So, I'm starting a theme in the blog - "Making the Responsible Choices" - where we'll cover all the things you need to think about before, during and after bringing Mr. Cuddles home.
Today's topic - "Things to Know Before You Go"
Before you run off to get that dog from the newspaper or flyer on the wall at your grocery store or even *cringe* worst of all, the pet store - STOP! - Do not pass the fire hydrant. Get out of your car, go back inside and sit down. A few simple things now will safe you heartache (and financial stress) later on.
1. Be realistic about your time. If you dont already do this, take a calendar and mark down *everything* everyone in your family has going on in a day. Making it visual makes it more realistic. If you're getting a puppy, remember he will need to go out every couple of hours and will still need to eat 3 meals per day! If you factor in eating alone (leaving the puppy's food down for 30 minutes at a consistent time and then picking it up will help get your dog on a good schedue!) - that's 90 minutes - every day. A puppy also needs extra time outside to "do their business." They're still learning and exploring and if you want a healthy, happy self-assured puppy, you want them to do that! So factor in another hour of "potty time" - that's JUST after meals. Now think about a good 15 to 20-minute "potty break" every 2 hours or so, depending on the age and breed of dog. Yes, this means quite possibly even in the middle of the night. Puppies are like babies. Just because *you* can sleep through the night, does not mean they automatically can! And we still havent factored in 'play time' and 'socialization' yet!
Figure out who is going to realistically be responsible for the aspects of the dogs care. A child under the age of 12 is not able to take responsibility for a dog, let alone a puppy, without reminders and backup from parents. Certainly, no child under the age of 10 should even have this expectation entertained. They're kids. There's a reason why society frowns on kids having kids. The responsiblity we're talking about here is pretty close to equivocal. There are, of course, rare exceptions to this rule. But in general, parents need to be ready (and willing) to step in and step up if its needed - without detriment to the dog. One person should be 'in charge' of the pack. That means one person takes responsibilty for the feeding, walking, grooming, and training. Once a pack order (which we'll talk about in a later post) is established. You can then move on to spreading out the responsibility somewhat. But, ultimately, the adults in the house have the overall responsibility for the new family member you're bringing in!
2. Be realistic about your finances. Puppies can be a drain on any budget - and you're making a life-long commitment to them, just like a child. In the first year alone, there are at least 3 vet visits, 3 sets of shots, heartworm preventative (if you live in an area of the country where this is an issue), flea/tick preventative... the list goes on and on. That's not to even start factoring in the amount of dog food a new puppy needs. We personally choose to feed a higher-quality dog food, which is more readily absorbed so the dogs eat less overall but get better nutrition, but not everyone can do this. Then there are toys, dog beds, bowls, leashes... that first year can be astronomically overwhelming. Its like bringing home a new baby, without the baby shower to help defray costs! Then, hopefully, you settle into a budgetable expense for dog food and vet care. But, wait, what if they get sick. Or there's an accident. Are you prepared for those bills too? Especialy if there's ongoing treatment? What about when they get older? Vet visits (and bills) can increase again later in life to insure they have a good, solid quality of life. Will you have pet insurance? If not, do you have an emergency fund that can help sustain the dog if unexpected vet bills arise?
3. Know your breeds. This is one of the two biggest mistakes people make. I cant stress this one enough. Know. Your. Breed. Do your homework. You wouldnt buy a car without examining all the options and features, right? Why, then, would you bring home a new puppy "just because it looked cute/lonely/runtish/etc" without knowing what's under the hood (or in the brain)?? Each breed has traits and needs that are *very* specific to that breed. Most breeds of dogs have been bred over many decades, or centuries, to enhance certain traits or minimize others. Certainly, the neighbors miniature poodle might look adorable, but did you know they have very high energy levels? What about grooming? Poodles must be groomed daily and will need monthly trips to the groomers to keep the coat trimmed and healthy. A whippet looks like a really cute miniature greyhound. It also requires a lot of activity, just like a greyhound! Are you prepared to take a dog through obedience classes to get their basic manners and socialization and then on to some form of dog sport to give them an outlet for their excessive energy? Looking at a beagle? Can you live with howling for the next 8-12 years? See, each breed has great traits and traits that you have to have a plan in place to deal with.
So, after all this, you're still entertaining the notion of getting a dog. I have one last thing to say for today:
4. Know your breeder! Ok, I couldnt stress that enough if I had put it in caps, bold, and blinky lights. Do your homework. Know your breeder. Newspaper ads, dont cut it. Make arrangements to go see the place where the puppies are. Are they kept in the house with the family? Are the parents of the litter on site? Are there "too many" puppies from different liters/breeds running around? Can you just "drop in" unannounced? Are the living conditions of the puppies clean? Are they socialized with the humans? Do they get to hear the daily living sounds (dishwasher, washer/dryer, doors closing abruptly, vaccum cleaners, etc)? Do they all appear healthy and thriving? A good breeder will ask you a *LOT* of questions about your home, your family, your life, your finances, your living conditions. Some breeders will want references - be prepared. A good breeder will ask which vet you plan on using; if you've ever had other pets. They want to know it all. They want to know that their puppies are going to outstanding families who understand exactly what they're getting into - both with getting a dog and with getting a dog of their particular breed. It might seem intrusive, but they're doing it for your benefit too. If you cant answer a question, you need to consider why that is.
