Everything You Wanted To Know about dogs

Once I decide on a puppy, what should I do?
See a written contract. It should completely identify the puppy, including any tattoo. It should contain all AKC requirements as well as the guarantee and stipulations of the sale.

See copies of all represented documentation. Require a set to take home with you at the time of purchase.

Why can’t I buy any cute, healthy puppy?
It’s so easy to love a cute puppy face? But you’ll live with a puppy only for a few months. And for many years with an adult. As a puppy grows up, he will change and this is the friend you ‘re going to live with.

Who is a Hobby Horse Breeder?
This breeder is a responsible breeder. He is only interested in his breed and devotes all his time to the betterment of his breed. He is always actively involved in showing in conformation, and often participates in obedience, and/or agility. He is also actively involved in dog clubs.

Is a commercial breeder a good breeder?
No. Such a breeder does not care for the breed. He usually houses many males and females of several breeds. The bitches are usually bred every time they are in season, until they can produce no more. The animals are all in badly kept kennels. Breeding is for volume and dollars. The puppies are usually sold to brokers at 5 to 6 weeks old.

How about backyard breeders?
This kind of breeder usually breeds on an impulse. He is not a professional breeder. He may do so because he has a bitch or he wants the kids to have one more dog. Or it is an opportunity to make a few dollars. The Sire is chosen very easily. Usually it is someone who owns a male.

They do not understand the genetic health issues or the need to health test the sire and dam before breeding. No consideration is given to the quality of the breeding partners, because they simply don’t know what constitutes a good breed.

How good are puppy mills and pet stores?
Avoid both. Dogs are locked in cages in puppy mills. There is absolutely no concern for hygiene or sanitation. Dogs are bred constantly with no concern for their health or welfare.

All that matters is that they are producing puppies for money. These dogs are killed if they can no longer produce puppies.

A pet store sells to whoever has the money with no concern as to where that puppy lives or what kind of life it will have. The puppies at pet stores are often in ill health. Most of them have had little or no socialization since they are taken from their mothers at an early age.

Many of these puppies die on the journey to the pet stores crammed in cages with other sickly puppies in the backs of poorly ventilated, large trucks establishments.

Are there dogs that do not shed hair?
Single-coated dog breeds shed the least amount of any dog breed out there, and hairless dog breeds do not shed at all. Short hair does not mean less shedding! Shorthaired dogs shed just as much, sometimes more than longhaired breeds. It’s the coat type, not the coat length that makes the difference. Poodles, Terrier breeds, and Schnauzers are some single-coated types of dogs.

Is it possible to find a dog that is allergen-free?
Unfortunately, there are no truly allergen-free dog breeds. All dogs will cause some degree of allergies in certain people prone to allergies and asthma. However, there is hope. Singlecoated dog breeds have been known to be hypoallergenic for years now, and although they do still have dander, the amount is significantly less than dog with a double coat.

Is it ok to buy a dog to guard your home?
Many people the dog as the ultimate in home protection devices. Wrong thing to think. A dog is not a security device, and that is often a fatal mistake to make.

What is the difference between a pet quality and a show quality puppy?

A show quality puppy is one that conforms closely to the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) standard for its breed. Depending on the deviations, the breeder will decide if a puppy is pet quality or otherwise.

What is Responsible Dog Ownership?
Responsible Dog Ownership means being the best owner .It does not mean providing your dog with just the basic necessities like food, water and shelter. Responsible Dog Ownership is the obligation dog owners have to incorporate their dogs into the community, being a good neighbor, and providing for the needs of their dogs.

What breeds are apartment breeds?
Bolognese, Basset Hound, Bull Dog, Corgi, Dashchund, Chihuahua, Bichon Frise are some.

Who is a good breeder?
Good breeders ask questions. They are very concerned about the new home of their pup. Be prepared to answer questions about the people who live with you, what hours you work, what kind of visitors you get, what your yard layout is like, what you are willing to spend and so on.

A good breeder who cares (and this is the best type) will want to ensure that his or her puppy is going to the best home

What are breed clubs?
Breed clubs are organizations made up of people who love their breed of dog, and want to preserve it as it should be, and in most cases, for it’s original function. The people who form a breed club are generally dedicated to the dog, and work hard at making sure that any breeding that happen, happen only to benefit the breed, not the breeder.

I am Asthmatic. How can I choose the right one?
Select a breeder. Make an appointment and go directly to the breeder’s house without visiting any other dogs. Stay at least 20 to 30 minutes unless you have an attack. If no attack, go directly home or whatever, but do not visit any other dogs for several hours to eliminate the possibility of a delayed reaction. The breeder should only have one breed of dog living in that house, otherwise if you are allergic, the test is inconclusive, - it might have been be the other breed.

Can I have a list of dogs that don’t cause an attack?
These dogs go well with asthma sufferers because they shed very little dander. Poodles, Standard and Miniature are excellent with kids, great as family pets and shed very little hair.

Chihuahua , Portuguese Water Dogs, Bichon Frise are also good.

Does the breeder give vaccines?
A few vaccines are given before the pup is 8 weeks old. You and your breeder can discuss this.

Also talk to your vet about which vaccinations should be given, how many times the vaccine should be administered to insure good protection, and when booster shots should be done. A booster shot is a shot of vaccine given more than one time. The follow-up vaccinations will boost the immune level up higher and the patient will be even better protected from the disease.

Most puppies will get a combination vaccine, called a multivalent vaccine, which protects against more than one disease. This combination vaccine allows the puppy to be vaccinated via a single injection rather than having to receive four or five separate inoculations.

A typical multivalent vaccine is the DHLPPCv vaccine for dogs. Instead of giving six different injections, all these antigens can be given in a single small volume injection. :

• D: Canine Distemper Virus. This is a dangerous viral infection.
• H: Hepatitis. This is a viral infection caused by two related viruses that mainly affects the
• liver.
• L: Leptospirosis. A bacterial infection affecting the kidneys.
• P: Parainfluenza. This,along with the Hepatitis virus ,can cause upper respiratory infections.
• P: Parvovirus. A severe and often fatal virus affecting the lining of the intestinal tract.
• Cv: Coronavirus. Very similar to the Parvovirus, this can be very severe, but has a somewhat different effect on the intestinal tract and generally is not fatal

While this moment, the moment of bringing your puppy home is an unforgettable and exhilarating one, it is a traumatic one for your puppy. It is, in fact, a rather frightening time of adjustment for your new puppy. He will be leaving the security of his dam and littermates, and other familiar sights for the first time, and experiencing a host of new sights, sounds, and smells. It is best to pick up your puppy on a quiet weekend. You will have plenty of time to help him adjust to his new surroundings and he can be the center of your attention.

Take him home first. Do not drop by at your friend’s place or visit any relative on the way. Do not allow visitors to the house for several days. Do not introduce him to other household pets, particularly adult dogs. Keep the confusion and distraction to a minimum.