When getting a dog.....

Whispered

What do people need to look out for when getting a new dog? What advice would you give to a friend who has never had a dog before and just told you that they were thinking of getting one.

From choosing a breed, deciding on a rescue or a breeder, what to expect from both. How to know a good breeder and who to avoid. Anything else you think is important too!

Responses to this thread will be complied into the forum FAQ's.

portgirl123

first i think i would need to know what experience they have had with dogs/puppies before. Then i would need to know any kids, other pets. Also i think important how long they are at home each day, working/at home. also if dog is going to be indoor/outdoor

borderlinemeath

One thing I would tell them is that it can be hard work at times.


Can they afford a dog. Not just food and bedding but the vets fees/kennel fees for hols/maybe training fees if needed/walkers fees if they can't walk their dog every day.

Do they have the time to dedicate to a pet? Your dog needs a walk every day. Not just on nice days - but the wet/windy bad weather days as well.

Have they future plans to have kids/more kids? Will they have the time and energy for their pet when a child arrives? Will they have the experience to socialise the pet with their child?

Have they researched the breed type they want or are going to rescue? Traits/exercise needs/health problems? Does the breed type suit their lifestyle?

Whispered

Regarding rescues:

If you do not have a specific breed in mind, but do want particular personality traits then a dog or pup in foster is a great option as their foster family will be able to tell you all about their little quirks and give you a good indication of their personality.

Going straight to the pound is another option, but not one I'd recommend to anyone but those with some experience and who are happy to deal with potential problems.

The fees charged by rescues cover the vaccination, microchipping and neutering (if the dog is old enough) so you must expect to pay it, it will cost less than paying to get this done seperatly through your vet anyway. You can also expect to sign an agreement which says that you will get the dog neutered when old enough, and if you ever have to rehome, you will do so through the rescue. If the dog is not vaccinated etc, I would recommend finding another rescue.

While I have never had any major issue with a rescue dog in my home, and the vast majority of rehomings work out, I have heard of people having issues caused by the dogs past experiences. Please keep in mind that ALL dogs can have problems, including ones who were bought from young pups. With the majority of rescues, there will be support and advice available all of the time, so if you do encounter problems, you will have support. There will also be the option of returning the dog if you need to, if it's just not working out.

Most rescues do a home check, this is absolutely nothing to worry about. The person does not come to check how tidy or well decorated your house is :P. They will have a chat about how the dog will be looked after, how much time they will spend alone, how you will organise holidays, who your local vet is etc. They will check that everyone in the home is happy to get a dog and they will want to see your garden and check it's fully enclosed. This visit will usually help to match you up with a suitable dog for your home. All rescues have different rehoming criteria, different dogs to suit different situations etc so if you feel you may not pass a home check, but you would like to rescue, contact a few organisations and discuss your concerns.

Some rescues will ask that you meet the dog a few times before deciding to take him home. This, in my opinion is a great idea because it allows the dog to get to know you so the transition from foster home to forever home is easier.

Whether you go to a breeder or a rescue, do not hand over money and leave with your new dog on the promise of papers/vaccination cert etc coming later. Insist on getting all paperwork when you collect the dog. If it's not there, collect the dog at a later date when the the paperwork is ready.

LucyBliss

I would recommend them to be prepared to put out any notions of a cuddly little puppy who will behave perfectly and be instantly okay with every situation you put them into. They will pull on the lead, they will leave accidents on the floor, things will get chewed, people will have teeth marks left on their hands. When you most want that pup to behave in public, it will probably go bonkers and behave like a general tearaway.

Once you make your peace with that, things usually go very smoothly. You have to keep a sense of humour when training a pup. Keeping a stash of booze and/or chocolate helps too.

And always keep in mind, that the harder it is to get a growing pup to do as you tell him, the more rewarding it is when they finally get it and they will respect you all the more because you stood your ground and insisted they follow through. So don't give up at the first hurdle.

ppink

borderlinemeath wrote: »

Have they researched the breed type they want or are going to rescue? Traits/exercise needs/health problems? Does the breed type suit their lifestyle?

