to do everything they can to ensure that a dog’s next home will be his last.
Applications ask for general information about you and your family, along with your past experience as a pet owner. A shelter or rescue may also ask for details that will help the volunteers determine how well you can fulfill a particular dog’s needs. Some dogs may do best in homes without cats or other dogs. Other dogs might lack the temperament to tolerate young children.
A rescue or shelter will also ask you if you own or rent your home. Renting will not keep you from adopting, but the rescue volunteer will want to contact your landlord to make sure that you are allowed to keep a pet on the property. Additionally, many rescues require a home visit prior to approving a prospective owner’s application regardless of whether that person owns or rents. This step may seem a bit intrusive at first, but it is usually a quick and simple process that confirms the information you provide on your application. Everyone who lives in the household should be present for the visit.
A good breeder stands behind every puppy that he or she produces.
What to Look for in Any Puppy or Dog
Whether you prefer a puppy, a young adult dog, or an older pet, you should look for a healthy animal with a good temperament. But how will you know if the dog you choose fits this description?
The healthiest dogs have bright, clear eyes and cool, wet noses. A dog’s nose will not always feel cold, but an extremely warm nose can sometimes be a sign of an issue. Red or cloudy eyes or discharge from the eyes or the nostrils often signals a health problem. Ears should be clean and free of odors. Head-shaking and tenderness around the ears are both red flags as well because they can indicate an infection or ear mites.
The dog’s coat should be clean and free of mats, and his skin should show no signs of irritation. Excessive dryness, sores, or scratches are symptoms of numerous health problems—from external parasites to a thyroid imbalance. Even if no skin abnormalities are visible, persistent itching is often a sign that something is awry.
When you meet the dog, run your hands gently over his body. Doing so can offer insight in more ways than one. First, a dog shouldn’t have a negative reaction to being touched. Second, this step allows you to check his body for anything unusual. A swollen abdomen might mean that the dog has worms or an umbilical hernia. Both problems can be fixed—the former more easily and inexpensively than the latter—but it is better to know about any problems beforehand and make your decision with this information in mind.
Watch the dog as he moves around. Does he show any signs of discomfort when walking or running? Does he get up from lying down with ease or show signs of lameness or weakness? Neither issue is necessarily a deal-breaker, but it can indicate an orthopedic issue. Arthritis is common in older dogs, and although it can be a chronic problem, it can usually be managed. More acute problems, such as patellar luxation or hip dysplasia, may require surgery.
A well-adjusted puppy will play nicely with his siblings and welcome attention from people, but there are many nuances to canine personalities. While you can certainly help shape what kind of adult dog a puppy becomes, many early temperamental traits will intensify with age. If a pup is the most assertive member of his litter, chances are good that he will try to take the lead role with other pets in your household as well. Likewise, a more timid pup might come out of his shell some over time, but he probably won’t grow into an especially confident or outgoing adult. Both of these theoretical puppies can make good pets for the right people; just bear in mind that a dog who already possesses specific qualities is more likely to retain these traits than another dog is to develop them.
Beware of Puppy Mills!
Breeders, rescue organizations, and animal shelters—not necessarily in this order—are the best places to look for the dog of your dreams. You should never buy a dog from a puppy mill. Few people would intentionally support these deplorable businesses that make money by overbreeding animals for profit, but many well-intentioned owners simply do not realize when they are dealing with a puppy mill. A likely sign is a single breeder who offers multiple breeds. A reputable breeder may breed two different breeds, but three or more is usually a cause for concern. Sometimes it can be hard to tell how many breeds a breeder has because many commercial breeders use different ads for each breed they sell. You can double check, though, by running a search with the phone number, which is often the same in each ad.
Some animal lovers misguidedly think they are rescuing puppy-mill dogs by buying them. The harsh reality is that while these young animals are born into horrible conditions, they are actually the luckier ones. As soon as pups are old enough to be sold, commercial breeders ship them to whoever is willing to pay the price. Some dogs may be sold to pet stores; others may be sold directly to the public. The parents, however, pay the highest price. The dams in particular spend the majority of their lives in cramped, filthy cages with little interaction with people aside from the most basic care. They are forced to deliver litter after litter, as long as their bodies will cooperate. Every time a person buys a puppy-mill dog, he or she is helping support these abusive and greedy businesses.
Questions to Ask a Breeder
Before visiting a breeder, make a list of questions to ask during your visit. These may pertain to a specific litter, the breeder’s policies, or general care information. If the breeder has a website or social media account, look for answers there first. Doing so will free up more time during your visit to gather information that you can’t find online. Following are some common questions:
How and when did you start breeding dogs?
While there is no right answer to this question, experience is always a plus. Since everyone must start somewhere, though, ask a less experienced breeder about mentors and other resources he or she has found helpful. This follow-up question should offer insight into whether the breeder is a responsible one. The best breeders want to learn as much as they can from responsible breeders who have experience.
What type of health tests do you perform on your dogs?
Nearly all breeds are prone to at least one or two health problems. Responsible breeders test their animals for these conditions before breeding them. You should ask to see the health clearances for both parents of any puppy you’re considering. Don’t worry about offending the breeder. A knowledgeable, caring breeder will expect no less.
Do you offer a health guarantee?
While no one can truly guarantee the health of an animal, the best breeders stand behind the health of their puppies. The most common guarantee, or warranty, typically states that the breeder will allow you to return the animal with a refund if a major health problem arises within a certain time period.
What are my responsibilities?
Good breeders want the best possible homes for their dogs. Some even ask owners to sign contracts. Common stipulations include agreeing to keep the dog on a leash whenever he ventures outdoors, to spay or neuter the animal by a certain age, and to contact the breeder if the owner is ever unable to keep the dog. Many breeders have working relationships with rescue organizations and prefer to participate in rehoming their former pups if it becomes necessary.
When are your puppies ready to go home?
The age at which breeders can sell puppies varies slightly by state, but no pup should leave his mother before he is seven weeks old. Eight weeks is ideal and, for some smaller breeds, older is even better. As much as you may want to bring your new puppy home as soon as possible, a breeder who errs on the side of caution is putting the pups’ best interests first.
