Buying a Puppy from a Breeder
A dog breeder raises, sells, and often shows dogs of a specific breed. Top breeders conscientiously raise puppies with good genetic lines. When possible, reputable breeders test dogs before breeding them in order to ensure they’re free of any congenital defects. Good breeders also temperament test every puppy before pairing him with an ideal home.
Looking at breeder terminology
Here are some explanations of key terms to keep in mind when searching for and dealing with breeders:
Genetic defects: These defects are passed down from parent to pup and can result in a host of maladies, from hip dysplasia to heart murmurs. Conscientious breeders avoid breeding dogs with these congenital defects. As you research each prospective breed, list possible defects and question the breeder’s awareness before looking at his puppies.
Line breeding/breeding for show: Breeders of show dogs mindfully try to create puppies who, when grown, adhere to the breed standard. This practice becomes a problem when a breeder pairs closely related dogs as parents: Though the puppies may look beautiful, some of them may be adversely affected by line breeding.
If you’re interested in a puppy for show, you may be okay with overlooking temperament in favor of beauty, but if personality matters to you, skip a breeder whose pedigrees show the name of a certain dog again and again and reveal breeding that doesn’t space the generations apart. The rule of thumb is that five generations should separate one relative from another.
Breed standard: In the United States, the American Kennel Club documents a breed standard, which lists each breed’s specific ideal characteristics, from coat color and personality to the skeletal carriage and direction of each toe. Each detail is very precise, and perfection is the golden chalice every show-oriented breeder reaches for. However, if you’re looking for the ideal family pet or companion, a maligned freckle or slightly offset toenail won’t matter at all!
Breeding for temperament: Reputable breeders breed for temperament, which means the breeder’s just as interested in delightfully acting puppies as ones that look good. If you’re getting your puppy to be a pet, this attribute in a breeder trumps all others.
Temperament testing: A temperament test is a series of handling exercises performed on a puppy to predict his future temperament. The test provides a fairly accurate assessment of a puppy’s personality and eventual adult demeanor.
Breeders who can help you understand both the positives and negatives of the breed they work with are worth their weight in gold. If they’re serious about the placement of their puppies, they’ll ask you a whole list of questions to ensure you’re a good fit for their breed and their individual puppies. Don’t be put off by their questions, because in the end, you’ll receive a puppy who has been loved and well cared for since its very first breath.
Ask a breeder whether he has a contract for you to sign and what his policy is on returning the puppy if your situation demands it. Many top breeders have you sign an agreement requiring you to spay/neuter your puppy and stipulating the rules for returning the puppy. At this time, also ask whether the puppy has received any inoculations and what type of human interaction and socialization the puppy has been exposed to.
Checking out a home breeder
Puppies who are bred in someone’s home may be purebred or mixed. These homebred puppies usually come from dogs who have mistakenly escaped their owners’ yards and have mated with unknown sires. However, sometimes these pups come from dogs who live with people who thought breeding two purebred dogs would be fun, educational for the kids, or lucrative.
If you follow a sign advertising puppies for sale, talk to the owners about the following points:
If the puppies are mixed breed, is the mix of breeds known or has it been speculated?
Were the parents tested for genetic defects known to the breed(s)?
Can you meet the parent dogs?
Have the puppies been seen by a veterinarian? If so, how far along are they with inoculations?
What sort of stimulations have the puppies been exposed to (cats, kids, and so on)?
If the puppy turns out not to be a good fit for your family, would the breeder consider taking the puppy back? Forewarning: A home breeder is unlikely to take the puppy back, so if the situation turns ugly, you may be left with the prospect of re-homing or dropping your puppy off at a local shelter.
Don’t adopt a puppy younger than 8 weeks old (7 weeks may be okay only if you’re experienced with very young puppies) because a pup’s mother normally spends weeks 6 through 8 socializing and teaching her puppies. The result of this socialization is good for you because the puppies will have more organized elimination habits, respect, and bite inhibition.
Dogs Glossary
A-B-C assessment
Checking a dog’s airway, breathing, and circulation.
Dogs Glossary
animal shelter
1. An animal control agency run by local government to protect people from animals, take in strays, and manage animal issues and problems within the community. 2. A privately run shelter managed by individuals who want to protect, advocate for, and find homes for animals.
Dogs Glossary
BARF diet
A method of feeding dogs as closely as possible what they would eat in the wild: raw flesh and bones, along with vegetable matter from the stomachs of their prey. The acronym stands for either Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.
Dogs Glossary
blow out
A twice-yearly shedding of a dog’s undercoat.
Dogs Glossary
blue slip
An application to register a purebred puppy.
Dogs Glossary
breeder
A person who raises, sells, and often shows dogs of a specific breed. Reputable breeders screen parent dogs in an effort to produce healthy dogs that conform to breed standards.