+10000000000
Google google google.....research books and talk to breeders

The amount of folks who get a "cute" beagle without reading!! Rellies of mine want a husky.....city people totally inactive ie never walk:rolleyes:

tatabubbly

Understand that the cute fur ball you get will grow up and require constant care.. love, devotion and money..

If you can't afford a dog don't get one, because the person at the pet store (me) will think your an idiot for complaining about how much worming tablets are, that you want to feed your dog a €20 bag of dog food and ruin their joints and bones. Just don't do it if you can't afford the best for them.

The Sweeper

You need to understand that your childhood memories are just that - childhood memories of an adult dog. You didn't have any responsibilities toward caring for your childhood dog, and you only remember the good things.

The pup you bring home is not and will not be the same dog, and by the time it's six or seven months old, if you can't let go of the comparison you're going to find it very difficult to accept your new pup and all its disobedient, teenaged, possession-munching foibles.

You need to do a lot of reading on dog developmental stages, to properly understand fear periods, teething and the onset and end of adolescence, and what all of these things mean for the dog's temperament and physical development.

Choose a training methodology in advance and google everything you can on it. Watch YouTube for instructional videos. Learn how to properly teach sit, lie down and stay before you bring the dog home.

(I like clickers and Nothing in Life is Free - NILF).

Start training on day one, with treats.

Learn how to toilet train and stick to a regime.

(I like 15 mins after eating, drinking and playing, plus once an hour every hour, for young pups, and as you progress I like no food after 6pm and no water after 8pm until morning, at which point food and water are offered again - I found no water after 8pm to be particularly effective at drying up overnight wees as my dog progressed past 18 weeks and still had problems overnight).

Cherry Blossom

Buying a purebred puppy?
What are you paying for when you are handing over your hard earned cash?

What you should be paying for . . .
The experience and wisdom of a reputable person with years of experience in their preferred breed, a puppy that has been very carefully and purposefully breed from parents that have proven themselves as being amongst the best of their breed, carefully selected to compliment each other. Both parents will have been genetically tested to evaluate and minimize the possibility of genetic conditions prevelant within your chosen breed being passed on to the next generation. Your first port of call should be to make contact with people who live and breath whichever breed you have identifed as suitable for your circumstances, these people can be contacted through breed clubs, kennel club shows and working dog trials. Get to know the breed thoroughly before making any commitment to yourself about your final decision. Research the breed thoroughly and familiarise yourself with health issues that are common and find out what tests should be done for these on any dog (male or female) before it is used to produce puppies.
What you should also be paying for is the time and effort put in by someone who has put their own life on hold for the 3 months+ so they can properly welcome your future puppy into the world, socialise and acclimatise him/her and their littermates and prepare and set him up for the rest of his life with his future family. The pups will have started life living indoors with the human family getting used to the sights, sounds and smells of everyday life.

What you should never pay for but are hundreds of times more likely to come across . . .

A poorly bred "pedigree" puppy is a bottomless money pit for you and a cash generator for the person palming it off on you. It may seem like you get as much puppy for a bit less money, but this is not the case at all. The seller may tell you stories about accidental matings, pretend they know what they are doing, tell you that you have been told wrong information, that it doesn't matter how a dogs is bred if you only want it for a pet, avoid people like this like the plague, never buy a puppy out of pity because you feel bad about the circumstances it is being kept in, as long as people keep handing over money to people like this they will continue to keep dogs and breed them in dire conditions, its as simple as that. Rescues are full of puppies like these that undesireable types have given up trying to sell and dumped on someone. If you insist on having one of these 'budget' pedigree dogs they are available from rescues in exchange for a donation, please get one from there instead. For almost every breed there is a breed specific rescue, such are the numbers of badly bred puppies being produced. If you are adopting a pure-bred puppy or older dog, the best insurance available that covers veterinary care is a must.

And the others . . .

