Owner's Guide to Dog Purchase

According to Statista, in 2017 there were about 89.7 million dogs in households in the US, so clearly we love dogs; that number is only going to increase. Since any good owner will take the responsibility to love and care for their dog (even to the point of considering it a child), it would be best to care about where and how you choose your new dog. I will help with that.

First thing I’d like to quickly go over are the terms purebredandpedigreesince they often get confusing and are sometimes used as a selling point that doesn’t guarantee any health or quality.

A purebred dog is a dog that was born from two dogs of the same breed (those dogs too were purebred). It essentially means that the dog has the genes that are fixed to the breed’s gene pool. Over the past 100 years, selective breeding has made somewhat of a mess of purebred genetics and some would even argue that any dog outside of the AKC show standards is not truly a purebred.

A pedigree is a dog that was born from two purebreds that are registered (usually with The Kennel Club) and have proof of the dog’s line; it is the family tree of the dog that shows all the previous studs and dams. More often than not pedigrees show the breeding of champions from various competitions like sport and show, but that isn’t always a good thing. Even with laws and regulations, many competition show breeders resort to inbreeding, over-breeding, and selective breeding choices that result in serious physical and mental issues that continue in the genetics of certain lines.

Now, the most common ways people find and buy dogs are from a reputable breeder, a shelter/rescue, or one of the many pet finding sites. I will not be going over large/chain pet stores due to the risk of puppy mills with poor treatment and condition; that would be an entirely different article.

Reputable Breeders

When looking at breeders one should always look for a few important things:

1. Are they registered with any type of known organization? Many breeders will show that they are qualified and actually are but since it has been used in wrong and misleading ways you shouldn't put too much value into it, but it still is a great start with one.
2. Most of the good ones will only deal with 1-2 breeds and won't regularly have a constant supply of new puppies. I believe that most females should only have up to six litters in her lifetime and even that can be pushing it due to complications. Too many, too often mean the dogs are more of a product than an animal.
3. Reviews, testimonials, and any articles from outside sources of the breeder. I've found that breed specific forums have offered some great information about breeder's dogs and any red flags you may miss. When it comes to purebreds and their well being, there really are experts and people that care.
4. Are they charging more based on color? This one is a well know red flag that the breeder has less interest in the well-being and may risk the health to obtain different colors and profits. The color doesn't change anything about the dog.
5. Always meet the parents of the pup, especially the mom. If they won't let you meet the parents, it's possible there is a serious behavioral, temperament, or health issue that they are hiding. A good way to see how your dog will be is to see how the parents are. No parents? Don't buy.
6. A true breeder cares about where their dogs are going and likes to ensure that it is going to a good home and owner. They shouldn't just take the first person with cash without any information.
7. One of the most important, if not the most important, is the puppy's health check. Many come with papers showing shots, but a proper set of papers will also include details about the health checks and a list of known and potential health issues, and whether or not they are carriers of genetic abnormalities. When it comes to the health of a pup, the breeder should also give a puppy guarantee to prove that the dog won't suddenly become seriously ill or die within a certain time frame due to hidden health issues. Also make sure you can go through any vet, not just theirs.
8. Don't ever feel bad for going through a reputable breeder. If you are caring, responsible and know you can handle the breed, there shouldn't be any concern that the dog will end up with a poor life or in a shelter/rescue. It's okay that you want the best for your doing and the assurance that it will be healthy.

Shelters and Rescues

Even though you may be looking for a purebred or a puppy, adoption places will often have what you're looking for at some point or another; it's quick and easy to check their online sites. Some things you should remember are:

1. Shelter dogs are not always bad, broken, and wild mutts. Majority of the time the owners were no longer capable of caring properly for them, they lost interest in owning them, they had to move, they did not understand the breed they purchased and were not competent or knowledgeable to keep the dog happy and satisfied; resulting in unwanted behavior. Again, research the breed for 10 minutes before purchase.
2. Even if it is not the exact age you want, it can still be retrained and be the dog you want as long as you accept the quirks that all dogs will have. You're still going to love it.
3. Adopting and buying from a shelter is always cheaper than from a breeder, store or pet finding site. From what I've seen in my own pursuits and from what friends have said, usually buying a dog in this manner is less than $100.
4. Good shelters still do health checks. Their resources may be less and may not cover everything so of course, you should still take your dog to a vet.
5. Since the dog most likely had a previous owner, it's going to know the basic tricks and already be potty trained.

Pet-Finding Sites

When it comes to websites where many backyard breeders will post puppies and dogs for much cheaper prices with a description that isn't backed up with proof, be very wary. There are a lot of scams and people selling sick and improperly bred dogs these days. That's not to say you shouldn't use these sites, but apply the same methods and research as if you were looking into a breeder. There may always be a risk but if you take the proper cautions and responsibilities, you're going to end up very happy with a great animal.

For a more in-depth article on purebred, pedigree, and registered terms:

"The Truth About Purebred Dogs" By Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2018