If you decide you want a purebred, make sure it's because you love the breed since purebreds are often not as resilient as mixed breeds. Consider carefully why you want a purebred. Many people will want a purebred because it conveys some symbol of status on them. Purebreds are prone to many illnesses due to inbreeding, and having a purebred could become a costly affair.
If you simply want a companion consider a mixed breed. There is nothing a mix breed puppy cannot offer you in terms of love, companionship and devotion, and there are many mixed breed dogs already born, looking for homes.
When you discover you are in love with a particular breed, do some research to find out if the breed is compatible with your lifestyle. Pay special attention to breed characteristics, size, hair length, and amount of exercise required.
Talk to breed rescue centers. They will tell you what to look out for. No one has more experience on the breed as the dedicated volunteers and professionals who rescue the purebred dogs when they are no longer wanted. Learn how a typical dog of your beloved breed behaves and whether that is a fit for your lifestyle and your entire family.
Keep in mind how much room your dog will have, how much exercise you are able to handle daily, grooming needs, and how much maintenance they will require. Your rescue organization will also give you the "dumping factor" what the most common reason is for this breed being abandoned by their families.
Make sure everyone in your family is committed to interacting with the dog daily - the quality of life for your dog is based on healthy and constant social interaction. If your family cannot provide huge amounts of time, and if your dog is going to be home alone during the day, consider getting two dogs so that they can keep one another company. No matter what the breed, two dogs are no more trouble than one.
Make sure that you can guarantee a lifetime of dedication to your new dog.
To locate a dog, check out the pounds online. As many as 25% of the dogs in pounds ARE purebreds, and surprisingly there ARE puppies. To find a dog in a pound in your neighborhood, you can go online at http://www.Muttshack.org, type in your area code and look at the photos of dogs in the shelters near your home.
Next try the special breed rescue centers. They frequently rescue purebreds from the pounds because of their love and devotion to the breed. They may give you truly valuable advice about your new dog. If they don't have one, consider waiting. It won't take long!
If you can't find your purebred puppy or dog already in need of a home, look for a breeder. You will need to find a reputable breeder to give you the best chance of a healthy dog with a sound temperament. Problems with irresponsible breeders range from purebreds that are inbred, causing litters that suffer from illnesses and congenital diseases to others guilty of "litter stuffing" - offering puppies from another mother, to be sold under the auspices of a "Champion" to get more money.
Visit their facilities and meet their dogs. Facilities should be clean. See how their dogs behave, and if that is the behavior you want from your dog. All dogs should be healthy, clean, and free of parasites. A good breeder will screen breeding stock for common health problems before breeding and will be happy to share that information with you. Tests should be done on the stud and the bitch. When you find a breeder you want, then wait for a litter. A good breeder will require a sales agreement that clearly spells out the obligations for everyone involved.
Get a complete veterinary exam within 24 hours of picking up your puppy. Make sure you have him micro-chipped, and get an ID tag.
Make sure every member of your family is equally well trained in handling the dog. Make sure every member of your family knows that dogs can nip and bite, when they are playful. (A nip is NOT an attack!) Kids need to learn to be around a dog as much as the dog learns how to listen to commands. Make sure your family are all ready to walk the dog, feed the dog, brush the dog, and pick up after the dog.
A bred dog becomes your personal responsibility.
If sometime in the future, you have to relocate to another home or apartment, you HAVE to find an apartment or home that allows dogs. If you cannot find such a home, or make a specific agreement with your new landlord, be a loving and responsible guardian and find your dog a new home too with another family. You are his only chance at life. Don't drop him off at the pound. Since 56% of dogs including purebreds entering shelters are euthanized, your older dog, depressed with a broken heart will easily be overlooked. Shelter descriptions are cursory, and if your dog acts slightly defensively he will be marked "fractious" and be killed. You are the most qualified person to find your dog a new home. Go to MuttShack.org and learn where to advertise, and how to promote your dog.
People moving are the cause of the death of millions of dogs yearly when they are dumped at the pound like some disposable commodity as unwanted as old garden furniture.
If you made the choice to bring a dog into this world through your breeder, you should see it through to his dying day. Society is no longer finding it acceptable to have to take in a dog when the owner's whim has passed him by. There are many more dogs than homes. Don't think your dog (even a purebred) will be any more special than millions of other dogs that have to be euthanized every year.
Become a "Dog Person". Fight for dogparks, dog friendly apartments, dog beaches, dog restaurants and dog safe shelters. Let your new puppy inspire you! Sharing your life with a dog is simply awesome!
Some good books to read are: "Man Meets Dog" by Donald McCraig, "Lost and Found" by Elizabeth Hess, "Disposable Animals" by Craig Brestrup, and "The Illustrated Veterinary Guide" by Pinney.
MuttShack Foundation for Animal Rescue and Animal Foster
About Muttshack:
Muttshack Foundation is a 501((c)3) non-profit, a project of the National Heritage Foundation, established in 1968. MuttShack Foster and Animal Rescue promotes the education and creation of foster homes for abandoned and abused animals.
Muttshackers rescue animals from shelters, and from the streets, rehabilitate and nurture them to health in homes (MuttShacks) and find them quality, permanent new families.
By intervening and rescuing shelter animals about to be put to sleep, MuttShack fostering stops the senseless killing of healthy animals in overcrowded shelters. Donations Saves Lives.
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