The 'designer' crossbreeds, tea-cup/egg-cup/postage stamp sized dogs or whatever the idiot breeding them feels like calling them. There is no such thing, there are no new breeds currently being developed or in the process of being 'passed' by any Kennell Club anywhere in the world. Canine Ireland registration or any of it's counterparts in other countries are not backed by the official kennell clubs, do not have any backing from any veterinary council, official board of any description or anything else. Please do not let people make a complete fool of you by even entertaining any of these wild stories, just walk away, there are even more of these type of dogs dumped in rescues all over the country.

If you are thinking of getting a dog you are taking responsibility for a life, it's also much bigger than that, it's about supporting the huge efforts put in by rescues and reputable breeders that are in it for all the right reasons and hopefully avoiding funding those that are keeping dogs and repeatedly breeding bitchs in conditions that well below acceptable, don't take a dog from a person who is keeping them in conditions any less desirable that you intend to keep yours in. Give it as much thought and consideration as you would if you were buying a car, and then give it a bit more . . .

Galway K9

Whispered wrote: »

From choosing a breed, deciding on a rescue or a breeder, what to expect from both.

or pound????

Whispered

What are you confused about k9? please feel free to contribute.

The Sweeper

He's probably curious as to why you didn't include the pound when you said 'from a rescue or breeder'.

On the designer dogs thing, I like the succinct statement I first read on here a couple of months ago: "teacup" is a euphemism for "the runt of the litter".

ppink

when getting a dog consider it is a pack animal and not a solitary creature, that is a basic need for a dog.

ppink

The Sweeper wrote: »

You need to understand that your childhood memories are just that - childhood memories of an adult dog. You didn't have any responsibilities toward caring for your childhood dog, and you only remember the good things.

I wouldn't necessarily agree with this. I know certainly in my family's case and in the case of most country kids they had big responsibilities for all the animals including their dogs from a very young age.

Cú Giobach

For first time dog owners a great thing you can do is get a good book on dogs. Look on it as "The instruction manual"
Some of my favourite authors include..
Patricia McConnell
Bruce Fogel
and Stanley Coren
I would especially recommend Coren's book "How Dogs Think : Understanding the Canine Mind".

The Sweeper

ppink wrote: »

I wouldn't necessarily agree with this. I know certainly in my family's case and in the case of most country kids they had big responsibilities for all the animals including their dogs from a very young age.

That's fair enough. A lot of adults, though, had parents who took care of the family pet - fed it, walked it, wormed it, vetted it - and the kids just got teh everyday interactions. It's more the adult dog thing I'm focussing on - my own personal experience was I found having a pup FAR more work than I'd prepared myself for. Not in terms of the 'service' - more in terms of the stuff he just wouldn't do when told (because he was a pup, and also because he was a stubborn and destructive pup). However as he nears his first birthday (1st May) he's light years more manageable than he was at 7 months, for instance.

Whispered

Whispered wrote: »

Going straight to the pound is another option,

The Sweeper wrote: »

He's probably curious as to why you didn't include the pound when you said 'from a rescue or breeder'.

I'm sorry I didn't get to include absolutely everything in my first post....

The Sweeper

Ah I see - Galway K9 may well have also missed that.

It might be worth putting in something about what you can expect in pound vs rescue or something. Pound dogs and rescue dogs can both have issues, but the difference I'd see is the pound may not have done an assessment, where you'd hope a rescue had.

Whispered

Oh please do expand on that one! A very important point. All of the more "pointed" comments will be made into one large informative post (I think) so anything you think is important, please do say.

I just touched on it really.

andreac

When searching for a pedigree dog i highly recommend you contact a breed specific club first which can be found through the IKC and searching the internet.
Most breeds that are in Ireland have a breed club set up so will have information on good, reputable breeders that breed responsibly and health test for their relative breed.

If you are searching for a specific breed, be prepared to wait for the right pup from the right breeder as most good breeders will have a waiting list for the their pups as they shouldnt be breeding too often.

