If you want to buy a purebred puppy, there's nothing more important than finding a reputable breeder.

That's because getting a dog from a good breeder is the best way to increase the likelihood that the puppy you bring home will become the healthy, well-mannered pet you want. Purebred puppies who are not from good breeders are more likely to have behavior problems from being raised improperly, in addition to genetic health problems. These pups can cost you a fortune and break your heart.

Maybe I believe too much in the essential goodness of human nature -- or the goodness of those who love dogs -- but I think the majority of "bad" breeders are not uncaring -- they're simply uninformed as to what it takes to be a reputable breeder. They want a litter "so the kids can see," or because "puppies are fun," or because they heard that breeding dogs is an easy way to make a little money. (Done wrong, it's a great way to lose money!)

Here are some warning signs to help you avoid poor breeder:

-- Ignorance or denial of genetic defects. Almost every breed has some problems, and some of the most common ones (such as hip dysplasia) can cause great pain and cost big bucks to manage. A breeder who isn't aware of congenital defects won't be screening her dogs in hopes of eliminating these common health problems.

-- No involvement in dog sports. Every purebred dog doesn't have to have titles before he or she is bred, but you improve the odds of getting a high-quality purebred if you buy from someone involved in competing with their dogs. The point of a dog show, in fact, is to evaluate breeding stock.

-- Not letting you observe the litter, meet the mother or other dogs, or see where the puppies were raised. Healthy, well-mannered adults and a clean, well-run home are a breeder's best testimonial. If a person doesn't want you to see anything except the puppy she's trying to sell, you ought to be wondering why. Don't worry if the dad's not there: Reputable breeders often travel great distances (or pay for costly artificial insemination) to find the best match for their females.

-- No documentation, no sales contract. If the purebred puppy is represented as being eligible for registration with an organization such as the American Kennel Club, then registration papers should be available at the time of purchase. So too should documentation backing up health claims on the parents.

A sales contract spelling out the rights and responsibilities of both parties should also be part of the deal. Such a document provides you with recourse should the puppy not turn out as promised, especially when it comes to health problems.

-- Breeder doesn't understand the importance of socialization. Puppies need to constantly be handled by people and introduced to new sights, sounds and smells to make good pets. They need to spend time with their mothers, and even more time with their littermates. Someone who can't explain what they've done to socialize their puppies, who doesn't understand why socialization is important, or who tries to sell a puppy less than 7 weeks old probably doesn't understand enough about puppy-raising to be breeding dogs.

It's all about putting the odds in your favor. If you want a purebred puppy, take the time to find a reputable breeder and you'll be more likely to end up with a healthy, well-mannered pet. By avoiding less-than-reputable breeders, you'll also be encouraging people who shouldn't be breeding dogs to either clean up their acts or get out of the business.

Next week: How to find a good breeder.

PETS ON THE WEB

J. Bradley Materick loves the outdoors, and he loves animals. Starting this month, he's going to combine his two passions, hiking the 2,650-mile length of the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada with his dog, Banner, to raise awareness of, and money for, homeless pets. His PCT for Pets Web site (www.pctforpets.org) will track the journey, which will take a little more than six months. Materick is asking for per-mile donations, which can be earmarked for local shelters or for the American SPCA in New York City. Banner, named after a peak along the trail, is a former homeless dog from a shelter in upstate New York.

THE SCOOP

This is the time of year when I'll hear from people who think their young female cats are sick or injured, because of the way they're rolling around, yowling as if in pain. They want to know: Should we take her to the veterinarian?

The answer is a resounding "yes." These yowling cats aren't injured, but rather are in heat, and will soon be pregnant if steps aren't taken. If you have a cat who hasn't been altered, get it done right away. Don't add to the coming kitten crisis.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: Our community has recently become embroiled in a debate about how many dogs are too many for one person to handle. In particular, one dog walker takes eight animals to a nearby run. He then sits and reads the paper while the dogs run loose in the small area. Some people feel that eight is too many pooches for one person to handle responsibly. Other people feel that eight dogs are fine. (Many of these people either use this dog walker or have multiple dogs themselves.) What do you think? -- A.A., via e-mail

A: Eight is too many, especially for a person who apparently wouldn't pay much attention even if he had brought only one dog into the park.

Everyone who takes a pet into a dog park or run needs to be responsible for the behavior of that animal, watching to be sure the dog is neither bully nor victim, and that no one gets hurt. The dog park is not for catching up on one's reading, but rather for safely exercising and socializing a dog. One dog is hard enough to monitor properly; eight would be impossible.

Further, dogs who are together on a regular basis (such as those who are exercised by the same dog walker every day) are more likely to form a "street gang," if you will, and pick on those animals who aren't in their social circle. Dog packs have a different dynamic than individual dogs, and having a regular pack frequent the run could be a dangerous situation indeed.

