Pets Information

Breed Success in Your Puppy Search


The numbers will make any pet lover blanch with disgust, anger, and sadness. The Humane Society of the United States calculates that as many as 500,000 puppies every year are sold in pet shops, and that many of these pet shops buy their pets from the worst breeders-so-called puppy mills. What do these puppy mills (and kitty mills) have to do with you if you're on the market for a new furry companion? You know what you're doing when it comes to buying a purebred, right?

Truth be told, puppy mills are largely responsible for even harsher statistic: as many as 25 percent of all purebred pups suffer from genetic difficulties because of bad breeding. And as knowledgeable as you think you are about buying a dog, you could come across one of these poor pups and not even know it.

That could mean that you spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on a pet, only to have it succumb to a birth defect and maybe even die at an early age. Even if this worst-case scenario doesn't occur, buying from the wrong breeder can also land you an animal that picked up diseases because of the intolerable conditions at the breeder. That could lead to additional thousands spent on vet bills.

Why leash yourself to such heartache? There's no need when there are so many great and trustworthy breeders out there, who can pair you with a loving new puppy.

To find the right breeder for you, start local. Your best bet is to find breeders within driving distance. That way, you can visit the actual breeding facilities. And while there, be sure to scout out for the following characteristics that all best-of-show breeders possess:

? A litter of dogs that play, smile, and show all the other signs of being happy and healthy. Take notice, too, that the pups are sociable to the breeder, you, and their brothers and sisters.

? More demand for their dogs than they can handle. Usually a long buyers' waiting list at a breeder is like a wagging tail on a puppy-a good sign.

? A discerning eye for customers. Good breeders should ask you as many questions as you ask them, on topics such as your reasons for wanting their dog, your past pet experience, whether you have enough space at home, and who in your family will be responsible for daily puppy care.

? The willingness to show you the puppy's parents during your visit if you provide the right answers to the above questions.

? A wealth of knowledge on the dogs that they breed, including specific advice on the breed's standard and temperament, to satisfy all of your questions and concerns.

? A health guarantee in writing that shows exactly what vaccinations the pup has had.

? The friendly advice about what future vaccinations you should give, along with the best ways to train and care for the puppy.

? A guarantee, again in writing, this one stating that the breeder would be willing to take back the dog if you cannot keep it at any time.

? The care and thoughtfulness to keep in touch for some time after your purchase, to check on the dog and offer further advice when needed.

If you keep your eyes peeled and your ears perked for these signs of a good breeder, you won't have to rely on luck or a good reference in finding the right puppy (though those don't hurt either). You'll learn soon after you bring your new pal home that you made the right choice, and over time, your family and pet bond. Your pet will live a long, healthy life as part of your family.

Donald Lee is the public relations manager for Buysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides free classified listing services. Buy, Sell and trade: auto, computers, household items, real estate, pets and much more. For national and localized classifieds, please visit http://www.buysellcommunity.com - Free Buy & Sell Classifieds

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Pets of the week
The Argus, CA - 3 hours ago
More than 230 pets are available for adoption at the Tri-City Animal Shelter, run by the city of Fremont, and at the nonprofit Furry Friends Rescue ...
Cool city pets and fabulous felines: pet adoption events Examiner.com
Event benefits abandoned animals Indianapolis Star
Dogs, cats need homes for the holidays WBBH
Escanaba Daily Press
all 5 news articles


IGN

The Wonder Pets! Save the Animals! Review
IGN, CA - 4 hours ago
by Adam Ballard December 1, 2008 - In case you're not familiar with Nickelodeon's Wonder Pets franchise, it's an educational children's show about three ...
Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party Review IGN
all 2 news articles


Wilco shelter offers discounts on older pets
Taylor Daily Press, TX - 10 hours ago
By Philip Jankowski Pets older than 5 years are now available for adoption for $25, less than one-third of the normal price, $85. The promotion is aimed to ...


Holiday Deals Offered for Shelter Pets
NBC Los Angeles, CA - 8 hours ago
The Palm Springs Animal Shelter is waiving the adoption fee on all shelter pets through the end of December, it was announced Monday. ...


Pets Light Up Our Lives
NorthMyrtleBeachOnline.com, SC - 12 hours ago
by Jennifer Prince,North Myrtle Beach Humane Society DECEMBER 1, 2008 NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC – Pets Light up Our Lives is an event to honor our pets; past, ...


Pets available
Press & Sun-Bulletin, NY - 20 hours ago
Look for pets available at Stray Haven Humane Society at www.stray.petfinder.com. * The Chenango County Department of Public Health will sponsor free rabies ...
PETCO Shares Top Picks to Pamper Pets for the Holidays International Business Times
all 2 news articles


Protect Your Identity and Pets with Smart-i-tag(TM)
eReleases (press release), MD - 14 hours ago
Pet Locator(R) Tags by Smart-i-tag(TM) are an inexpensive, easy and convenient way to ensure the safe return of your four-legged family members while ...


Shelter officials' advice for pets as presents: Don't
St. Louis Post-Dispatch,  United States - 1 hour ago
Teresa Weybright of the Macon County Animal Control and Care Center has advice on giving pets as gifts for the holidays: Don't. ...


Families forced to part with pets
Utica Observer Dispatch, NY - 7 minutes ago
Local animal shelters are seeking people to adopt pets. Some contact numbers include: There will be an open house at the Herkimer Humane Society from noon ...


Recession a reason for abandoned pets
CBS 42, TX - 28 minutes ago
The recession isn't just affecting people - it's affecting their pets too. Some Central Texas rescue groups tell us there's a spike in folks giving up their ...

pets - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.