Just a note, dont always believe what you read and see online on breeders websites:rolleyes:.
I know for a fact there is a breeder who has the most fantastic website and could probably sell sand to the Arabs, but it doesnt mean he is a good, reputable breeder, so this is why its important to contact the breed club and talk to a member or the secretary of the club who can suggest a good breeder to you.

Also, a lot of breed clubs run rescues for their breed, so will have pedigree dogs looking for good homes that might be older than puppies and not cost as much as a puppy.

The Sweeper

Whispered wrote: »

Oh please do expand on that one! A very important point. All of the more "pointed" comments will be made into one large informative post (I think) so anything you think is important, please do say.

I just touched on it really.

Okey dokey. I might just address pounds, actually, here, but because I don't live in Ireland I may be off the mark in terms of the law, so I stand to be corrected by the rescues on here.

Pound Versus Rescue

The main difference between pounds versus rescue centres, are pounds are usually local authority funded holding stations for animals that are found by rangers, handed in as strays by members of the public or surrendered by their owners. Pounds hold the animals for a set number of days before euthanising them. Some animals will be euthanised sooner than that, for various reasons including age, illness, injury and breed specific legislation that specifies the dog is a restricted breed.

Some pounds do have temperament testers, some do not. Some pounds will euthanise the gentlest dog in the world because it has bull terrier in it, and on the same day will rehome a lurcher cross with serious behavioural issues. It's sad but it's like any transaction - it's buyer beware.

Do all dogs in the pound have problems?

First, define 'problems'!

Or rather, better to consider why do dogs end up in the pound?

Some dogs end up in the pound because they strayed and could not be reunited with their owners. These dogs come with no history. You really are taking on a journey of discovery if you adopt an adult stray from a pound. You could get the best dog in the world, who strayed because someone left a gate open, or you could get a dog who strayed because he's a fence jumper, or a fenceline digger, or a livestock worrier, or used to belong to someone who neglected him, or whatever. Just be prepared.

Other dogs are surrendered to the pound. A surrender doesn't necessarily mean the dog is a problem dog. For starters, your problem behaviour may not be my problem behaviour. You might send your dog to the pound because he digs your immaculate garden and you can't get him to stop, I might not give a toss about that and see only what a great dog he is.

Not sure how it is in Ireland at the moment because of the economic situation, but I can tell you what I see a lot of in pounds here.

1) Litters of unwanted puppies. Anywhere between 6 weeks and 12 weeks old, they come in through the 'surrender pens' out of hours because the owners are too embarassed to turn them over face to face. There is normally absolutely nothing wrong with these pups other than they became too much trouble and the owner of the mother couldn't find them homes. Sometimes they can be underweight, they usually need a good worming treatment and they may have fleas, and occasionally ringworm if they're underweight and flea-ridden because that does nothing for your immune system, but all of these things are treatable.

Not knowing their parentage can expose you to the potential of health problems, because many of these problems don't manifest until later in life. However you're no better or worse off than you would be buying the pup from a BYB, pet store, off done deal or from a rescue who don't have a history either.

2) Wee terrier-type strays of indeterminate age. There seem to see a lot of wee <20kg terrier type dogs who may or may not be microchipped. It's as though owners of a certain size of dog don't feel it's as important to keep them secure on the property and let them go 'visiting' during the day. Strange, but true.

3) Adolescent dogs. After the puppies, there's another big push in the age range of 8 months to 18 months. At this point, the pup is still a pup but isn't. They've outgrown the cute dependence of small puppy stage, and if the owner didn't do their research and wasn't prepared, they now have a difficult near-adult-sized but puppy-like dog that they can't deal with. (Most of the adolescent dogs I've seen in the pound are often of larger breeds and crossbreeds).

It would be my personal opinion that dogs in this bracket are the biggest wildcard in terms of rehoming straight from the pound. They're adolescent anyway, which means they can be wilful and argumentative.

