A New Cup of Dog Series!

Getting a new puppy is so exciting. While trolling the internet, its easy to find countless sellers, breeders and sites all touting the health and registries of their furballs. Pet stores abound with fuzzy faces, big paws and oversize eyes that beg you to love them forever (or at least 15-20 years).

Chat sites are filled with people awaiting their new arrival. It seems to me more people are chatting about puppies then what my internet pals refer to as ’skin kids.’ I could be looking in the wrong places and of course, my interests are canine-centric, so thats what I read.

Given that its coming up on one year since my baby boy Louis Reginald joined our family and we unexpectedly got ourselves a second furbaby in the past year, I have some thoughts on the whole ‘new puppy’ thing.

Choose Your Choice!

Do not do as I did, do as I say. Do not bring a puppy home on a whim. Ella Bean was unplanned, last minute and she didn’t go over so well with the family at first. Avoid my mistake and include everyone in the puppy decision. Our first pup, Louis, the doe eyed black and tan Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was planned well in advance. Like for years. On one of our first dates, my husband told me that he initiated his family getting his childhood dog, Coco, the Shih Tzu (may he rest in peace). It was in that moment, I knew I could be with Ryan forever. Some people discuss children and financial goals, I talked dog. From the moment we got serious I started planning for our first puppy. The way some people have mobiles and newborn clothes stashed away for the future, I had dog toys. I researched, and planned on getting every single breed in the AKC registry, at some point over the years.

I can’t emphasize enough that being realistic about your lifestyle is the first step to ensuring successful dog parenthood. If you like to run five miles a day, please don’t get a Bulldog, he wont be up for your marathons. Same thing goes the other way, if you are a couch potato, don’t get yourself a big Spaniel who needs to run to be content.

If you fall somewhere in the middle, make sure the grooming, exercise and feed requirements are manageable for you and your family. Some dogs are deceptive in their looks. For instance, Chihuahuas are notoriously difficult to train, so what they lack in size and exercise requirements, they make up for in pee pee stains. Great Danes are gentle giants and in spite of their large size, they aren’t meant for being a running buddy. Their large bones are tremendously stressed as they grow, leaving them more vulnerable to joint and muscle injury then their size might appear.

Go to the library or invest in a book on dog breeds. Actually, buying or loaning it isn’t enough - crack that bad boy open and give it a looksie. Some breeds will appeal more to you, physically and there is nothing wrong with that. Just make sure you or someone you pay, can take care of him. And if you pay someone else to do the dirty work, don’t expect Fido to curl up next to you at night. He who cleans dog poo shall reap the rewards of canine loyalty. Credit goes where credit is due and to your dog, credit equals walks, discipline, love and most important - food. If only the rest of life were this simple.

So you want a mixed breed from a shelter? It is great to rescue and often, if your really have your heart set on a purebred, you are still a candidate for adopting. Breed rescues exist all over the country and while you usually can’t view them all at a shelter, you can discuss your future companion with a foster family who has taken the pup in and most likely potty trained the hairball for you! Mixed breeds usually show one predominant breed and you can use that as your guide. Pay attention to what the shelter staff has to say about the dog’s personality. Don’t take on a serious case of aggression, shyness or any other bad trait unless you are a professional or you plan on employing one. It usually won’t work out and you’ll end up having to relinquish your pet.

My mixed breed, Ella Bean was listed at the shelter as a ‘Yorkie mix’. I have neighbors who swear she is part poodle, part Chinese Crested, part Chihuahua and more. I could have her DNA evaluated, and put the issue to rest, but I’d rather spend the money on treats and toys then know her exact lineage. Mixed breeds are often less prone to genetic disease then their purebred counterparts and are often all around, a bit sturdier. My family and I joke that Ella is a thousand times smarter then Louis, but in reality, she’s got a larger gene pool to pull from, so who knows what she is or isn’t…they are both dogs and love to walk, play, crap and eat.

Back to planning. I am going to assume you are aware of puppy mills. If not, do a Google search and I am certain you will come across gruesome photos of abused, caged dogs and you’ll have a good idea where the pet store puppy comes from. Some people condemn those who buy from these stores and say that this is what perpetuates and industry of farming puppies like a crop. I don’t judge. People meet their soul-pups in unexpected places and while I don’t recommend the pet store as a first choice place to find a puppy, if it so happens you buy from a pet shop, just make sure you are in it for the long haul. With all the abuse these animals suffer, the least we can do is invite them into our homes for keeps.

If you decide to go the breeder route, expect a lot of legwork. The AKC is a great place to start. They recommend listed breeders by state and while most ethical breeders don’t produce more then 1 or 2 litters per year, they almost always know someone who is another ethical breeder that is planning a litter. Some people wait years to get the gender/temperament/coloring they desire. It sounds nuts, but it can be worth it. Choosing an ethical breeder means you will have a guide through puppy parenthood. You’ll send them photos of your dog romping through the years, know what genetic conditions lurk in the breed’s DNA and have someone to call for advice throughout the puppy’s life. Also, these great breeders often will take the puppy back - no questions asked, if you need to relinquish the dog at any point. This is a lot less cruel then anonymously dumping your pet at the pound.

So, you and your family have all decided what type of dog you want and where he or she is going to come from. Now what?

I’ll cover that next week! Keep reading!

   Email This Post

Related Categories:

Dogs - General Interest

 

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.