Choosing a Family Dog-Mixed Breed or Pure Breed?
Literally, you are choosing a family member, and this is choice will be a part of your life for years to come.
If this is your first dog and you are asking yourself whether you should get a mixed breed or a pure breed dog, than a mix will likely be a fabulous fit. Many are available in the local shelters and there is an excellent website called Pet Finder where you can do your search on the internet.
First you have to identify a few requirements.
* How much space do you have for a dog to live and play?
* How much energy would you like your dog to have? Remember, the more energy the dog has, the more time you will need to spend exercising him.
*Do you have time to devote to training a puppy?
If you live in an apartment, you don't necessarily have to settle for a small, toy sized dog if you really want a larger dog. But you should look for a dog that has a quiet temperament. If you have a small dog with terrier in him, it is likely he is going to need a lot of play time with you. That could be a jog in the park, or a retrieving game, but you will need to help him use some of that energy or he may develop bad behaviors. These reasons present a very good argument for buying a grown dog from a shelter, you will be gambling on his size and requirements.
If you have an abundance of space and time to devote to house training and socializing a puppy, then adopting a youngster will be a lot of fun. You will get a great deal of enjoyment watching him grow and learn. Adopting a shelter dog can be very gratifying and they will love you endlessly once adapted to their home.
Some people have very specific requirements in a dog. Perhaps they are sensitive to dog dander and need a less allergenic breed. Some of us have simply fallen in love with the temperament or look of a particular breed. A pure breed dog may better fit your needs.
Have you considered a Pure Breed Rescue?
Choosing to own a pure breed dog will take much more time and careful consideration. Did you know that most pure breeds have breed specific rescues? You can locate a breed club via the AKC and the internet to find a rescue. Many of these dogs will be past the puppy stage and therefore less work to adapt to your home. Some have been in puppy mills or were given up by their owners for a wide variety of reasons.
Riley here, was loved very much by his original owner, but health problems prevented her from continuing to provide the care he required. She made a difficult but loving decision to let him go to a new home. His new home was chosen to fit his requirements for activity and space. Riley has a new loving home and never spent a day in an animal Shelter because of Pure Breed Rescue.
Sometimes a rescued dog does have problems, that is often the very reason the owner gives the dog up. That never matters to a true rescue person though. The dogs still need love and a home and we do what we can to help them live a happy life. I have a rescue dog myself and three dogs I have bought from breeders. Riley was a Foster dog in my home until his new forever mother took him.
Choosing a Breeder
If you are certain of your breed and you wish to buy your pure breed dog, then you should go into a full investigation of the breed, it's needs, any genetic health issues (all breeds have them), grooming requirements and temperament should be considerations. This next point is a critical one. Where should you buy your puppy? Almost everyone is agreed that they do not want a puppy mill dog. But many do not know that there are other forms of selling dogs purely for their market value?. These are a few:
*Brokers, many import dogs from high output operations in other countries
*Backyard Breeders, they don't care about improving or protecting the breed type, health and temperament
*Auction, these are dumping grounds where commercial operations clean out their inventories
Ethical Breeders, also called Hobby Breeders, breed only a litter or two a year and that is with the hope that they will find a dog or two in the litter that shows improvement in the breed. any puppies that qualify will be kept to "run on" in conformation and used in the breeding program in the future. This is the only way the stability of the breed type can remain. They will be able to answer yes to most, if not all of these questions before you look at any puppies. Just like adopting a human baby, you should complete the "business" rationally first. Once you see the puppies, thinking become emotional.
*Do you show your dogs in AKC Conformation? In the United States, the AKC is the standard for excellence. Other All Breed Registries are below the standard and used by breeders who can't meet the quality of AKC. A lot ot times the breeder was expelled from the AKC because of unethical practices.
*Have the Parents and Grandparents of the puppies had the appropriate health tests for the breed? They should be able and proud to produce the test results for you.
*Are the all of the dogs members of the household and live in the home with the family?
*May I call you after the puppy comes home with me If I have questions or concerns?
*Do you have a Spay/Neuter requirement? This is for the protection of the breed.
Some people with bad intentions think that buying any pure breed dog is good enough for breeding. They figure if the parents are champion stock all of the puppies will be champions too. This just is not so. After acquiring a set of dogs, they can begin producing puppies for profit, breeding often and without regard to conformation or health. Some good people are tempted to breed once "to make their money back" or to experience they "miracle of birth". Results of breeding without knowledge and care can produce disasterous results as well as adding to overpopulation.
If you are a person who cares about Animal Welfare like I do, you will understand that ethical, hobby breeders will also have a set of questions they will ask you because they want to be sure their "babies" go to homes that will truly love and take care of them. Commercial breeders care more about the money than the life a beautiful little puppy might live.
And if for any reason in the years ahead something drastic changes preventing you from keeping your dog, he never need go to a shelter. A good, ethical breeder always welcomes home a dog they've bred. Many even require that.
So now You own a Pure Breed Dog...
You are going to want to spoil your new companion. I have compiled a lot of helpful places on the web for you to find what you need.
Traveling with your Pure Breed Dog is FUN!
I do it all the time with FOUR! Learn how I do it here...
Make Gourmet Biscuits For your Dog right at Home
Recipes and even the keys to starting a Gourmet Dog Biscuit Business of your own.