They may have a firm foundation of unwanted behaviours that their previous owner never addressed - or may even have encouraged. They may or may not be housetrained. They're energetic, clumsy, often poorly socialised, often untrained, not bonded with and can have all the makings of adult behavioural problems around resource guarding, lack of socialisation and separation anxiety - because they may have spent a few months tethered and ignored in the back yard before the family finally gave in and turned them over to the pound.

Can they still be great dogs? Damn sure they can - but be prepared to put the work in.

4) Beautiful, difficult dogs. In this bracket I put the pure breeds that the folks who bought them just weren't prepared for. Weighing in heavily here in Aus are the sled dogs, huskies and malamutes. Another breed who appear to be oddly over-represented in rescue here are Sharpeis. Basically in this bracket are pure breed dogs whose owners went for the look and couldn't put in the work. So is the pound a good place to get a pure breed dog? As long as you're prepared to undo previously formed bad habits, and put work in with training, involve a behaviourist if required and so on, then the pound is a perfectly good place to get a purebreed dog.

So should I consider a pound dog?

Let me put it to you this way - if you have experience with difficult dogs, you're a perfect fit for any and every pound dog.

If you have no experience with difficult dogs but you've done research and you have a plan to put the work in by using the many resources available to folks these days, you're really a fine fit for almost any pound dog.

If you have no experience with any dog and you haven't done any research, you may not be a good fit for a pound dog - but you're not a good fit for a rescue puppy or a reputable breeder puppy either, because you've every chance of turning that puppy into the sort of dog who gets surrendered to the pound in adolescence because you didn't understand what you were getting into and you didn't do the work.

What should I be prepared to do with my pound dog?

First, big long walk. I know it's very Caesar Milan, but seriously, a big long walk between the pound and your home is an excellent idea. Even if it means you put the dog out of the pound cage into your car, drive home, park outside your house and then go on a walk before you get into the house, do it. It wears the dog out. He helps him walk off some of his tension. Preferably walk him somewhere quiet - not along the edge of the motorway for instance, and don't take him to the dog park. On this walk you can give him some treats - but just take it easy - you're new to each other, this walk is the opportunity for you to see how he is on a walk, and for him to adjust to no longer being in the pound.

You might want to do adoption - vet - long walk - home in that order, and good if you do. Also you don't bring a pup on a long walk, but an adolescent dog will benefit from a gently-paced walk of an hour between pound and home (regardless of the 5-mins-per-month-of-age walking rule), an adult dog you might consider two hours with a couple of sit and rest breaks. You want the dog tuckered out when you get him to your place.

In terms of the vet visit, if you've literally simply paid to take a dog out of the pound, there is no duty of care in the pound for vaccinations etc. Here they have to microchip and register with the council before release - I'm not sure if you have to do that in Ireland. Vet visit - checkup, microchip, vaccinations, worm treatment, flea treatment, book desexing appointment. <---these are the basic 101 things you need to do for your pound dog. Look after his or her health first and foremost.

The next step is training. Get used to having pockets full of treats, because I think you should be training from the moment you get the dog. Reward good behaviour, distract from bad and try and channel into good. As your pound dog relaxes from the stress of incarceration and newness, his real personality will begin to come through over the next few weeks. You need to pay very close attention during this time, because a dog will rarely exhibit his true personality in the setting of a pound. A dog who's really a placid, beautifully natured but somewhat anxious dog can be so stressed in the pound that he turns into a snarling snapping whirling monster in the pound run.

More often I've seen a couple of dogs reappear in the local pounds a few times - because their in-pound behaviour is quite sweet and submissive because they're frightened, but once they're taken home and settle in and stop being scared, they become resource-guarding bossyboots and it's too much for the new owner to take (especially if they're large dogs).

Either way, as the new owner, you can still make or break your pound dog just as you can your breeder puppy - just be prepared that it can be more work.

The Sweeper

Just thought about this today - here you need to have a 16D to take an animal directly from the pound when it's not your animal (even if the owner has never been identified) - maybe someone in Ireland who's done it can explain the precise process / cost / etc?