Dogs Glossary
castrate
The removal of a male dog’s testicles to render him infertile.
Dogs Glossary
clicker
A small hand-held device that makes a sharp cracking sound when pressed. Paired with a food reward, an effective dog-training tool.
Dogs Glossary
cohesive bandage
A stretchy wrap that clings to itself used to cover and secure gauze bandages without tape.
Dogs Glossary
come into season
The advent of a female dog’s term of fertility.
Dogs Glossary
dead ring
The stationary ring on a training collar that pulls on the collar, not the dog’s neck.
Dogs Glossary
double coat
Two layers of fur — a top coat of stiff guard hairs and an undercoat that serves as insulation.
Dogs Glossary
dropped ears
The term for hanging or drooping dog ears.
Dogs Glossary
Elizabethan collar
A wide, cone-shaped plastic or cardboard collar that prevents a dog from being able to scratch her head. Used to prevent further injury or hasten healing.
Dogs Glossary
euthanize; put to sleep
To kill an animal to relieve suffering.
Dogs Glossary
fall
Hair that extends over a dog’s eyes.
Dogs Glossary
feathering
Long hair that runs from armpit to paw on the backs of a dog’s legs.
Dogs Glossary
free-feeding
Keeping a constant supply of dog food available so that the dog can decide when and how much to eat. It works best in single-dog households where there’s no competition for food.
Dogs Glossary
heartworms
Parasites that live in dogs’ hearts and cause heart failure. They’re transferred through mosquito bites.
Dogs Glossary
heat
The period when a female dog is fertile.
Dogs Glossary
heel
A command and position in which a dog walks at your left side staying with you as you change direction or pace.
Dogs Glossary
hip dysplasia
A painful malformation of a dog’s hip socket. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to the condition.
Dogs Glossary
hot spot
A localized area of skin infection. It’s usually round, red, and warm to the touch.
Dogs Glossary
live ring
The floating ring of a training collar. Attach a leash to this ring for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
neuter
A general term to describe either spaying or castrating a dog to render it infertile. Neutering and castrating are often used interchangeably.
Dogs Glossary
pantaloons
The tufts of hair on the backs of a long-haired dogs legs that make him look like he’s wearing bloomers.
Dogs Glossary
pedigree
A diagram of a dog’s ancestors for three or more generations that lists the registered names of the dogs and the titles they earned.
Dogs Glossary
pinch collar
A training collar with interlocking prongs that pinch a dog’s neck when tugged on. Some veterinarians recommend them above all other collars for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
praise
A verbal reward for a dog , such as an enthusiastic “good dog!”
Dogs Glossary
prong collar
A training collar with interlocking prongs that pinch a dog’s neck when tugged on. Some veterinarians recommend them above all other collars for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
pulse
Normal dog pulse is between 70 and 120 beats per minute. The pulse of a puppy ranges from 120 to 160 beats per minute.
Dogs Glossary
puppy mill
A place that supplies puppies to pet stores, usually without screening for possible genetic defects or properly socializing the puppies.
Dogs Glossary
registration certificate
The paper certifying a dog’s registration with an accredited organization.
Dogs Glossary
registration slip
An application to register a purebred puppy.
Dogs Glossary
release word
A word that lets a dog know that she is free to move.
Dogs Glossary
rescue group
A network of animal lovers who rescue and find new homes for their favorite breeds or animals.
Dogs Glossary
reward
To give a dog a treat for a correct response while he’s still in the desired position.
Dogs Glossary
ruff
The long, thick fur around a dog’s chest, shoulders, and neck.
Dogs Glossary
separation anxiety
A condition in which your dog becomes anxious and stressed when you leave him.
Dogs Glossary
shed
A twice-yearly process of casting off the undercoat in a double-coated dog.
Dogs Glossary
single coat
A single layer of hairs that comprises a dog’s fur.
Dogs Glossary
spay
To remove of both the uterus and the ovaries of a dog to render her infertile.
Dogs Glossary
stripping
Plucking the dead hairs from a dog’s coat.
Dogs Glossary
titer tests
Tests that check a dog’s immunity levels to determine exactly which vaccinations are needed.
Dogs Glossary
top coat
The top layer of a double-coated dog composed of stiff guard hairs that tend to be naturally water-repellant. The top coat protects the dog’s skin and undercoat.
Dogs Glossary
training collar
A collar that enables you to guide your dog and to check her as necessary — a brief, sharp tug tightens the collar around the dog’s neck.
Dogs Glossary
treat cup
A plastic container filled with small treats or dog food. Shake it and give treats from it as a reward as you train a dog.
Dogs Glossary
undercoat
Fleecy or downy fur shorter than the top layer of a double-coated dog. The undercoat serves as insulation.
