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.
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