Now, I'm going to hit a 'hot topic' for me, so please bear with me.
Pet Stores. Please, please, please, if you take nothing else away from this article today, remember this - Pet stores are interested in selling cute, adorable, loveable-looking puppies. That's it. They have no true, strong knowledge of the breeding process, the breed itself, or honestly where the puppies come from. They arrive, they're put into the holding cells or windows, and they're sold. What's the problem, right?
The problem with pet stores, and I'm going to put this as delicately as one can, is that those adorable little 6- to 8-week old puppies... they were shipped, as cargo, from a place called a puppy-mill, where they were taken from their mothers at around 4 weeks (MUCH too young to be removed from their mother and litter!) to make sure they arrived within the cute-n-cuddly looking window, before that 'baby puppy' look starts to fade. They sell faster when they're 'cute baby puppy.' Oh, they'll tell you they came from breeders and never removed before 6 weeks (still WAY too young! Optimally, a puppy should stay with mother and litter until 10 to 12 weeks!). Hell, they'll even give you "papers" for the puppy. Do the papers name a place in MO, OH or PA? Chances are real good, the puppy came from a puppy-mill.
A puppy-mill is... well, its a place where dogs are bred to have litters, period. *MOST* of the time the dogs do not have adequate food or water let alone medical care. They're nothing more than livestock meant to bring in a paycheck. They live in wire cages and hutches, in the heat and the cold. There's no care or planning of litters except in that the "breeders" hope they have their next one as soon as possible so they can make more money. Some of these dogs, after they've been bred hard and often, are then put up on auction. Some continue to breed as long as they produce good litters. And the ones that cant produce or have a genetic defect? Well... they're "dispose of." No, I wont go into all the ways that happens. I've been to puppy-mills. I've seen it first hand. I've pulled litters of dogs out of those conditions to be rehabed and rehomed. It is something that will stay with you forever.
[ In the interest of full disclosure, I want to state that I actually DO know a couple in Indiana who has a pet store who will *ONLY* buy puppies for the store from breeders they know personally, will pick UP the puppies in person (which means there's a certain short radius they'll even consider dealing with), and they will ONLY do so after 10 weeks of age. There are no exceptions to these rules - ever. If there are no puppies of a particular breed left from a litter - or no puppies they think are up to the standards they will sell, they go back empty handed. They also *NEVER* sell a breed they are not 100% familiar with and will ALWAYS volunteer the breeder's name and contact info so the new owners can call them if there are any questions or quirks they need to discuss! -- THAT is a "pet store" I would trust.]
If you're not going to show and there are no *real* issues why you *MUST* have a certain breed (allergies being the #1 reason that comes to mind) - or even if there are issues - Please. Look at your local shelter first! Ever year thousands, in some cases hundreds of thousands, of dogs end up in shelters and rescues all over the country. Most of the time, they're really GREAT dogs who have no idea what "we just dont have time anymore" means. They dont understand that Sally and Jim got to be older and started in more activities and Mom and Dad got promotions and are also in charge of the PTA and sports boosters and drama coaches and there's just "no time" for the dog. They are just great dogs that need homes - need familes to love them. They need a second chance at a forever home. Most of the time the dogs at the shelter are already spayed or neutered and up-to-date on shots and medical tests. They may even be microchipped. All of that and you'll still end up paying a *LOT* less than if you went to a breeder - especially a reputable one. (We're not going to talk about the money you'd save over a pet store because I'm praying that you're NOT going to succumb to that!)
Yes, Ranger came from a breeder. It killed me to do that, but I needed *VERY* specific genetic traits. I needed height, weight, temperment, etc to do the kind of work I need from him. Would I have done a shelter dog? In a heartbeat. In fact, the first service dog prospect I raised and trained for a year - Skillz (below) - he was from a shelter in Indiana.
The moral of these stories? Check out your local shelter and rescues. Four of my best dogs, ever, were from shelters and rescues. They're there - waiting - they just need someone to give them a chance.
If you're really set on a particular breed, ask the shelter if know of any breed-specific rescues. Research online. Petfinder.com is an *outstanding* place to search - locally and nation-wide - for your new family member. And, make no mistake, that's what we're talking about here. It may not be coming home from a hospital wrapped in a pretty little blanket, but it is just as much a new arrival that will change your life for the next 8 to 15 years. Unlike a baby, however, armed with the right knowledge, you have the ability to choose the perfect dog for your family - Please, choose wisely!
Next time: Picking up Puppy and Making a Happy Homecoming!
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