It’s months before Christmas and your child has been asking for a puppy for years. You think he/she is old enough to finally take on the responsibility of feeding, walking, grooming, poop picking, etc. But you don’t have a clue where to find such a dog. You don’t want a dog that will be a constant source of heartache. You want one that will be your child’s best friend.
But where can you get such a dog? The last time you had a dog was during your own childhood and you’re pretty sure that the farmers where your dad got Rover from is long gone.
You’ve heard words like ‘puppy mill’ and ‘backyard breeder’ thrown around but you aren’t really sure what they mean, if it’s blown out of proportion or if it would even affect you.
On top of everything you don’t know what breed to get or if you should support one of the shelters or rescues in your area. And while we’re at it… what is the difference between a shelter and rescue?
It’s no wonder that new dog owners have trouble figuring out where to start when they get their first canine friend. Some people give up on researching and just dive in with the hopes that the breeder their friend recommended actually was as good as it sounded.
Unfortunately, too many people find themselves with unruly, under-socialized or sick dogs a few months down the road. They often give up on their furry friends, deeming them ‘bad’ and turning them over to shelters.
Fortunately, it’s not too hard to get a puppy from a reliable source.
There are basically two places you can get a dog:
1. Shelter/rescue
2. A breeder
What is the difference between a shelter and rescue?
A shelter is often a local, government-funded place to house unwanted animals. Some are good and some are bad. The majority take in animals because they have nowhere else to go. The animals are often evaluated by people who are not qualified to do evaluations and then the animals that pass are put up for adoption. They usually only have weeks or months to get adopted before they are put to sleep (PTS). The animals are usually held in concrete runs with metal bars. They might get a few hours outside each week if they lucky. Sometimes they have a blanket on the floor but the dogs are so stressed they often destroy them.
Shelters are easy to find. Almost every municipality has them and contacting the local government office should get you results. Dogs from here are usually cheaper and often come unaltered and without a vet check or thorough assessment/evaluation.
***Shelters serve a very important purpose in society. They are a sad necessity because there are just too many needy animals out there. Shelter workers do their best to make sure the animals in their care are given the best possible chances. However, they have limited resources (making do with a limited budget and donated supplies) and while supporting them should be encouraged (and this can be done through donations, volunteer work, adoption, etc.) new owners that adopt an animal from an unregulated shelter may not get exactly what they bargained for.
A rescue is usually a group of animal loving people who take in animals and house them at the homes of volunteers. They are usually very experienced with animals and have better luck at evaluations then shelters. It’s a lot harder to get a rescue to take in animals since they would rather fix the problem you are having rather than removing them from their home. The animals that are housed at volunteers homes usually get one-on-one attention and because they are in a real home situation the volunteers have a better idea how the dog will act at your home. There is less stress and it gives everyone a better change. Volunteers are also able to work on any ‘issues’ the dog may have had when they were taken in by a shelter.
Rescues aren’t always as easy to find. Quite often they are a group of people united by their love of dogs. Sometimes a rescue is connected by location sometimes by a breed. It’s quite common to find breed specific rescues. They often don’t even have an office as the dogs are housed at individual homes. The dogs are virtually always health checked, altered, assessed and socialized as most volunteers run their homes at full capacity. They are more expensive as adoption fees need to cover their costs and they aren’t government funded. However, it is cheaper then purchasing from most breeders and you can often get a purebred animal.
There are three kinds of breeders:
1.Puppymills
2.Backyard breeders
3.Ethical/responsible breeders
Most people are familiar with the concept of puppymills. They breed massive amounts of dogs with no thought to the health of the bitch, to the puppies, their welfare or condition. These animals are usually housed outside with little or no shelter and all dogs that don’t bring in money are expendable. Unfortunately, many pet stores get their puppies from puppymills. The puppies are often sick. They may be ‘purebred’ but don’t have papers or are from lines riddled with genetic diseases and disorders. It’s a horrible place to get a puppy from and most people who have gotten a puppymill puppy have either had to put them to sleep or spend their lives trying to get them to recover from the hand they were dealt.
Backyard breeders are often more difficult to recognize. They may be well-intentioned breeders who just don’t know enough about breeding, they may be people who think it’s easy to use their own bitch to make a quick buck, they could be people who believe that all bitches need to have a litter before they are spayed, they might be trying to show their children the circle of life, the excuses/reasons go on and on. What they are NOT are ethical breeders. And what they do not give you is any guarantee that the puppy you are buying will be what you want (healthy, well bred, a good representation of the breed, etc.)
Responsible breeders are one of the best ways to get a dog. There are many ideas on what a responsible breeder is someone who:
-Knows their breed well and doesn’t breed mixes
-Is usually competitive with their breed either showing or working with them
-Health tests their breed for genetic illnesses like hip dysplasia, eye disorders, hypothyroidism, Von Willebrand’s disease, epilepsy, cardiac conditions and anything else that is relevant to each specific breed
-They offer health guarantees for their puppies and provide you with certificates that show the dam and sire is free of genetic illnesses
-They don’t take money from just anyone and screen their homes well
-They breed with a purpose and for the betterment of their breed
-In most cases they only breed ONE breed
-They do not overbreed any of their dogs. Each breeding is carefully planned with goals in mind and the care of the dam is the most important thing.
-They keep their puppies with the dam for at least eight weeks. Puppies may stop nursing at six weeks but that doesn’t mean they are ready to leave. They get a lot of socialization manners in those last two weeks from both mom and their siblings.
-They have their dogs in their home with them and treat them like family
-They often have a mentor which is another responsible breeder who supports and guides them
-They have a waiting list for their puppies and do not breed until they have homes ready for the new babies
-They are an advocate for dog rescue and support education on canine welfare
-They can answer any question you have in great detail
-They do not try to ‘sell’ you a dog. In fact, you have to sell yourself as a wonderful owner to them.
-They take back their puppies at any time, under any circumstances no matter what. That doesn’t mean they will give you a refund, it just means that if you cannot keep your dog for any reason it has a home to go to.
-They will help you as you go with your puppy including giving you references for veterinarians, trainers, etc.
-They will have a spay/neuter clause unless you are an experienced dog owner and it has been arranged that you will show the pup in a way that requires it not be neutered. Usually this is down through a coop and is not relevant to the average owner.
-They will socialize their puppies to other people, children, other animals, other dogs and handle them at a young age so they are confident when they go to their new homes.
-They keep their premises clean and ‘puppy-proofed’ so their charges are always safe.
The list could go on and on and people tend to argue about what a good breeder is. Some people say it’s ok for them to advertise others say it isn’t. Some say they HAVE to be proven in the show world others say it’s fine if they breed good working dogs as long as it’s a working breed.
Everyone seems to agree that a reputable breeder breeds for the betterment of their breed.
Each puppy is brought into the world to be free of the genetic diseases that plague their breed, they are bred to be idea examples of the breed and to make the breed the best it can be.
Finding a reputable breeder can be a challenge. They don’t always advertise and go by word of mouth. Try contacting your local breed clubs to find out who the breeders are in the area.
Hopefully this article has helped you understand a bit more about what is going on in the dog world so you can find a puppy that is perfect for you. For me, it’s clear that a reputable breeder or ethical rescue are the best ways to go. They offer you the best chances to get a dog that is mentally and physically healthy.
I’ve made some generalizations about different groups here and my intent isn’t to offend but to provide some basic information for the readers.
- Shara JJ Cooper