Faces like these...

available at your local Animal Control:

These photos were taken today at our Animal Control.

Please take some time to stop by your local Kill Shelter and give some needy dogs a little love... or a new home:)

 

Where can I find a dog?

It is my firm opinion that there is only ONE place  you should ever consider getting a dog from and that is a rescue.  But thats not to say a dog gotten elsewhere was done so in an ethically corrupt manner, or that having bought from a breeder I am secretly judging you and your dog.

Like I said in my previous post, I also bought from a breeder AND from a pet store.  My sole purpose in writing this blog is to educate others and share what I've learned in my time working with rescue.  

If you were to decide not to adopt, you should only purchase from a reputable breeder.

Thats not to say that I would ever encourage buying from a breeder.  BUT, to the person that is insistent upon a certain breed, wants to show their dog, or feels comfortable owning a dog no other way - a breeder may be the way to go.

But, it must be a responsible breeder.

Now, when I bought my Neo from a breeder, I assumed they were responsible breeders and naively trusted them. To avoid anyone making the same mistake, here are a few guidelines that you should follow when selecting a breeder to add a member to your family: 

1. A reputable breeder will not breed dogs under the age of 2. A reputable breeder will conduct (and can provide proof of) the following genetic health tests (among others) on their breeding animals and will require them of the sire (father) should they "hire" a stud dog for the litter:

Holter monitor test yearly
Full thyroid panel yearly
OFA (for hip displasia), a one time deal done at or after age 2

Beware of breeders who scoff at genetic testing and say their particular breed/line is problem-free.

2. A reputable breeder requires that "pet-quality" animals be spayed or neutered and sells them on Limited Registration. Be wary of breeders who do not mention altering.

3. A reputable breeder provides a written contract with the sale of the pup. This will vary from breeder to breeder, but usually spells out the rights of the seller and buyer, health information, genetic health guarantees (should be at least 2 years), required altering and buy-back/return policy.

4. A reputable breeder typically has a waiting list for the unborn puppies and does not advertise in the newspaper classifieds.  If you can just walk in or call a breeder and be promised a puppy from the next available litter, you are probably dealing with a BYB.

5. A reputable breeder shows passion, love, and tremendous knowledge about the breed. He or she cares about placing puppies in excellent homes and will often interview potential buyers thoroughly, will make referrals to the local breed-specific rescue group, ask for references and will refuse to sell a dog if the home is not appropriate for the breed or for a puppy.

6. A reputable breeder recommends the local breed-specific rescue organization to potential homes. Explaining that these dogs make wonderful family pets and companions.

7. A reputable breeder will hold on to puppies as long as it takes to place them in the right homes and will continue to recommend rescue even though they have puppies available.

8. The environment (typically a home) in which the breeder keeps the dogs should be clean and well-maintained. Do not agree to meet the breeder off site. 

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS ON THIS!

9. A reputable breeder is actively involved in the dog fancy, including showing and/or breed clubs. While there are exceptions--a retired individual who has shown dogs for 20 years--a person who is not involved with others in the breed can be suspect.  If your breeder claims to have show quality dogs, but does not and has not shown them - you are likely dealing with a BYB.

10. A reputable breeder is willing to provide answers to questions you may have and is willing to provide names of others who have purchased pups from them.

11. A reputable breeder will allow you to meet the puppies parents if available and, if the father isn't available, they will show you pictures and provide you with the information on how to contact the owner of the sire(father).

12. A reputable breeder follows up on puppies. He or she is interested in how the pups develop physically and mentally, difficulties in the owner/dog relationship and health problems.

13. A reputable breeder will not let puppies leave their home prior to 8 weeks of age and often not until 10 weeks of age.

Don't be afraid to ask the Parent club if there have been any complaints filed against the breeder.

The number one mistake people make when choosing a puppy is falling victim to a BYB (Back Yard Breeder).  What IS the difference between a BYB and a Responsible Breeder?  Here are a few clues:

1. The BYBs motive for breeding is for "fun", "good for kids", "to make money". They do not screen buyers and seldom refuse to sell, even if buyer is unsuitable.

v.

1. The Responsible Breeder is dedicated to producing quality dogs is serious avocation. Has so much invested in dogs that he struggles to break even, not make a profit. Will sell pups only to approved buyers.

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2. The BYB casually breeds the family pet to any convenient pet of the same breed just to have purebred pups. Has no understanding or concern with genetics, pedigree bloodlines, or breed improvement.

v.

2. The Responsible Breeder is able to explain how planned breedings are used to emphasize or minimize specific qualities through linebreeding, outcrossing, or more rarely, inbreeding.

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3. Though the pets (sire/dam of pups) may be well loved, they were not tested for hip dysplasia or for other genetic problems such as cardiomyopathy and hypothyroidism.

v.

