How To Buy a Healthy, Happy Dog

So you want a new puppy/dog. How do you find one that will fit into your family and your routine, have a good personality, and experience minimal health problems? Remember, even a free pup can become very expensive if it turns out to have health problems requiring lots of veterinary care! And temperament problems are one of the most significant causes for animals being abandoned or turned into shelters. A little research on the front end can prevent a lot of heartbreak.

1. Identify Your Needs.

Your first step is to decide what your needs are. Do you have a large, fenced yard that will hold a larger, more active dog? Or do you live in an apartment and need a more sedentary dog? Are you willing to spend a lot of time grooming a dog, or would you prefer a "wash-n-wear" breed? Do you have small children that the dog will need to tolerate? Are allergies a problem? Do you want a dog that needs a lot of love and attention, or would you prefer a less demanding, more aloof personality? Be honest with yourself in determining your needs. Then click here to find out more about dog breeds that will fit your needs.

A word about mixed-breed dogs: They can be as loyal, trainable, and rewarding as a purebred dog. Often, they have fewer health problems if their parents are two unrelated breeds, because they have not doubled up on genes (such as the genes responsible for hip dysplasia) that are common in certain breeds. If the dog you pick is already mature, what you see is what you get. But if you select a mixed-breed puppy, you may be surprised by the dog's size, temperament, or other characteristics as it matures.

Do you have any interest in showing your dog in the breed ring, or competing in obedience, agility, fly ball, herding, hunting, lure coursing, tracking, earth dog trials, or other fun dog activities? To be really successful in some of these sports, you may want to select a breed that has special talent, and then find a breeder who has bred for talent in those areas.

You should also decide whether you want a puppy or an adult. If you get a puppy, be prepared for housebreaking, teething and chewing, and teaching the dog basic house manners. In exchange for surviving the trials and tribulations of puppy hood, you get to help shape the puppy's personality during crucial formative periods. Adult dogs often are easier to integrate into a busy household if they have received good training and socialization. Moreover, their personality is already formed, reducing uncertainty about whether you and the dog will be a good match. On the other hand, when you get an adult dog, you may inherit problems created by the prior owner through abuse, neglect, or ignorance. The AKC website includes several excellent articles that are helpful to people thinking about getting a new dog: http://www.akc.org/life/family/index.cfm and http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm.

Most importantly, take a brutally honest look at yourself as a prospective home for a new dog. Do you really have the time to care for the dog properly? Dogs are pack animals and crave interaction with their human pack members. When deprived of this interaction, they can become destructive. The ideal home for a dog will allow the dog enough "inside" time to be a real member of the family.

Can you provide the dog a safe place to run and play? Chains or tie-outs do not allow the dog proper exercise and leave it vulnerable to attack by other dogs and children. Electronic fences may not work with some breeds and also fail to protect your dog from being attacked by neighbor dogs. Every dog deserves a good, sound fence around a sufficiently large area for that size of dog.

Can you really afford a dog? Some expenses, such as food and some medications are proportional to the size of the dog. Others, such as most veterinary care, will be dependent upon the health of the dog, making it less expensive in the long run to own a healthy dog. Moreover preventive veterinary care is less expensive over the life of the dog than treating the diseases and conditions caused by neglect. The cost of obedience lessons will likely pay dividends throughout the life of the dog.

2. Research Your Chosen Breed.

Once you narrow your choice down to one or a few breeds, research the breed in depth. Meet as many dogs of this breed as you can. Words on a page describing the breed can only tell you so much. Interacting with members of the breed can tell you a lot more. Attend dog shows in your area to see dogs and meet breeders. If you go to an all-breed show, get there early, buy a catalog, and see what time the breed you are interested in will be showing. At least once a year, most breed clubs sponsor "specialties", which are shows for only that breed of dog, and they attract more dogs of that breed than the all-breed shows. Specialties are an excellent place to see dogs and meet breeders. The American Kennel Club lists all upcoming AKC dog shows and performance events on its website: http://www.akc.org/dic/events/search/index.cfm.

When you find people who know the breed, ask questions. Find out about the typical personality of the breed. What are the common health problems of the breed? Even the most careful breeder will sometimes encounter health or temperament problems in their breeding program. Are the common health problems of that breed something you can live with? Breed clubs usually have a health committee that may be able to provide you with more health information about the breed's special health concerns. You can locate the national breed club contact at the AKC's website: http://www.akc.org/breeds/groups/index.cfm.

The AKC website also allows you to search for individuals who breed specific breeds of dogs: http://www.akc.org/breeds/breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm. You can get a more complete list from the national breed club. Even if you are not ready to buy a dog, a good breeder will be glad to spend time talking with you about their breed so that you can make an informed decision about whether this is the right breed for you.

3. Finding a Breeder.

Many people buy a puppy from a pet store, from a backyard breeder advertising in the newspaper, or from the local shelter. Fewer people know how to find a top breeder who has devoted their time and talents to improving the breed. Each source has its advantages and disadvantages.