Whispered

Can anyone explain the exact process of taking a dog from the pound?

Also tips on how to tell you've met a good breeder and when to walk away would be great.

ISDW

I have rehomed 3 dogs personally from 3 different pounds, and on each one, I just went along, when the dog's had done their stray time and said I wanted that dog, had to pay the fee, which included a licence and walked away with the dogs.

Well, when I say walked away, Max, who came out of Dundalk pound was so scared that we had to carry him to the car, he wouldn't move. His fee included a licence and first vaccination if I remember correctly.

Nannuq came out of Dunboyne, and it was just the licence that was included.

Didge came from Carrickmacross, who also operate as a shelter, so she was spayed and first vacc done as well.

I had seen all the dogs on the internet and phoned first, I think alot of the pounds operate a first come, first served policy, so you need to put your name down for a particular dog if you see it.

lrushe

...think where was I 14 yearrs ago, how different your life was, how it changed, different things that happened and then think if the same or similar happens in the next 14 years could I keep a dog happy and content through all those changes, if the answer is yes then you are probably ready for a dog. Alot of people don't look down the road at what's ahead and if a dog will fit into that future life. A dog is a long term committment if you can't fulfil your end of the bargin then prehaps a dog isn't for you.

Whispered

Following another (imo) train wreck of a thread, I think it would be a good idea to shove this thread to the top again

Can people please comment on advice they might give a friend if the friend was thinking of breeding their dog. Please ignore other posts, so if someone posts something you disagree with, don't quote it or say "that's the problem with...." etc, if you could just post your own opinion it would make the thread run more smoothly.

I'm sure there are a million things I haven't thought of asking about, so any opinions on the acquiring of a dog, by whatever means, which you think is important to mention, please add it in.

Also pro's and con's of designer breeds would be something that might be of interest to people, and when to walk away from a breeder info please.

lrushe

Whispered wrote: »

Can people please comment on advice they might give a friend if the friend was thinking of breeding their dog..

1. Buy your dog from a reputable breeder.
2. Bring your dog to ring craft classes.
3. Show and/or work your dog to see if your dog will add anything benefical to the breed as a whole and to also uncover your dogs flaws and strengths.
4. After the age of 2 have the relevent health checks done on your dog to make sure there is little chance of them passing on genetic faults.
5. Find a mate for your dog that will compliament it's flaws and enhances it's strength. So just because a dog might be a top stud doesn't automatically mean he is right for your bitch. Research bloodlines, know what your dog is likely to throw and what the mate you find for your dog is likely to throw to give you an idea of how the pups will turn out.
6. Be prepared to take some time off work around the whelping time and the weeks that follow.

Whispered

Following another thread, please put any advice regarding the pitfalls of puppy farms here.

Seamus, do you think we almost have enough to put together an FAQ thread, perhaps leaving this open for further additions later on as the need arises?

ppink

Well first off I think it is important to identify how joe soap knows or will question if it is a Puppy Factory/Farm and not a Reputable Breeder.

I will start what I think but may need help here as I have never seen one thank god!

• Loads of different dogs breeding
• Dogs being kept in small enclosed areas, sheds etc with no regular active human contact
• Dogs in dirty conditions, no water/food.
• sick looking dogs.
• Male and Female parents not available to be seen
• Somebody meeting you away from their premises with a puppy
• One breed being bred with another
• health certs not available for parents
• vaccinations certs not available
• registration papers not available

each one of the above does not necessarily mean puppy factory but should make anyone looking for a prospective puppy question where they are getting it from.

Whispered

Msking wrote: »

don't go with guidelines as I did

http://ikc.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=58

They are not correct/little help!

If buying a puppy these are the very least you need to look for.
(quoted from link)

1. The puppy must have been bred within a strict code of ethics.


2. The Pedigree will have been validated by the I.K.C. (records go back to the foundation of the State)


3. The puppy will be microchipped and so if it is lost or stolen, it can be traced and returned to you.


4. If your puppy is microchipped it will also have been seen by a Veterinary Surgeon.(Ask yourself, why would a reputable breeder object to that?)


