Dogs are considered as man’s best friend. Deciding to own one, whether you choose a big or small breed, involves a lot of responsibility. It is not just about feeding, but includes other chores such as grooming, training, watching your pet’s health and diet, cleaning up after your pet, and most importantly, giving tender loving care. There are many places one can get a dog, pet shelter, pet rescue, petfinder.com, or the pet store, but if one wants to get a pure bred animal, one must seek a reputable breeder to get the best results.
Finding the right dog breeder
Finding the right breeder for a dog depends on the breed that one selects. Professional breeders do not breed frequently and will only do so when a pair is found to be healthy and temperament that will insure the birth of also healthy offspring. Breeders will also breed only when a sufficient number of homes have been evaluated and deemed appropriate.
Given that there is no standard as to what a standard breeder is, one should do research by asking people, and interviewing as many breeders as possible before making a decision. There are many categories of the type of breeders in the market and by knowing which one is the best and understanding the consequences; this will make all the difference of the type of offspring that will be produced.
The ideal breeder should have the pair of dogs tested for every possible disease as well as have all the information regarding the pair’s ancestors and health records on file. Should a breeder find no problem in the history of the pair, one must still ask details to be sure. This is one sign that shows the breeder the interest of a potential owner of such a magnificent and smart animal. One can also ask the people who have be given offspring’s in the past to check if there were any problems since the breeder maintains a close relationship with these dog owners.
Reputable breeders have certain requirements that one must have before qualifying as a potential dog owner. These are usually in the form of written contracts or guarantees with a spay or neuter requirement that limits the registration of the puppies. This is done both for the protection of the owner as well to control a possible overpopulation problem.
The person who wants a dog must have a secured backyard and attend certain classes such a puppy kindergarten to be familiar with the challenges one will face come the time the dog has been given.
The requirements needed by the breeder is not to delay the process of giving one a dog but to ensure that the person is aware of what will happen as a dog owner and the responsibilities that come with it as well as make sure that the puppies will have good homes. This is what makes responsible breeders different from others who are not since these people are not concerned about the health or welfare of the dogs but are just in it to earn money.
Once a person is able to find the ideal breeder, the waiting does not end there. Since the demand for the breeder’s dogs are well sought after due to the selective nature of the breeding practices, the newborn pups will still have to be raised with the breeder and will only be released when a number of pre-screened homes have been found. If one does the all the research, it is possible that one will qualify as part of that list.
One of the most critical factors in identifying a good breeder aside from the health and food given is the condition of the mother after birth and how well are the puppies taken care of. The best way to do is if the breeder is just nearby, so one can visit the place from time to time and monitor the condition of the puppies.
Another good quality of a responsible breeder is the voluntary assistance provided to the owners of the puppies. If the placement of the puppy did not work out as hoped with a certain owner, the breeder can require the person to return the puppy and provide it with a better home since the life of the puppies is the responsibility of the breeder throughout the dog’s life.
Ask your veterinarian, local groomers, pet sitters, animal shelters, animal control officers…
Who do they recommend for breeders. Do your homework and research! You may even contact your state’s Department of Agriculture to see if that breeder has a license, or if there are any reports on file about that specific breeder.
A purchase of your next best friend is a lifetime commitment and is an emotional one. So, if you educate yourself, find the right breeder, choose the right pet, and you are well on your way to a lifetime of love from your new family member!
Wagging Tails Pet Sitting & Mobile Grooming Celebrating 21 years in CT, award winning, experienced, professional pet care. www.waggingtails.com
