The secret to selecting the ideal dog is to conduct your research and have clear objectives in mind. Given how endearing and hard to resist most dogs are, this is no simple feat. Still, you could save a great deal of misery down the road by resisting the urge to bring home the first adorable bundle of fur that catches your eye. It’s never a mistake to hold out for the perfect dog—even if it looks like you may have missed your chance, there will always be another!
Here are some excellent resources to help you locate your ideal dog:
Shelters for Animals
One place to find dogs that people looking for a certain breed often miss is the animal shelter. Many people are unaware that purebred dogs, the most of whom are adults, make up up to 25% of the canines brought into shelters. Getting someone else’s troubled dog when adopting a shelter dog is the biggest concern that prospective adopters have. Dogs are really turned up to shelters for a variety of reasons, however. There are situations in which the owner dies, in which case she can no longer have the dog, and in which case she just recognizes that the dog is not the right fit for her lifestyle. Animals who are mistreated and stray yet have nowhere else to go are often taken in by shelters.
However, some dogs in shelters have severe behavioral issues that make them unsuitable for adoption or need a certain kind of pet parent. A dog should not be excluded from adoption just because it is homeless!
There are many benefits to purchasing a dog from a shelter, the most evident being the price. In most cases, adoption costs are lower than those of purchasing a dog from any other source. In order to save a lot of money on medical expenses, the majority of shelters will have adult dogs altered and fully vaccinated before releasing them to a new home. To help them find the appropriate homes, shelter dogs are often temperament-tested; you may take advantage of this to choose a dog that suits your personality. To assist prospective dog owners get off to a good start, animal shelters often provide services and support in the form of free consultations, obedience training at a discounted cost, and educational seminars.
Rescues of Breeds
Breed rescues accept unwanted, mistreated, and stray dogs, much as animal shelters do. For people searching for a purebred dog, they are a great resource since they specialize on a certain breed. Breed registries, including the American Kennel Club (AKC), the national breed club, regional animal shelters, or even simply an internet search might help you find breed rescue groups.
Like shelter dogs, these dogs could have behavioral or health problems from the beginning, but many of them are wonderful, healthy dogs that just don’t have a home. Breed rescues can help you determine if a certain dog is a suitable fit for your requirements, preferences, and way of life by conducting in-depth assessments on their canines.
Breed rescues have adoption fees and contracts that are comparable to those of animal shelters. While some breed rescues function similarly to shelters, with kennels and other facilities, others are more compact, loosely structured organizations that place the dogs in foster homes until they are adopted.
Another option for a puppy or adult dog is a breeder. Reputable breeders not only rear pups but also help find new homes for adult dogs whose owners are unable to care for them.
Dog shows are a fantastic way to meet respectable breeders and see some of their pets since many individuals who show dogs also breed them. Breeders in your region may be found online or by contacting national and local breed associations. You can also consult veterinarians for information on local breeders.
Dogs of Show and Pet Quality
A breeder is the only person you should think about if you want to display and breed your dog. Seek counsel and direction from more seasoned players if you are new to the sport, particularly when selecting a dog intended for display.
Breeders may also provide high-quality dogs for pets if all you desire is a companion dog. There are always a few pups in every litter who do not fit the description of a show prospect, meaning they have a physical characteristic that significantly deviates from the breed standard. Small characteristics like slightly rounded eyes or a coat color with excessive shading variation might be considered examples of this feature. These characteristics don’t impact a dog’s health or ability to be a fantastic companion, but they could exclude him from dog shows.
Can My Breeder Be Trusted?
A good place to get high-quality dogs is from a breeder, but it’s crucial to know how to tell the difference between the trustworthy and the dishonest.
The goal of a respectable breeder is to provide the greatest puppies for their breed. This includes selective breeding to create dogs free of inherited health issues, trying to generate the finest temperaments possible, and achieving breed standards.
Sincere breeders won’t cross breed dogs with recognized genetic flaws. They could subject their dogs to testing on a regular basis; if so, they need to provide potential purchasers with the relevant paperwork. In order to try to remove the issue from their breeding lines, they can also ask purchasers to let them know if any of the pups have inherited issues.
Since early socialization is crucial for pups, responsible breeders won’t sell puppies that aren’t eight weeks old. A puppy loses out on the chance to develop important social skills if he is taken away from his mother and littermates before this point, which may lead to behavioral or emotional issues later. By the time the pups are eight weeks old, they should have had a deworming and at least one round of shots. It should be possible to get vaccination records that list the kind, manufacturer, serial number, and dates of immunization. It is suspicious when pups are sold who are less than eight weeks old or who do not have the age-appropriate vaccines.
Puppies may flourish in a clean, safe environment provided by breeders who are concerned about their health. Puppies that are unclean, foul-smelling, or housed in unhygienic settings are not receiving the required care and are more likely to develop health issues. Steer clear of breeders that don’t take good care of the living circumstances of their pups.
If the parent dogs are accessible, request to view them if you have established that your potential breeder is trustworthy. This will give you an idea of the temperament and physical traits the pups will inherit. Recall that pups are not puppies for very long, so it’s helpful to know what to anticipate from them as they become older.
Internet Sources: Finding the ideal dog now has more alternatives thanks to technology, including the opportunity to search for and buy them online. Breeders could let you buy dogs online and have them shipped or delivered right to your house. There are benefits and drawbacks to this particular approach of selling and delivering pets.
Finding the precise breed of dog you want has never been simpler. Whatever your tastes, you may locate exactly what you’re looking for anywhere in the nation—or perhaps the globe! Online commerce offers more possibilities than local businesses and may be simple and efficient. However, there are a few drawbacks to take into account. It’s not nearly as easy as filling out an online order form to get a dog. Assessing the puppy or its parents face-to-face is often impractical or not feasible. Long-distance dog or puppy shipping may cause the animal worry or suffering, particularly if there are delivery delays. Furthermore, any problems arising from the sale contract must often be resolved in a court of law situated in the breeder’s home state.
However, there are certain benefits to using the internet. You may increase your options for dogs by finding breeders, animal shelters, and breed rescues across the state and in neighboring states. It’s affordable and simple to get in touch with these suppliers online. There’s a better possibility of finding the perfect dog for people who are prepared to make the trip and see the pups in person.