To operate safely, dog parks need good basic rules, an active community to police through peer pressure and plenty of common sense. Your dog park needs to review its rules, not to ban dog-walking professionals from using the facilities but rather to insist that they behave in ways that are safe for all involved.

Q: I have a 6-year-old Rottweiler who was neutered a few months ago because of prostrate problems. I want to keep him from gaining weight. He gets 2 1/2 cups of dry food and one 16-ounce can of wet food daily. He is not as active as he once was. Do you have any suggestions? -- F.D., via e-mail

A: Is he putting on weight now? Is he healthy? If he's fine, I wouldn't change a thing. If he is gaining weight, I'd increase his activity level with a daily walk or a half-hour's worth of fetch, and replace half of his daily canned food ration with an equal amount of green beans. The beans add fiber to make a dog feel full, but do not add calories to put on the weight. (Canned pumpkin works well, too.)

Obesity is becoming as common a problem in pets as it is in people, and for the same reasons: too much food and not enough exercise. Fat pets suffer from a reduced quality of life and from serious health problems as well. The Veterinary Pet Insurance company recently released a survey revealing that obesity-related insurance claims are increasing: Heart-attack claims alone have risen an astonishing 47 percent in the last two years.

Keeping your dog at optimum weight is a good preventive-care measure, as is neutering, and I commend you for taking such good care of your dog. Aside from the not-insignificant benefits of helping to combat pet overpopulation (and there are plenty of Rotties in the shelters these days), neutering protects your pet from some cancers, may prevent accidents caused by roaming or aggression, and makes the animals calmer and easier to live with.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

When you tell someone that you, as a supposedly mature, sane adult, have two rats as pets, you'll generally get one of two responses: revulsion, followed by a questioning of said supposed sanity, or delight, from those who once had rats as pets (usually when they were young) and still remember how much fun they are.

Since I adopted a pair of domestic rats (Ava and Zoe) from a rescue group last fall, I've experienced both responses countless times, the former far more than the latter.

The reaction of disgust is unfortunate, for rats can be entertaining, affectionate and clever pets. They're excellent first pets for children, great sole pets for adults who might prefer a dog but are in "no pets" housing, and easy-care pets for those who aren't home much or don't have the desire to clean up after a dog, cat or bird.

Still not convinced? Let go of everything you've ever thought about rats and consider the benefits with an open mind:

-- Rats are social animals. Many small pets don't like being handled, but rats get used to careful socialization easily, and come to enjoy riding in pockets and on shoulders. They like people!

The older, larger and (it must be said) homelier of my two rats is Zoe, who makes up for her mud-fence appearance with an outgoing personality. She loves to be petted and likes to sleep in the hood of my sweatshirt when I'm writing.

Because rats are so social, if you're going to get one, you ought to get two so they can keep each other company.

-- Rats are smart. Rats respond quickly to food-based training and seem to love to perform. With little effort, I've trained Zoe to perform a couple of simple tricks, and she has picked up on the cues that let her know mealtime is here faster than any dog I've ever known.

-- Rats are agile and sturdy. Try to get a guinea pig to run a maze or climb a ladder, and you'll appreciate the fleet-footedness of a rat. Unlike mice, rats can stand up to the handling -- and occasionally, the unintentional mishandling -- of well-meaning children.

-- Rats are cute. Really. Think sleek, shiny fur, dark, glossy eyes and cute little ears. You say it's the tail that gets to you? Give a rat a break. If he just had a fluffy tail he'd be a squirrel, and people would give him nuts in the park.

Did you know that rats come in oodles of colors and coat patterns? Think colors like silver mink, platinum, blue and chocolate, and markings like hooded (the head a different color than the body) or masked or patched.

-- Rats are easy to keep. Get a cage sized for a larger pet, such as a chinchilla or guinea pig, and your rat will be content. (Mine live in a three-story ferret cage.) Add bedding, a place for the animal to hide and sleep, a food dish, water bottle and some toys. (These can be freebies, such as the leftover core of a paper-towel roll, or small untreated blocks of wood.)

Your rat will happily eat the food manufactured for them, and will love you if you add fruit, nuts, vegetables and other "people food."

The downside of rats? They don't live all that long -- two to three years -- and they're prone to tumors. As with all small pets, cage changes must be frequent, otherwise the smell will become unpleasant, to you and your pets both.

Oh, and there's also those skinny, hairless tails. Even I had a problem with them at first. But these days, I'm finding Ava and Zoe so personable I hardly notice their tails at all.

THE SCOOP

Your dog shouldn't be given unsupervised access to tennis balls, no matter how nuts he is for them. Tennis balls aren't designed to stand up to chewing, and the pieces can easily be swallowed. Even worse, some dogs have managed to compress the balls and then get them lodged in the back of their throats, cutting off the air supply.