3. Whereas the responsible breeder unwilling to breed dogs younger than age 2. Has breeding stock x-rayed to check for hip dysplasia, echo/doppler run for SAS, holtered within the last year for cardiomyopathy (also known as ARVC) and thyroid screened. Can produce certification to prove claims.

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4. The BYB offers no health guarantee beyond proof of shots, if that. Unqualified to give help if problems develop.

v.

4. The Responsible Breeder presents a written contractual commitment to replace a dog with genetic faults or to help owner deal with problem.

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5. The BYB  has little knowledge of breed history, the national breed club or of the AKC breed standard. May claim this does not matter for "just pets".

v.

5. The Responsible Breeder loves the breed and can talk at length about its background, uses, and ideal type.

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6. BYBs have pups raised in makeshift accommodations, sometimes unsanitary, indicating lack of long-term investment in breeding and lack of true care for the puppies well-being.

v.

6. Responsible breeders have an investment in dog equipment and the puppies environment is sanitary and loving.

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7. Even when selling "just pets", may produce AKC papers or "championship pedigrees" as proof of quality. Yet BYB does not increase his own knowledge through participation in national, regional, or local breed clubs. Is not involved in showing their dogs to "prove" quality.

v.

7. Responsible breeders belong to national, regional, and/or local dog clubs, indicating a love for the sport of purebred dogs. They also show their dogs as an objective test of how his stock measures up.

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8. BYBs may be unwilling to show a buyer the entire litter or to introduce the dam of the litter. Cannot or will not compare/critique pups or pup’s ancestors.

v.

8. Responsible breeders show the litter and dam in a sanitary environment. Helps buyer evaluate and choose a pup. Explains criteria for "show prospects" versus "pet picks".

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9. Prices of puppies from a BYB are at the low end of local range, since must move pups quickly. Advertises in the local newspaper classifieds (however, just because you paid a pretty penny for your dog, it does not mean you got him fro a responsible breeder).

v.

9. Puppies from a responsible breeder will be at the high end of local range. Price will not reflect all that is invested in the pups. A reputable breeder never profits from the sale of puppies. They do not advertise in the newspaper. They have an established waiting list for the pups.

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10. BYBs have little to no concern for the future of individual pups or the breed as a whole. Does not use AKC’s limited registration option or ask for spay/neuter contract to guard against the breeding of sub-standard pups. If you cannot keep pup, tells you to take it to a dog pound or to sell it.

v.

10. After purchase, a Responsible Breeder will help you with grooming or training problems. Will take back a pup you cannot keep rather than see it disposed of inappropriately. Sells pets with spay/neuter agreement and on AKC limited registration.

So, why are back yard breeders a problem?  

BYBs are a problem because they breed dogs for the sake of breeding dogs and/or for the sake of profit.  It is a casual endeavor for them, not a life passion.  They may have a sweet pet they want to try and reproduce or they think that their dogs are quality because they have papers and/or are registered with some registry. Perhaps they think they can make a few dollars selling pups, etc. But, mainly they just put out dogs without real consideration for the future of not only the breed but the puppies produced.

Often, BYBs breed dogs with faults.  This perpetuates fault and problems in the breed. They do nothing to prove their dogs are of sound temperament and that they are breeding good representatives of the breed, etc. They just breed. And often, they do not even breed purebreds. Some BYBs "create" neat sounding puppy names and think they are breeds - like Puggles, Maltipoos, Yorkeranians, Labradoodles.  These are just designer mutts that were bred to fulfill a demand for a gimmicky name and a cute face.  There are plenty of these in rescues and absolutely no need for them to be bred purposefully.  

How do you know if a breeder is good or not?  Through EDUCATION and ASKING questions. Sadly, very few people professing to be reputable and responsible breeders are. A good breeder will all but interrogate you. You should also have the chance to question the breeder. If you are not sure or uneasy with an answer, do not hesitate to ask for an explanation. If at any time you get an uneasy feeling or just are not satisfied, look elsewhere. 

So you've decided you want a puppy!

You finally have the time, the space, the finances, and the insane urge to forego life as you know it and bring a puppy home.  

Congratulations.

Before I touch on all the basics of food, toys, crate training, selecting a veterinarian (which I will likely get to in future posts) I am going to venture the question: 

Where are you getting said puppy?

Now, before I climb up on the proverbial soap box, let me tell you how I came to own my first 2 dogs.

My first dog was a wedding present that my amazing husband and I decided to get for each other.  I told myself that I wanted to make and informed decision, research every breed out there and find the dog that would suit our lifestyle the best!  I wanted a dog from a reputable breeder, and I wanted to ensure its health and wellness.  I wasn't going to support a backyard breeder!  

This all sounded good.

So I decided we were going to buy a puppy from a Kennel in Howell, MI.  

We were going to be the proud new owners of  a Neapolitan Mastiff.

Cool, huh?

