In your search, you’re likely to come across breeders who are not interested in the well-being of their dogs or the betterment of the breed. “"Backyard breeders,"” as they are called, are easy to spot once you know what to look for and understand the characteristics of a responsible breeder. Backyard breeders have little regard or concern for their dogs’ pedigrees, working ability, or the finer points of the breed standard. Their bottom line is almost always money, and they usually sell their dogs on a first-come, first-served basis with little regard for the future welfare or living conditions of the dogs.
That said, some backyard breeders are not necessarily bad people, and they don’t all have unscrupulous intentions. Some of them truly love their dogs and provide good care. However, they are ignorant about the complexities of canine health, structural issues, temperament, inherited characteristics, and the long-term consequences of breeding dogs. Many are unaware that they are contributing to an even larger problem—pet overpopulation.
Purchasing your puppy from a backyard breeder is a gamble. You may pay less up front for a puppy, but it’s highly likely that you will pay a good deal more in vet bills down the road—especially if the dog has serious health or temperament problems.
Be smart. Do your homework. If you are going to purchase a puppy, buy from a responsible, knowledgeable breeder who understands and cares about the breed—someone who will be there to help you through the transition periods, offer training advice, and help you make serious decisions regarding the care and well-being of your new puppy.
Rescue Organizations
Rescue organizations are a viable option, although they tend to have more adult dogs than puppies. That’s not to say you won’t find the puppy of your dreams via rescue. Sometimes pregnant mama dogs or young puppies find their way into rescue.
Dogs end up in rescue through no fault of their own. Too many of these dogs are surrendered because their owners made an impulse purchase, did not give sufficient thought to taking on a dog, or did not understand the time and effort required in owning, training, and caring for a dog. Some owners failed to research their chosen breed thoroughly and got a super-active Irish Setter when what they really needed was a low-key Pekingese. Some dogs in rescue have been abused or mishandled. Others are given up or abandoned after they outgrow the cute puppy stage. Many of these dogs are strays or have been voluntarily surrendered to animal shelters because of their owners’ personal or family illness, divorce, death, or other changes.
Numerous rescue organizations exist—large and small, independent and breed-club supported. Most national breed clubs sponsor their own rescue groups. If you are looking for a particular breed, consider contacting the breed’s national parent club, which can put you in touch with a rescue coordinator.
Rescue organizations carefully evaluate each dog for health and temperament issues. Some dogs are placed in experienced foster homes, where they receive veterinary attention, training, grooming, and lots of love until they can be placed in permanent homes.
Plenty of wonderful, loving companions have come out of rescue. Many go on to excel in canine sports, including obedience, agility, herding, flyball and more—proving that dogs can flourish in the hands of responsible people who are willing to love, train, and provide for their dogs’ physical and mental needs.
If you go this route, be sure to go in with eyes wide open. Understand that many of these dogs were not trained properly in their prior homes and may have behavioral issues. Are you prepared to commit to a rescue dog? If so, find out as much as you can about the dog—his history, training, behavior, and so forth. If no history is known, and oftentimes it is not, be sure to consult an experienced trainer or behaviorist for advice.
Pet Shops
Best advice: steer clear of pet stores that sell puppies. Your heart instinctively will go for the adorable but shy, skittish puppy. It is human nature to feel sorry for sad pups in a store window, but these puppies are risky business. Many have had the worst possible start in life, and your life—and your puppy’s—may be fraught with challenges, especially health issues and the associated veterinary expenses.
Responsible breeders—who usually belong to a parent club and abide by a code of ethics—would never sell their puppies to pet stores or any other third-party seller. Therefore, the majority of pet-shop puppies come from puppy mills or farms, where the sire and dam live under deplorable conditions and are bred over and over again purely for profit. These dogs are unhealthy and receive little or no veterinary care, and the puppies are taken at very young ages and sent to dealers or directly to pet stores. Because the puppies are taken from their mothers too soon, they receive no socialization or parental guidance and are often timid, fearful, and downright spooky.
Don’t be fooled by the kennel club registration papers. Many a pedigree has been faked, and none of the documents accompanying a pet-store puppy is an indication or guarantee of quality. Purchasing a puppy from a pet store only encourages irresponsible breeders to produce more litters—purely for financial gain.
Humane Societies and Shelters
Puppies often find their way into humane societies and animal shelters for the same reasons that they end up in rescue organizations. Oftentimes, puppies are whelped and reared in shelter or foster-home environments. Not surprisingly, a particular behavioral problem is the primary reason that most dogs are surrendered to shelters.
Shelter employees and volunteers do their best to work with these dogs to prepare them for adoption. Some shelters work with local rescues, placing some puppies and adult dogs in foster homes for future adoption. Shelter dogs can and do make excellent companions, but they sometimes have behavioral issues and require special care and training.
Pet-Supply-Store Adoptions
A relatively new trend is for large pet-supply stores to work in conjunction with local animal shelters by offering in-store adoptions. These pet superstores open their doors to local animal shelters that bring adoptable dogs to the store for “meet-and-greet” events where the public can interact with all types of dogs in need of homes. Unlike pet-shop dogs, these adoptees are healthy dogs that are available through local animal shelters. Be sure that you know the difference before opening your wallet.
Signs of a Healthy Puppy
When you know how to recognize the signs of a healthy puppy, it won’t be too difficult to spot red flags. At first glance, a puppy may appear healthy, but always look for the following:
•clear, bright eyes with no discharge or swelling of the eyelids
•pink, odor-free ears free of discharge (healthy ears have a slight doggy smell—a bit like the smell of beeswax)
•a clean, healthy coat, shiny and bright with no signs of excess scratching, inflamed skin, rashes, hot spots, or bald spots, which could indicate fleas, mites, ringworm, other parasites
•sweet-smelling “puppy breath”
•healthy, pink gums (pale gums usually indicate anemia or possibly parasites)
•cool, moist, and clean nose, free of nasal discharge, and no frequent sneezing or wheezing
•free movement when walking or playing; no limping
Chapter 2: Puppy’s First Days at Home
Once you have found the perfect puppy, the real fun (and work!) begins. Transitioning to a new home can be confusing and disorienting for a baby dog. He may need a few hours, days, or weeks—depending on his temperament and personality—to adjust to his new life. By planning ahead, you can minimize the stress for both you and your puppy.
Your puppy is counting on you to provide him with a safe and healthy environment, which means puppy-proofing inside and outside. He also needs quality nutrition, regular training, and routine veterinary care. He needs hugs and kisses and cuddling and sweet nothings whispered in his ear.