5. Should you wish to show your puppy either here or abroad this will not be a problem. (the I.K.C. run
over a hundred events of different kinds throughout the country all year 'round. Its great fun!)


6. Should you in the fullness of time wish to breed from your by now older dog, the resulting puppies can
be registered with the I.K.C., because the parents are.


7. The I.K.C. is a full member of a world wide organisation and so its registrations are recognised world-wide.


8. Getting a pet passport to bring your dog on holiday with you will be much easier as it will already have a microchip.


9. The Veterinary Association VICAS support the I.K.C. in promoting responsible dog ownership.


10. Any I.K.C. Member found guilty of cruelty to dogs, is banned for life.

I don't understand how this was not helpful as a starting point, or have I picked you up wrong? Your post is very vague can you expand on it a bit.

Zapperzy

ppink wrote: »

Well first off I think it is important to identify how joe soap knows or will question if it is a Puppy Factory/Farm and not a Reputable Breeder.

I will start what I think but may need help here as I have never seen one thank god!

• Loads of different dogs breeding
• Dogs being kept in small enclosed areas, sheds etc with no regular active human contact
• Dogs in dirty conditions, no water/food.
• sick looking dogs.
• Male and Female parents not available to be seen
• Somebody meeting you away from their premises with a puppy
• One breed being bred with another
• health certs not available for parents
• vaccinations certs not available
• registration papers not available

each one of the above does not necessarily mean puppy factory but should make anyone looking for a prospective puppy question where they are getting it from.

Just to add to that list

• Seems more interested in money than what sort of home the pup will be going to.
• Pushing or pressuring you to buy the pup.
• Selling pups younger than 8 weeks or obviously lieing about the pups age.

Just to add about the one point I have highlighted, more often than not with reputable breeders the father will not be available to view because they don't own him, they should however be more than happy to provide you with info on the father and possibly organise meeting him.
If the breeder were to own the father it would set slight alarm bells ringing in my head as reputable breeders put effort into finding a suitable sire that complements their bitch and the chances of them owning this 'perfect' male are slim, less reputable breeders just use any male of the same breed (or infact a different breed to create a 'designer breed') regardless of compatability with their bitch so often use the same 1 or 2 stud dogs on all of their bitches.

Shanao

Just to add to that list: A breeder should always have as many questions for you as you have for them, if not more. The crowd we got our pup from asked us everything, from where the pup was going to be sleeping, to what we would be feeding him, to what we wanted him for eg: to show/breed etc. A good breeder will want to know where their pup is going and to ensure it is getting the best home as possible.

Also, dont fall into the trap of buying a 'teacup' breed. There is no such thing.

goat2

have a person got room for a big or small dog,small being easier to feed and clean up after,
do you want a short or long haired dog, short easier to keep,
will you be keeping it in the home,
do you have the time for the dog, puppies grow into beautuful dogs if you give them your time and attention,
are you ready to train dog to your liking, do you have the patience for that, as there will be accidents.
dogs are pack animals, be it a family member, they see the family as the pack.

ppink

Firstly it is important that if you suspect this is what is going on that you walk away.
Do not get suckered into to looking at feeling sorry and then buying a puppy from these places.
Analyse the situation, check the water/food/shelter. Take pics if you can and leave.
Then report the premises to ISPCA, and follow up on it!

It may not be obvious as to why not to "save" a Puppy Farm dog but here are some reasons:

• Your money is fuelling the industry
• you are at best saving just one animal and as a result condemning a lot more to this awful life.
• you are paying somebody and therefore rewarding them for this awful practice.

The very best thing you can do is spread the word. Make sure everyone knows the perils of puppy factories and report it to the relevant authorities.

It is important to note as of now there is nothing illegal about puppy factories but animals cannot be held sick in bad conditions.

