  It is also much more difficult to come away from a kennel without a puppy which may nit be exactly right.

By visiting several breeders it is possible to form an opinion of the general standard of care and hygiene.  First impressions are usually very telling.  It is a mistake to expect a breeding kennel to look like a surgical ward, but a little experience soon enables anyone to tell the difference between the ‘lived in’, moderate dishevelment of a busy kennel, and the squalor and neglect of a badly-run establishment.

The same applies to the general behavior of the dogs and puppies.  It is quite reasonable for all the dogs in a kennel to bark a lot when visitors arrive, but it can be very irritating if it persists and prevents any sort of conversation.  If most of the dogs look happy and healthy, the signs are encouraging.

A few individuals may look quite old.  If this indicates a potential for longevity, then this is an advantage too.  If, on the other hand, there does not seem to be a healthy young dog in the place, then further investigation is indicated, and if necessary, a move on somewhere else.

The age of the puppy should also be discovered, as taking on a puppy before eight weeks can be a real risk.  Whether a male or female is preferred should be made clear too.  It is important to look very carefully at at least one of the puppy’s parents, particularly from the point of view of temperament.  A bitch may still look a little run down from having reared a litter, but she should show the sort of disposition the new owner is looking for.

BUYING THE PUPPY

It is most important to establish exactly what the fee for the puppy includes and what it does not include, and when the new puppy can be taken to its new home.  Most purebred puppies will have a pedigree certificate and possibly a registration transfer form if they are registered with the Kennel Club.  A vaccination certificate will also be available if protective vaccinations have been given.

It is absolutely crucial to know exactly what injections have been given and what remain to complete the course of vaccination.  If there is any doubt at all, it will have to be assumed that the puppy is not protected by any vaccinations.

It does not take a great deal of skill to notice if a puppy is bursting with health or is looking very sick.  It may however, look and act as if it were very uncomfortable if picked up by a stranger.  Its mother may react in an anxious way as well.  So it is best to examine puppies without their mother there and without too much manipulation.

It is most important to ignore all excuses intended as ‘explanations’ of a puppy’s poor appearance.  If there is some doubt, a puppy said to be a little ‘off color’ can be seen another day.  If it is not quite right then, it is best avoided.  It is wise for the new owner to give the proposed new addition to the household a thorough check before the purchase is finalized.

It is not always the best strategy to go for the most forward puppy unless that is the type wanted as an adult.  Equally it is a mistake to pick out one that cowers in a corner and is not well socialized with its littermates.

Above all, it is very unwise to select a puppy out of pity.  Simply feeling sorry for a weakly individual is a recipe for a life of continuous problems for many years.

The last item to check is what the puppy has been fed on since it was weaned.  A detailed account of the diet is most useful, even if a quite different regime is planned for the rest of its life.  Sudden changes of diet are likely to cause digestive upsets, so any new feeding plan needs to be introduced slowly.  It is best to find out about feeding methods from the local veterinary surgeon when other matters such as vaccination, worming and neutering are discussed.

All documentation should be available when the puppy is collected.  Beware of paperwork that will be ‘sent on’.  It is wise to get such promises in writing or at least to leave a stamped, addressed envelope to improve the chances of this happening.  Don’t risk being fooled,

OTHER SOURCES

It is possible to obtain a puppy or an adult dog from a variety of other sources and many happy relationships start this way.  However, the chances of success are less, and less is known about the animal being taken into the household.  Friends and neighbors often have bitches with litters and provided the same sort of care is taken as with any breeder, then there is a good chance of success.  Retired Greyhounds usually make particularly good pets once they become too old to race and their competitive careers are over.

Pet shops, police or animal welfare society pounds are more of any unknown quantity.  Clearly it is unlikely that much will be known about the animal’s ancestry and it will not be possible to have any idea of what the puppy’s parents or litter mates were like.

Many such organizations do, however, take as much care as they possibly can to reduce the chances of a misfit dog being recycled.  The more remote the person who actually bred the dog is from the buyer, the more pitfalls there are for the unwary purchaser and the more vital the advise of a veterinarian becomes.

from The Practical Guide to Dog & Puppy Care - Andrew Edney and Roger Mugford