4. Pet Stores

While there are some exceptions, pet stores are not generally the best place to find a healthy dog with the potential to bond with your family. Stores frequently buy their stock from puppy farms or puppy "mills", where the animals are raised in cages with little human contact. Without proper socialization during the critical early weeks of life, a puppy will never reach its full potential as a member of your human "pack" and may have lasting personality problems. These mass producers of canine livestock also may have lower standards for hygiene and health, and they seldom take the time to choose good breeding stock in an effort to reduce the chance of inherited health or personality problems. Ironically, pet stores often charge more for a puppy than you would pay for a show prospect from a top breeder.

Some people are adamantly opposed to the concept of pet stores, because without them puppy mills and the often-horrible conditions their dogs must endure would not survive. Those people refuse to buy even pet food and supplies from stores that sell animals. Instead, they give their business to stores that sell only food and supplies and may sponsor adoption days with the local shelter.

5. Shelters

Shelters are a wonderful place to find your next dog, as long as you understand the risks. Often, the dogs that end up in shelters have never been vaccinated until they are adopted, and in the shelter they can be exposed to many common dog diseases. Dogs may end up in shelters because they were aggressive or shy, could not be housebroken, or had other personality or health problems. The dog may have lots of potential but may bear the emotional scars of neglect or abuse. While adoption fees are often minimal, if you adopt a dog with a health problem requiring expensive veterinary care, you may end up spending more in the long run.

On the other hand, dogs from shelters are often wonderful, healthy, devoted dogs that have fallen on hard times. They may be even more appreciative than most of a good home, because of difficulties they have endured. Adopting dogs from shelters serves an important function in our society, and many of these dogs truly deserve a chance.

When adopting a dog from a shelter, be sure that you can return the dog if your veterinarian examines the dog and identifies significant health problems. It is also helpful to take a person experienced in evaluating dogs with you to help you read the dog's personality.

6. Breed Club Rescue Programs

Most national breed clubs have rescue programs, where participating members foster dogs of their breed who have been rescued from shelters or found wandering the streets, or whose owners are no longer able to keep them due to unfortunate changes in circumstances. Typically, the foster home evaluates the animal, and the program goes to great effort to match that dog with an appropriate new home. An adopting family gets the benefit of an objective person expert in the breed giving you an honest evaluation of that dog. On the other hand, some of these animals' parentage is unknown, so it may be difficult to predict whether the dog may later develop hereditary problems. Overall, these programs offer one of the best ways to find a good pure-bred dog in need of a home, with minimal up-front cost. Contact the breed club via the AKC website above, and ask to be put in touch with their rescue coordinator.

7. Responsible Breeders

Responsible breeders are those who go to great effort and expense to reduce the incidence of inherited health and personality problems in their breed. They also screen their prospective puppy buyers carefully to be sure that the puppy will go to a good home and be well cared for. They offer life-long education and support to their puppy buyers, who are often considered to be their extended family. If there is a problem with the dog, or if the owners suffer from personal circumstances that prevent them from keeping the dog, the responsible breeder will take the dog back without hesitation. This is the best place to buy a pure-bred dog, regardless of whether you are interested in showing or competing with your dog, or if you just want a healthy, happy pet and companion.

Responsible breeders are usually active in various dog activities. They belong to their local kennel club or obedience training club. They may show their dogs in conformation or compete with them in some of the dog sports that their breed enjoys. The way to find these breeders is through clubs and at shows, as well as through word of mouth.

These breeders may not advertise, because they have little need to. Their dogs do their own advertising for them by succeeding at performance events, winning at breed shows, and being sociable and obedient while out in public. Litters are carefully planned a year or more in advance, so that the parents can undergo any necessary testing, and the puppies are often reserved before the litter is bred.

If you want a puppy from one of these breeders, you will need to get to know the breeder and put your name on a waiting list. You may pay a price comparable to what a pet store would charge, but what would be profit to a pet store or puppy mill is typically spent by a reputable breeder on the expenses of genetic and health testing and the costs of proving their stock through competition. These breeders do not breed for profit. They breed because they love the breed and want to improve it.

Even if you have no intention of showing your dog, it may be possible to get a dog from a responsible breeder. They may on occasion have puppies available to non-show homes. They may also have retired show dogs that deserve a family of their own and more attention than the breeder can devote to the dog. You will still need to do your homework, however. Not all breeders are created equal, and you need to feel comfortable with the breeder you select.

8. Your Veterinarian

Veterinarians seldom have the time or resources to act as a breeder referral service. However, they can be of tremendous assistance. After you have narrowed down your breed selection, consult with your veterinarian about the health and personality issues common in that breed. While many vets may not have sufficient personal experience with the less common breeds, they can tell you the problems they have seen with common breeds.

Once you have purchased the puppy (hopefully, with a health guarantee), you should take the puppy to the vet within a day or two for a complete examination. If the veterinarian discovers any problems, he can help you assess the long-term impact and expense of those health problems. If you choose not to live with those problems, the veterinarian can write you a letter including his findings, and a responsible seller should take back the puppy and refund the purchase price. Beware of sellers who will only replace the puppy with another one. There is a good chance that the replacement puppy, being a close relative, will suffer from the same problem.

9. Our Club

Nashville Dog Training Club volunteers are also available to help you explore your needs and find a good match. In our classes, we deal daily with the unfortunate results of poor breeding or a poor match between puppy and family. We would much rather help you prevent a problem than to help you solve it after-the-fact. Call us and leave a message asking for help in buying a dog, and one of our volunteers will call you back.