Remember in Ireland we have people even daring to run as public representatives who own and run puppy factories..........farming dogs like battery chickens. If you pruchase from them then you are assisting them to farm dogs like this.

Zapperzy

Shanao wrote: »

Also, dont fall into the trap of buying a 'miniature' breed. There is no such thing.

Yes and no, there are recognized breeds such as miniature schnauzers and miniature poodles, however there are no such things as mini yorkies or mini bichon freise. There is no such thing as a teacup anything, if someone advertises there pups as teacups run away.

To add to that list again of how to recognize a puppy farm.

• The parents (and indeed the pups) should not be overly shy, if the mother runs away with her tail between her legs or displays overly submissive behaviour such as rolling over and peeing, ears back, tail between legs and crouched appearence, then walk away as you do not want a pup that already has come from an environment where fear is part of every day interactions with humans.

Whispered

Msking - this thread is about acquiring a dog in general - not about other threads. It's just that so many threads are pulled off topic and this one is intended purely as advice so in being vague and basically telling me to go read the thread you already have is not really helpful for this particular thread.

Shanao

Zapperzy wrote: »

Yes and no, there are recognized breeds such as miniature schnauzers and miniature poodles, however there are no such things as mini yorkies or mini bichon freise. There is no such thing as a teacup anything, if someone advertises there pups as teacups run away.

Yeah sorry I should have been a little clearer on that. The only recognized Miniature breeds are the miniature bull terrier, the miniature schnauzer, the miniature poodle, and the miniature pinscher. If anyone is offering some other breed as a 'miniature', walk away.

Whispered

Why are some miniatures legitimate and some not?

Shanao

Whispered wrote: »

Why are some miniatures legitimate and some not?

The recognized breeds have been around for a while, the miniature schnauzer dates back to the 19th century, and that has given it a century at least for breeders to breed out as many health problems as they can. The mini pin had been around two centuries before the doberman was created, so is not a miniature dobermann despite what people think. The standard bull terrier was actually the size of the miniature bull terrier when first created, but crossing with larger breeds led to the bigger bully we have now as well. (did some reading up on these not too long ago when I mistakenly said the miniature bull terrier didn't exist. Learned how wrong I was pretty quickly:P)

What people are doing now however is breeding runts to runts, with little to no regard for their health, and selling the tiny puppies as miniature or teacups. Miniature Jack russells, miniature yorkies, miniature chihuahuas, I've even heard people claiming they have miniature sheepdogs (even when asked did they mean shelties, they said, no its a miniature border collie). Our dog breeds have already been established and there's no need to forsake a dog's health just to make it smaller than it should be.

Galway K9

I will never forget the puppy farm i visited out in Elfin, Tipperary. Jesus the state of the pups, but as ppink said not to do, i did actually buy the 2 pups as couldnt bar leavign them there...Its a conumdrum alright:(

tatabubbly

Whispered wrote: »

Can anyone explain the exact process of taking a dog from the pound?

Just got myself a pup today from the pound. It's a pure breed jack russel pup who was surrendered the day before due to the owner not being able to sell them.

I already have a JRT so i'm full prepared for the training..

Basically (in donegal anyways), we went in and the people took us through to the back to the dogs. We were left alone to look at them. All gorgeous dogs, ones like a malamute pup (who was already taken), an akita, Alsasian and two pups. We asked to see our pup, we were left alone. I checked for fleas, worms, clear eyes etc.
Basically, we took the dog out and then filled in a form and took her home. It was a €33 charge and that includes dog licence. Taking her to the vets for check ups and vaccination and microchip at 4 today!

koneko

I would have an addition/extra info in there that explains that if an ad says IKC reg, this may not be true. Ask to see paperwork, in addition to seeing the parents and making sure they're happy/healthy dogs.

If a breeder claims he'll send you the paperwork afterwards, it's very likely that'll never happen, alarm bells should ring. Also, if a pup is vaccinated, the breeder will have the card with the date info and stickers, if he doesn't have this either, more alarm bells.