In this article, I’ll be speaking mainly about buying a purebred dog (buying and adopting mixed breed dogs can be very different).

When looking for a new puppy it’s good to do a little homework and ask questions before you bring it home. Often times we get so excited and just plain caught up in how cute the puppies all are that we forget to make sure it’s going to be the right puppy for our family.

First, make sure to find a breed of dog that’s suitable to your family and lifestyle. Most all puppies are cute when little but they don’t tend to stay that way. The biggest mistake generally made is not knowing what our new puppy will be like when they grow up. Take time to research what breeds you think you like. Know how big the breed should get. Does it shed a lot or need constant grooming? What’s the average energy level? What health concerns are there for the breed? What was the dog originally bred for (ie herding, hunting, etc.)? Answering these types of questions should give you great insight to the future you will likely have with your new pet. The American Kennel Club and your local library are good sources of breed information.

Once you’ve chosen a breed of dog it’s time to find a quality breeder. There are a lot of people out there trying to make money by breeding dogs. Some care about their dogs and breed good quality and some don’t. There are a number of  things to keep in mind and questions that you should ask a breeder:

• Is there a health guarantee? If so what are the details? If a health issue arises that is covered, what actions will be taken by the breeder?
• When and what shots were last given to the puppy?
• If both parents are on the property ask to see and interact with both. Temperaments are often inherited and/or learned from the parents.
• Ask for references from previous litters’ puppy owners
• If there is more than one puppy to choose from the one that is more outgoing is generally a better fit. The shy one sitting in the corner may tend to be more fearful growing up.
• It’s a good sign if the breeder is asking you questions about your family and intentions with the puppy. This shows the breeder is more interested in the puppy’s well being than just making a buck or two.
• Many breeders have a pet only placement policy which means the dog must be fixed within the first year and registration on the dog will be for pet status only. If the dog is bred the puppies would not be register able.

Doing a little research and asking a few questions before you bring your new puppy home will hopefully better prepare you for a wonderful new adventure with a great new dog.

Coming soon…Bringing home puppy – things to have and what to expect.