Puppy Selection

Considerations before getting a puppy- When you begin looking for a puppy, take into consideration how active the breed of your choice is. This will determine how much exercise the puppy and adult dog will need. Most dogs require more than a few minutes of fetch in the backyard to keep them from becoming bored and destructive.

How many hours will your dog be alone? Dogs are social creatures and can develop behavioral issues if they do not have the stimulation of play and companionship.

Where will you keep your puppy when you are not home? You would not let a toddler roam about the whole house without supervision, nor should your puppy do so.

How much time or money do you have to devote to grooming your dog's coat? Does fur on your furniture bother you?

What will you do if your dog becomes sick or injured at an inconvenient time? (it will never happen at a good time) Will you be able to make financial arrangements to cover his health costs?

Do you plan on taking a training class? Do you know how to find a good trainer who has education and experience?

Finding a reputable breeder

So, you've decided the pet for you is a purebred dog...good for you!

The following are some of the typical characteristics of a reputable breeder:

1. Reputable breeders only produce a litter with the goal of improving their breed and with the full intent of keeping a puppy from the litter with which to continue their efforts. They do not breed to make money, to supply the pet market during a wave of breed popularity, to give the kids a sex education, or simply because they happen to have two dogs of the same breed on the premises.

2. Reputable breeders nearly always belong to a local or national breed club and they actively compete with their dogs.

3. Reputable breeders are willing and eager to spend time with you, explaining, teaching and advising you about their breed. They will make the disadvantages of owning their breed crystal clear.

4. Reputable breeders will screen you carefully, to assure your suitability for owning their breed.

5. Reputable breeders sell only healthy stock, fully vetted, and guaranteed for some reasonable length of time after the sale.

6. Reputable breeders offer, or even require, that any dog they sell be returned to them if your situation changes so that you cannot keep the dog.

7. Reputable breeders stay in touch with you on a regular basis to see how you're getting on with your new dog.

(condensed from an article written by Linda Hazen Lewin)

Things to have on hand before your puppy comes home-
A crate or ex-pen.
Lots of safe things to chew on.
Stainless steel food and water bowls.
A stack of old towels.
Something to clean up accidents with, I recommend an inexpensive carpet shampooer.
A premium puppy food with no fillers or byproducts, this will lessen the amount of bowel movements per day by about half and will also be less allergenic for the puppy.
The name of a good vet who has an on call plan in place for emergencies.