Tennis balls are wonderful for retrieving games, however, especially when used with a "flinger." These nifty devices allow you to avoid touching a slimed tennis ball and help you to throw farther so your dog will get more exercise. Look for them in pet-supply stores, catalogs and on Web sites.

PETS ON THE WEB

The Kanab, Utah-based Greyhound Gang's well-designed Web site (www.greyhoundgang.com) offers layer upon layer of solid information about adopting and living with these wonderful dogs. The site also offers links to other "greyt" sites, information on the annual Greyhound Gathering every spring in Kanab, and even a place to buy low-priced glucosamine (which eases canine arthritis), handsome T-shirts and other gear, with proceeds going to the Greyhound Gang's rescue-and-placement program.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: My husband and I have been considering getting a family dog, a German shepherd. We have two boys, ages 3 and 1. What is the appropriate age for kids to help handle the responsibility of a dog? We want our older son to be able to help with and appreciate the dog. -- R.S., via e-mail

A: Often when a child is asked or initially volunteers to take sole responsibility for a pet, good intentions don't pan out. The parent starts nagging or forcing the child to take care of the pet, or the parent assumes responsibility along with a hearty dose of resentment toward the animal, or the pet will be neglected or given away. None of these is a good result, for the pet, parent or child.

That's why "help" is such an important word to remember, and I'm so glad to see it in your note. While children should help with the care of any family pet, the final responsibility for the welfare of the animal must be accepted by the adults from the very beginning. Pets always lose, one way or the other, when they're in the middle of a parent-child tug of war.

I have always thought responsibility is among the least important of the lessons a pet can teach a child. Most important, in my book, is the idea that love can be unconditional and that confidences can be kept. How many secrets I told my cat and dog while growing up I cannot imagine, but it felt as good to tell them as it did to know that no matter what mistakes I made, my pets would always love me. (Heck, that still feels good!)

Although the "right" age depends very much on the child, my experience is that children really start to appreciate (and often demand) a dog when they're in the age range of 8 to 10. They're capable of contributing to the care of the animals at that age, too.

Instead of getting a puppy, which is too much work for many busy families, please consider an adult dog. If you look carefully, you should be able to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue group, a calm, well-mannered animal companion who will be a wonderful addition to your family with many special lessons to teach your boys.

Q: Our cat won't drink water from a bowl, but rather insists by meowing loudly that we open the tap for her. We realize she has trained us, and we don't mind "serving" her. But we wonder if other cats share her fetish for fresh water. -- W.L., via e-mail

A: Drinking running water is a good survival strategy for wild cats, since running water is likely to be healthier than standing water. This sensible and ancestral preference is probably why some pampered pet cats still prefer their water moving.

And it is a relatively common preference. When I was growing up, one of my cats would use his paw to tap the handle in the laundry room, just enough to get a trickle to drink.

Since you can't be at hand to turn on the tap every time your cat is thirsty, you might think about investing in a continuous-flow feline drinking fountain. The fountains, which can be found in pet-supply catalogs, on Web sites and in the back of cat magazines, keep available a steady supply of water for your cat, recycling and filtering the liquid to make it seem fresh.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

A 10-year-old cat who has always been pretty relaxed suddenly starts zooming around the house every day.

A 4-year-old golden retriever who has been always been a sweetheart suddenly starts snapping when her ear is touched.

A 7-year-old cat suddenly starts soiling the rugs regularly, even though there has been no change in the location, filler or cleanliness of the litter box.

Will training fix these problems? Probably not, because at their root, chances are they're medical in nature.

People often become frustrated or even frightened by a sudden change in their pets' behavior. Then they'll look for one simple training tip that will bring back the problem-free relationship they had with their animal companions. But sometimes what pet lovers assume is a behavioral problem really isn't -- it's a medical problem, one that will be resolved only with proper diagnosis and treatment.

That zooming cat? There's a pretty good chance she has a condition called hyperthyroidism, in which the thyroid gland overproduces, and in so doing prompts behavior changes in a cat whose body is suddenly supercharged.

That snappy retriever? A painful ear infection may be the culprit. The fact that she's snapping, not biting, when petted despite her extreme pain speaks volumes about her good temperament.

And what about the cat whose perfect potty habits are suddenly gone? His case could have any number of medical causes behind it, from an infection or kidney disease to diabetes.

With good medical care, all three of these pets will likely be made healthy again, and should return to their previous patterns of good behavior. Cases such as these make clear why the first rule of solving any behavior problem is to make sure that it's not a medical problem. This is especially true if the behavior change is sudden.

If you start trying to retrain a pet who's sick, not only will you get nowhere but you'll also delay the resolution of a condition that may be causing your pet discomfort or pain.

