Articles

Where to get your dog - Part 2

A good means of starting a search for a breeder is via the many breed clubs and organisations. A list of those clubs for breeds in which you may be interested can be obtained from the Canadian Kennel Club. Breed club secretaries should provide you with a listing of breeders without prejudice. A copy of the organisation's Code of Ethics and the breed standard should be requested . The telephone is the best means of obtaining information. You may look on individual web sites but many breeders prefer the one to one approach of the telephone before an interview takes place. Do not be alarmed at the questions you are asked, their concern is where and to whom their puppies will go. You too should go armed with questions. You should ask for a copy of certification for the various tests carried out on their breeding stock. Tests and subsequent certification for hip or elbow Dysplasia, eye tests and blood work, are carried out by canine specialist in these fields and not your local veterinarian. Having made this statement, a newer method of checking the hip status is Penn Hip testing, and for this, a limited number of veterinarians are certified to take and read these x-rays.

Even if testing is clear on the breeding stock, there is always a possibility that Mother Nature may step into the picture. This is when a contract comes into its own. We always ask the ratio of affected to unaffected dogs produced by the breeder. If they answer to the effect they have never had a problem, it is time to walk away. Life is not that agreeable.

All dogs or puppies should be friendly and outgoing but do not expect all females with puppies to accept strangers around their canine family. Some go into protective overdrive when they have a litter and the breeder will know when and how you may be introduced to ‘mom'. Puppies who are content to sit and observe usually fall into one of two categories. They lack the social skills needed to interact with humans or they are so independent they see no need to ‘follow the pack". Neither category makes for a good family pet nor is suited to an inexperienced owner. We see so many so called problem dogs whose owners chose the ‘independent' one.

Puppies raised outside the house, in a kennel or barn are not for us. If we are looking for a family pet we need a puppy who has had family interaction from the day it was born. Puppies may not have all their senses working but their sense of feel is there from day one and this is when lots of hand contact should take place. Such socialisation should continue throughout the time the puppies are with the breeder for the puppy to become a well rounded member of society. The puppy who is happy to greet you and is not concerned about sudden movement or noise is a good choice.

Breeder is a term used for the person who uses their dog for the purpose of producing a litter. It is not a term reserved for persons who produce several litters each year. As in all walks of life there are breeders and then there are ‘breeders'. The first breeds responsibly with the betterment of the breed in mind, the latter simply produce puppies. Responsible breeders rarely make money unless they are in business for many years after establishing their bloodlines and their reputation. Dedicated breeders do have the interest of their dogs at heart and that interest includes whether their dogs will develop and be homed as they would wish.

We see many advertisements for cross breed puppies, not listed as "all Canadians" (pure mutts) but advertised with fancy names involving an abbreviation of the two breeds involved. If this is your choice, so be it. One of the questions which immediately comes to mind is why, if the owner has a decent representative of a particular breed, do they not breed true? In many instances we find that the breeds involved each have a problem in one particular area, and those problems are frequently not the same for each breed. All breeds are affected in some way or another with genetic conditions, if such a mix is your choice, you should be asking if any tests have been carried out prior to this breeding taking place. It is doubtful that you would ever consider buying a car knowing it had been put together with parts of a Jaguar and parts from a Toyota.

Breeding dogs is a science! Seriously, and with this in mind it is frightening to hear statements that research has been done and they know (with only one or two breedings) that the resultant progeny all have distinct characteristics. Before anyone gets upset with these opinions, and this is what they are, let me say that very recently I saw an advertisement in a national daily with well defined fractions listing the mixed breeds the puppies were from, at a phenomenal number of dollars. Not a word was included to indicate that any testing of the parents had been carried out. Give me a good old mix of breeds compared to the designer mix any day, if an All Canadian is again to be my choice.

Yes it is true, some of today's breeds are the results of many years research involving crossing breeds to reach a predetermined goal. (Breeds were created with a specific job in mind). Many, many crosses have however, fallen by the wayside when it was realised that mother nature had other plans for when dog "A" met dog "B".

There are a number of people who acquire a puppy, or adult dog, and then realise they have major problems, due either to unexpected breed characteristics or a conflicting lifestyle. These problems could, and should, have been avoided with a little forethought and knowledge. If you are not asked questions regarding your lifestyle and the buying of a puppy somewhat resembles a visit to the local supermarket, you are better off walking away. It is extremely doubtful that you will receive any support at a later date, should you need it, from that type of breeder.

Eileen Smith: