Buying A Purebred Pup

 Here is my article on Buying A Purebred Pup.

While I’m all for rescues/shelters/adopting a pup, there are often reasons why this isn’t the best fit for everyone.  
For those who do choose to go with a breeder, here are some recommendations to help you get the best results - for both you and your new pup.❤️🐺❤️

A dog is a long term commitment, generally ten to fifteen years. 
Please spend the time to first research the breed and find out what it was originally bred to do- often a genetic trait will still run very strong in the breed - this trait may not be desirable in what you expect from your new family pet.  Look into the exercise ( both mental and physical ), training requirements, feeding recommendations, grooming needs, and the common genetic health problems within the breed.

Often in purebred dogs there is both a “show” quality and a “working” quality version of the same breed. The “show” quality dogs are often calmer and make better pets, while the “working” quality dogs are often better high driving sport/competition dogs. 
Another difference that is often seen in many breeds is the variance between the American bred version/type versus imported dogs that are still bred in the country they originated in. Some exceptional breeders in the USA still maintain the strict selective routine of only breeding the best to the best.

There is normally a deposit to hold a pup. Use caution when buying a pup, especially online. There are scammers on the internet that claim to be selling pups, take your deposit, and you never hear from them again. Cute photos of pups for sale on the internet often don’t show the living conditions the pup has been raised in, nor the health and temperament of the pups parents.

There are several things I look for in a reputable dog breeder:
-They truly care about the pups they breed, they will have a written contract, and stand by it.
-They will ask you questions like what your plans are for the pup, and your family situation. -They want to make sure the pup is going to a good home.  Some breeders will choose which pup in the litter is best for you based on your lifestyle and goals.
-They are willing to take back, for any reason, at any time, any pup the buyers decide not to keep. The breeder will either keep or find a suitable home for the pup.  
-Pups are by pre planned breedings, not mass produced. The bitch should not be producing pups more than once a year.  This ensures the best health for both the breeding bitch and future pups. 
-A written health guarantee of the pup against life threatening hereditary or genetic defects, a two year guarantee is standard.
- A written health record of vaccinations, date whelped, worming dates and product used, and any health problems the pup has should all be included with your pup. 
- One or both of the pups parents are on the property, they both should have been tested and passed for the common hereditary genetic issues common with that breed.
- The breeder should be very knowledgeable about their breed of dog. 
-Go to the property and see how the dogs are kept, it should be clean, the dogs should all be healthy, and well cared for.  
- Registration papers: often “pet quality” pups will not come with papers as they are not intended to be used as breeding animals. 
- The best breeders spend time with each pup , exposing them to various sights,sounds,and textures to make sure all the pups are confident and outgoing. It is extremely important to set up the pup for the best it can be, both physically and mentally, during the first few weeks of its life.
-Good breeders never let pups go before 8 weeks old. 
I personally prefer after 12 weeks because it gives the pup more time to understand bite inhibition from the bitch and siblings, they are past one of their fear imprint periods, and have usually had their second set of health vaccinations. 

I would never buy a pup from a pet shop, most are puppy mill or back yard bred animals often raised in unacceptable conditions and removed from their mothers much too early- these pups often have costly lifelong health issues, are usually not socialized properly, and may lack bite inhibition.   

I would also never buy a pup as a gift for someone without them knowing about it beforehand. This can be a recipe for disaster when the immense time, expense, and responsibility of having a pup becomes overwhelming for the pup’s unsuspecting new owner.  

Articles on potty training, crate training, impulse control, bonding and focus exercises, bringing a new pup into the home, and more are available at my link below-  which is open to the public and free of charge. ❤️🐺❤️


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