THE REFINED CANINE, LLC

Celebrating TEN Years  1997 - 2007

Choosing your new puppy or dog

By Michelle Douglas CPDT CDBC

Click here for a FREE download of the book Before You Get Your Puppy by Dr. Ian Dunbar!

There are many factors to consider when looking for a new companion.  “Where do I go?” “What questions do I need to ask?” “What kind of dog should I get?”  “Do I have time for a new puppy?” “Do I have everything that I need to provide a good life for my dog?”  “What does he need, exactly?”  “How much is this dog going to cost me in the first year?”  “How much is he going to cost me after that?”

Let’s take a look at some of the possible answers to these questions and see what we come up with.

First, “Where do I go to get a good, healthy puppy or dog?”  The first thing you should know is if you buy a puppy from a pet store, you don’t always get what you pay for.  Very rarely does a puppy purchased from a pet store ever come without a whole bunch of health & behavior problems.  If you’ve had a good pet store puppy, you’ve truly been blessed.  Pet stores generally get their puppies from “puppy-mills” or “backyard breeders” who are trying to make money on the dogs, with no regard for genetic diseases or behavioral issues.  Puppy mills in particular have a long history of not checking for disease, pairing dogs together that are closely related, and falsifying records so you think you have good bloodlines.   Remember, “AKC Registered” does not mean “Health Guaranteed.”  An AKC Registration is sent in to the AKC listing the parents of the dog.  If the registrations were sent in for those parents, the puppy may be registered.  AKC does no checking of the breeders, the conditions the dogs are kept in, the health of the dogs, or expensive DNA testing to verify parentage. 

So if you want a pure bred dog, the best place to get one is from a breeder.  You can find breeders for every breed on the Internet; a good place to start would be with the AKC, or the National Breed Club of the breed you are looking for.  The breeders registered there are usually reputable, responsible & involved in the breed.  You must be sure to ask the breeder the appropriate questions, to make sure they are responsible.  Your best resource for what questions to ask is the national or local breed club for that breed.  Each breed of dog has different needs & genetic problems.  Your puppy should come with a Sales Contract and a Health Guarantee.  The breeder should be able to show you proof that tests were done on the parents before they mated.  OFA Certification is to score the parents’ hips for Hip Dysplasia, which is very common in almost all breeds.  The parents of the puppy should both be at least two years old before they are bred.  You should be able to meet the parents, or at least the mother, and if she is friendly and well mannered, chances are the puppy will be well tempered too.  Finally, if the puppies are brought up in a home environment, rather than a kennel, they tend to adapt to a new home very easily.  A good breeder will not let you take your puppy home before he is eight weeks old.  Breeders also tend to be less expensive than pet stores if you are looking for a pet.

If you are looking for a mixed breed dog, your best option is a shelter or humane society.  Usually, shelters will accept a small donation for the dog.  You can find both puppies and adult dogs in a shelter.  Mixed breed dogs are generally healthier than pure breeds, because there is less inbreeding.  This also gives you the opportunity to give a home to a dog who may otherwise be put to sleep or spend his life in a cold, lonely shelter.  A good place to start looking is .

“What does a dog need, and how much will it cost?”  A puppy needs a little more of everything than an adult dog.  Vaccines in the first year can cost over $300.00.  Dogs need toys (only a few, too many teaches the dog that everything is a toy), attention & training, exercise, healthy food, water & a place to sleep.  How much it costs will depend on how pampered your dog is.  You should be sure to have plenty of time to spend with your new puppy.  If he is alone during the day, you may want to consider a Kennel to keep him in.  Dogs view a kennel as a “den” or safe place.  It should include water, toys & a cozy place to sleep.  Be sure to dedicate at least a few hours every day to exercise, play with & train your dog; all of these activities will develop your bond with your new companion.

“Now I want to get a dog, what kind of dog should I get?”  There are over 400 different breeds of dogs in the world.  If you like a particular breed of dog, you should contact several breeders and find out as much as you can about what it’s like to own one.  If you have no idea what kind you want, or if there are several different breeds you like, there are several resources out there at your local bookstore or library to help you.

I can help.  The link below is a test to determine several different breeds (or breed-types) that will suit your personality & lifestyle.  Answer each question & submit the completed form to me.

Which breed of dog is right for you

Now you have a few decisions to make.  Do you want to get a puppy or a dog?  Do you want to go to a breeder or a shelter?  If you’ve submitted the Dog test questionnaire, you will receive the results within a week.  Congratulations on your decision to add a member to your family who will offer you undying devotion & unconditional love.

Send mail to me@refinedcanine.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2007 The Refined Canine, LLC

Not affiliated with The Refined Canine Dog Beds.