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Civilized Nature
My opinions about looking for a new puppy
 
This page is intended to provide a compilation of past opinion pages I have written. I will add to it when I have the opportunity, or feel something important has come to light.
 
Please remember these are just my OPINIONS, and are not intended as anything but my personal observations. I offer them here with the intention of giving help and topics of conversation for my customers and friends.
 
Saturday April 26th, 2008

We are seeing lots of puppies coming in!

I figured I’d take this opportunity to offer a few tips for those looking for a new puppy.

For those looking for a puppy:
 I can sum-up the considerations in one word: LIFESTYLE
 
Consider the type of dog that will best suit your lifestyle, family needs and time commitments.
Think about what you do everyday, and how a dog would fit into that schedule. (That is your lifestyle)

What do you do with your time? Where do you spend your time? What do you spend your money on?
Your new puppy will turn into a dog. He or she will require your time, your space and your money. He or she will also need these things from you for his or her entire life. Are you ready for that? If you say YES! Then you may be ready for a new puppy.

Decide how your new pup will fit into your lifestyle. 
            How much time will you be home to spend with your dog?

A new puppy will need several months of guidance and potty training, as well as short alone times to practice for your regular work schedule.
There are services available to help with these adjustments if you can’t take time off work.
Your dog will need to have regular exercise, socialization, training, grooming and feeding time from you.
Training will be one of your best investments for time spent with your dog no matter what its age.
Did you know you can start puppy training as early as six weeks of age? That means the breeder can already have your puppy learning to sit and use a crate before you ever bring it home
You can start your 8 week old puppy on his training right away.
 
              How much space will you have to exercise your dog?
Dog breeds vary in the amount of exercise they require and the space they need to do it in.
Herding and hunting breeds may never get tired, and often require very structured guidance in their play and exercise, along with plenty of space. Some smaller breeds have bursts of energy that can be taken out in several laps around the house, or in a small yard. Each dog will have needs that you can estimate are normal for its breed or size. If you don’t have a yard, do you have a nearby park, or available daycare where your dog can run?

              What kind of financial resources do you have to spend on your dog?

A large or giant breed dog will require much more financial commitment than a small dog. All supplies including food, crates, toys and veterinary costs will be more expensive.

Quality foods and supplements can make all the difference in your puppy’s lifespan and overall health through the years. Although you will pay more for quality foods, it will save on veterinary care needed for ill health caused by poor nutrition.

If your puppy should become sick, will you have the resources to care for it? Consider the option of pet insurance to assist with possible surprise expenses created by accidents or illnesses. See our link to PETPLAN.

            What types of activities does your lifestyle include?

Many dogs like to hike, ride on boats, travel, go to soccer games, and generally participate in all your activities. Some would rather climb on the couch and sleep all day.

Consider a dog that will require the same schedule and activities that you normally participate in. Do you spend a lot of time with your kids, friends and neighbors, or do you spend more time quietly at home, or in your yard? Some dogs love people of all ages, some are known for having no patience with children.

If you travel, decide if you want a canine companion or you will have to find a pet sitter for the time you are gone. Will the breed you’re considering be happy with you leaving regularly?
To get a better idea of general breed size, coat type, temperament and exercise requirements of different dog breeds see the AKC website breed description page.

You may not be looking for a purebred dog, but you may find a mix you think you like. It helps to know what the likely personality mix will be based upon the breed mix you are considering. Don’t take the breeder’s word for it, find out what the typical personality of the breed is as your starting point.
 
Remember puppies shed their puppy coats, so know what the adult coat is likely to be.

Remember puppies often have personalities like their parents. If you can meet the parents you have a good idea of what the puppy’s temperament will be.

Most importantly: Are you willing to commit to the care of your puppy through its entire life?

Many puppies find themselves in shelters or on the road due to that lack of commitment and thought from their “owners”. A bit of thought prior to purchasing a puppy can make all the difference in our experiences and the entire life of a dog, who has no choice in who takes it home. You may choose a puppy that turns out to have a different personality than you thought it would, or perhaps is ill and needs surgery. Be prepared to commit to this young life you have taken into your home. Remember it is a living creature dependent upon you for survival.
Note: If you ever find yourself unable to care for an animal you have taken in, be sure to contact your local purebred clubs or no-kill shelter and foster homes, as well as neighbors and friends before turning your new family member in to a shelter that may euthanize (kill) before finding it a new home.
 
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Saturday, April 26th, 2008
 
Extension of puppy info
 
A few more thoughts on finding a good breeder.
 
I’ve spoken to so many people even this year, who have been reluctant to tell us who their breeders were. They seem to hesitate and say…”I probably shouldn’t have got it from them, but….”, or “….no we didn’t see the mom and dad…” or “ …she met us in Centralia because it was half way…”.
 