It's important to know what's normal for your pet, and to be looking for small changes in appearance or behavior that could be the early signs of illness, even before they prompt annoying behavior problems. It's important to always keep an eye on your pet's condition, for example, being careful to note a loss in weight, a newfound dullness to his coat or a change in energy levels.

Changes in eating and elimination habits are also worthy of investigation, as are subtle shifts in temperament -- like a pet who seems a little more aloof, or more clingy.

Double your vigilance when your pet crosses into the senior years. Many of the problems pet lovers assume are just part of the aging process -- stiff joints or absentmindedness -- can be treated, with both traditional and alternative methods available. Such treatments can vastly improve your aging pet's quality of life, and yours as well, since you won't be dealing with the accompanying behavior problems.

Don't wait until the change in your pet escalates to a point where he is an annoyance -- get your pet the help that's needed now. You may be able to resolve any health problems before they change your pet's behavior for the worse.

THE SCOOP

While sometimes pets eat or roll in things that make the animals temporarily difficult to be around, if you're constantly wincing at your pet's objectionable odor, you need to make an appointment with your veterinarian. Bad breath can be a sign of rotting teeth or gums, and smelly ears are often a result of infections. An overall bad smell may indicate skin problems.

Don't ignore these warning signs. Disease can make your pet miserable and shorten his life. Stinky pets aren't normal. Proper diagnosis and treatment by a veterinarian can improve your pet's quality of life -- and your life, as well, by keeping your pet sweet-smelling.

PETS ON THE WEB

You know a breed has arrived when it turns up on a top TV show, as the little Cavalier King Charles spaniel did recently on HBO's "Sex in the City." These days, when I take my 2-year-old Cavalier, Chase, out in public, I'm asked two questions right away: "Can I pet him?" and "Where can I get one like him?" The answer to the first is always "yes," but the second's a little harder to help with.

This is one breed that comes with a big "caution" sign, because of a life-threatening congenital heart condition that's pervasive in these sweet-natured toy spaniels. This condition has killed many of these dogs in their prime. And while with all breeds it's important to buy from a reputable breeder, it's especially important with these dogs. Required reading can be found on the CKCS Club -- USA Web site (www.ckcsc.org) and the American CKCS Club (www.ackcsc.org).

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I wholeheartedly agree with your recent article on outside dogs and hope that people take your advice not to get a dog if it is not going to be part of the family. How sad it is to think of all the lonely dogs outside alone year after year.

Could you mention one more reason not to abandon a dog to the outdoors? In addition to all the points you made, these dogs are probably denied prompt and proper medical care because their owners do not notice their ailments. -- K.P.H., via e-mail

A: As happens every time I write about a controversial topic, I got a lot of mail on this column, from both sides. Those people who keep their pets outside were predictably angry to have anyone question the care of their dogs.

Happily for the dogs of the world, the numbers of letters from people who agree that dogs are not happy living their lives completely alone outside were much in the majority. Their numbers were bolstered by people who agree for a different reason -- they live near outdoor dogs, and have to listen to the barking of these neglected pets day and night.

Humane societies, behaviorists and other experts have long agreed that making a dog part of the family makes them not only happier, but also less likely to be a nuisance or a danger.

And yes, I neglected to mention your point, that dogs who live completely outdoor lives may not get the attention they need when it comes to medical care. That's because it can be difficult to spot the sometimes subtle signs of early illness in an animal who isn't living underfoot.

Q. I had always been told that yellow spots in the yard were caused by the female dogs. Now that I have only males, I find that is not correct.

Is there a way to prevent these spots, something to add to a dog's food or water? I'm looking forward to your answer, and to some greener grass. -- J.M., Carmichael, Calif., via e-mail

Female dogs take the rap for destroying lawns because they are more likely to release a large quantity of urine in a single spot, while the males are more likely to spread theirs in smaller amounts on vertical surfaces such as trees and shrubs. But as you've found out, even male dogs can release enough urine to trash a lawn.

Pet-supply catalogs carry food additives that are advertised to minimize the damage. There are also many folk remedies floating about, suggesting the addition of substances intended to change the nature or the volume of the urine produced.

I hesitate to recommend any additives to a pet's food or water, however. First, the results seem to be pretty mixed, at best, and second, I don't like to suggest adding anything to a pet's diet that's not being put there for the good of the animal. (I'm not saying the additives are dangerous, mind you, but that I don't like adding things to a pet's food unless it's going to be beneficial for them, not the lawn.)

The best solution is to set aside a less-visible part of your yard for your dogs to relieve themselves in. If that's not possible, you should dilute the urine by immediately flushing the area where your dogs have urinated with a couple gallons of water from the hose. This should lessen the fertilizing effect of the urine and help keep your lawn from spotting up.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111; (816) 932-6600