I decided we would fork over the extra $400 for a puppy from the "Show Quality Litter".

I applied for a puppy - they had an application process they MUST have been good responsible breeders, right?  - and I was immediately approved.

Of course, I was approved!  We lived in a 2 bedroom apartment, had no previous animal experience, I was 22 years old and worked full time.  

I was a shoe-in!

When they were born I was sent photos of the litter. 

We chose a Mahogany female with gray green eyes.  

She was to be called "Bug".

I was sent photos of "Bug" every week until we were allowed to make the drive out to her Kennel and bring her home.  I was in LOVE.  This wrinkled mass of cuteness and slobber was mine (for the low, low price of $2000).  

When we got there, Mom and Dad were chained in the front yard.  A shed with an adjoining run was packed to the gills with masses of barking Neos.  In the yard a playpen was stuffed with a litter of older puppies.  

"Bug" was waiting for us inside.

We were directed to our puppy, given some quick instructions and we handed over the rest of our payment // A small price for this lovely puppy.

We trucked home with our new puppy, beaming at each other...

This was going to be fun.

Let me cut to the end of this story by saying:

Within 10 days we were on our way back to Howell, MI.

Our "Show Quality Puppy" was going to need at least two, if not 3, $1000 surgeries on her eyes was a dead shoe-in for hip failure by the age of 2, was playing host to at least 3 different kinds of internal parasites and had a nasty disposition.

I was lightly chided by my vet for supporting a backyard breeder, and to my utter embarrassment, I had to admit that we had been swindled.

A few months later, we decided we were over our heartbreak and we were ready again to bring home a puppy.  So, I searched petfinder.com, I scoured the rescue ads in newspapers and I kept my eyes peeled for any puppy in need.  But one fateful Thanksgiving Weekend, we decided to kill some time and go visit the puppies at the Pet Store.

While we were there they were putting a few new puppies in their window boxes.  Among them was a fawn Boxer with gangly legs and big cone head.  My husband, Jake, was in love.

Lets play with him, he said!

I refused and spouted off moral reasons why we should not buy from a pet store.  

I thought I made my point.

But he's so cute!

We took him out.

We loved him.

Let's put him back, I said.

Before I could call over the salesperson to put the puppy away, a manager came up to us to ask how we liked the puppy.

Jake was starry eyed and love struck.  

I told her that he was great but that we would not support a puppy mill.  

Oh, we don't get our puppies from a puppy mill.  They come from GREAT breeders in Missouri.  Don't worry, we only have the finest dogs available and they come from a wonderful family raised environment.

I walked out of the store.

I walked out of that store two times, and somehow we came home with a little fawn Boxer with gangly legs and a cone head.

We named him Hank.

Hank is the love of my life.  

But, do I regret buying him?

In a word, yes.

I regret that I supported an operation that treats dogs like produce.  I regret that Hank's mother was bred repeatedly until she was unable to breed any more. I regret that when her body gave birth to the last litter she was shot, drowned, left to starve or killed in whichever manner would save her owner the most money.  I regret that we gave even one cent ($1200) to a place that churns out puppies for profit.  Puppies that are sold to whoever will pay the amount on the pricetag.  Puppies that are horridly defective and poorly bred.

Yes, I regret it.

Do I love him, regardless?

Of course.  

But I know now, that by bringing him home, by abandoning my Petfinder.com search I supported an evil operation and simultaneously doomed a puppy in need of rescue to euthanasia.  

I am going to close this excessively long anecdotal blog with a commercial I saw a while back.  I encourage anyone thinking of getting a puppy from a breeder or a pet store to watch it and really think about what they are doing.  

Lets face it, when you pay someone to give you a puppy, you perpetuate the grim cycle of pet over-population, poor breeding and resign a rescue dog to certain death.

"Please don't breed or buy while shelter pets die."

Greetings from your friendly neighborhood dog-lady

Finding myself 7 months pregnant, and unable to continue the demanding rigors of foster parenting, I decided to start a blog on the one subject I am most passionate:

Dogs.

Most know me to be the girl who has little to add to the conversation until someone brings up animals - or until I find a way to somehow slip in some random and obscure fact about dogs that ends up leaving people wondering where the heck that came from... or more accurately, who IS that girl that turned our conversation from body building and personal bests to the horrors of Animal Control and the Pet Over-Population epidemic!?

I admit I can be one track minded, and seemingly entirely too involved in my pets' welfare and the welfare of all the dogs who have no one else to speak for them.

But, this is who I am.

I don't claim to have any professional animal experience.  I am not a veterinarian.  I will not pretend to be an animal behaviorist, trainer or expert in animal nutrition.  I am just an avid lover of pets and I am particularly passionate about animal rescue and the welfare of dogs.

I hope you find something useful in my ramblings and musings.  If I even give one person reason to adopt or encourage one family to step up a grade or two with their pet's nutrition, I will have done my job.