We fall in love with our puppies because they are cute. We always joke that that’s what saves their lives (i.e. after they’ve chewed our favorite pair of shoes or hand made rug). In many ways this is so true. Quite often puppies that are from backyard breeders or puppy brokers will not live long if someone doesn’t buy them while they are cute little puppies. Often as these pups age and become less desirable when the new puppies keep arriving, they are sent to shelters that are often already overcrowded from the exact same problem, and they are euthanized.
 
As consumers, which we are when we purchase a puppy, we need to see past the cute, and look at the system we want to encourage and support.
 
If we want cheap puppies that are expendable, we go to backyard breeders and pet stores.
If we want puppies that are healthier we will have to pay more.
If we are willing to pay more, and want to assure the puppies are healthy then we need to do our research!
          
Ask these questions about the breeder you are considering:
 
                        How many breeds of dogs does the breeder have for sale?
Most good breeders concentrate on one breed of dog in order to give their full attention to the requirements for the breed standard, both in appearance and temperament.
Beware of breeders who offer all the most popular breeds as they are prime suspects for breeding for money, which is nearly impossible if you are properly caring for the animals and selling them for a reasonable price. These breeders are more likely to breed unhealthy and poor temperament pups.
                        Does the breeder show his or her dogs?
Now this is not a necessity for good breeders, but understand that it is very hard to maintain or be accountable for keeping a breed to the standard in appearance or temperament if the breeder is not in contact with other breeders on a regular basis.
If the breeder is alternating the bloodlines he or she chooses to breed to be sure there are no negative traits (in health or temperament) he or she is regularly in contact with other breeders, and generally shows, or has his or her dogs shown.
Showing is not proof of good breeding, but of following at least the standard of appearance for the breed.
                       Does the breeder have dogs on site that you can meet?
If you can meet the parent bitch and dog, you have a better idea of not only what the puppies will look like, but what their personalities will be like. Puppies often take on the traits of the mother if she is fearful or protective during her nursing period. This can cause stress on the pups that is then turned into anxiety or aggression.
                       Does the breeder have older non-breeding (retired) dogs on site?
A good breeder will usually only breed a bitch (un-spayed female) once every one or two years, or only as new stock is required to continue the breeder’s line. A good breeder will also retire any bitch that has had problems with delivery, has been bred four or five times, or has had puppies that do not meet the standard for appearance, health or temperament. A dog (male un-neutered) will be retired if his temperament or health, no longer meet the same standards.
A good breeder loves his or her dogs, and will not send away, or euthanize those that can no longer produce. A good breeder will keep older bitches and dogs as the legacy of generations they have nurtured into their breeding line.
Good questions to ask include those regarding the lifespans of those who have passed away, and what their cause of death was.
This can tell you a lot about the health of the line the breeder is selling to you (if those that have passed are in that line).
                        Does the breeder temperament test the puppies?
Puppies have definite emerging personalities by the time they are five weeks old. Good breeders will test the puppies for how they respond to people compared to their siblings or other dogs, how shy, fearful, brave, or independent they are. They put them in various situations inside and outside the home and watch to see how the puppy responds. This helps the breeder place a puppy in the home that best fits its personality.
Does the breeder have an extensive application process?
Good breeders will screen the prospective puppy parents thoroughly.
If the breeder you are working with does not require you to fill out an application and talk to you about your ability to provide for the puppy RUN AWAY! That breeder does not care about the puppies and is hoping to never hear from you again.
A good breeder will want to know what kind of home the puppy is going to, and ask questions about who lives in your household, if you rent or own your home, if it is a home or apartment, and many other personal questions. That is how the breeder finds the right puppy and the right home. The breeder will know if the breed is appropriate for you, and will want to know if you have researched the breed yourself.
Does the breeder have a specific age at which he or she sends puppies home?
A good breeder will not let a larger puppy go home prior to eight (8) weeks. A breeder of small and miniature dogs will not let them go home until between 9 and 12 weeks, as these dogs mature at a different rate and are fragile when young. Any breeder who sends a puppy home before it is 8 weeks old is ignoring the important social development puppies go through when preparing to leave their siblings.
Does the breeder encourage taking two puppies home at the same time?
This falls under my own personal caution. I have not actually checked with many breeders, although I do have many customers who have siblings that came home at the same time.
A good breeder should know a bit about training, and realize that no puppy will get the attention it needs from one person if that training time is divided between two puppies. (If two people are taking on the training I think you can make it work. That’s another subject.) The downfall of two puppies coming home together is the puppies are typically not separated, but are left together as “company” for each other. Anyone considering this should contact a GOOD trainer who will explain the “30/30/30 Rule” of dog training.  I recommend talking to Riverdog Canine Coaching in Issaquah.  I can talk to you about it to when you come into the store.
Most trainers will recommend waiting two to four years between puppies or additional dogs to be sure the training patterns and family habits with a dog in the house are well established.
Most people who get two puppies at the same time will tell you that they are generally “better behaved” when they are apart