What is wrong with this, you ask? Where do I begin?
OK, animals that are bred for profit typically have no thought gone into the creation of said puppy. Boy dog meets girl dog, bada-bing bada-boom you have puppies you can sell at a nice tidy profit, right?
WRONG.
Knowing the traits of your dogs ancestors is extremely important. Do you want to breed dogs from a line of dogs that are prone to aggression? How about deafness? Insanity anyone? Thyroid conditions? Heart disease? Let’s toss in hip dysplasia and you have a 4 legged never ending vet bill just waiting to happen.
Also, have you ever seen what a Puppy Mill is like? Go to http://www.stoppuppymills.org and read up on it.
Picture this, your sitting down Sunday morning, browsing through the paper and spot an ad “adorable (purebred, mixed breed, rare, unique) puppies” and think how wonderful it would be for the family to have a puppy.
Again, run screaming. Reputable breeders do NOT advertise through the local newspaper.
If you think you want a pet for the family, and decide upon a dog, go to the Humane Society. If you have in mind that you want a particular breed of dog for one reason or another, research that breed first. If you have always wanted a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd, and you live in an apartment or small house with no yard, chances are unless you are a marathon runner looking for a running companion; this is not the breed for you. Say you have always wanted a wolf hybrid, and you have very young children or babies. Again, probably not the best choice.
Many breeds have temperaments that will probably not be compatible with your lifestyle. Do you want to only brush or groom your dog once a month or only a couple times a year? Stay away from collies and other dogs with long or thick hair. Do you want a dog to be a jogging companion for you? Might want to avoid Chihuahua’s and other toy breeds. Do you live on a farm and have chickens? Avoid spaniels, setters and retrievers unless you plan to spend a LOT of time training them to not view the chicken house as a playground.
Hollywood has not helped the wonderful world of dogs. Movies like 101 Dalmatians caused a surge in popularity of that breed. People wanted one of those lovely dogs for their family and home. They do not realize that Dalmatians are quite hyper, not too bright, and are prone to deafness.
Lady and the Tramp did no good for Cocker Spaniels. Sweet loving dogs, but despite what the movie showed, not so good with very young children.
Don’t even get me started on Lassie.
If you REALLY want a dog, go talk to the folks at the Humane Society. Find a local dog show and speak with the owners of the dogs you’re interested in. Surf the web looking for information on different breeds. A good place to start (although not the only place you should look) is http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm. Also check out http://www.akc.org. Contact your local kennel club and talk to some folks there, let them know what you’re looking for, and LISTEN to the advice they give.
Be sure you’re willing to do all it takes to care for a dog before you get one. Be sure you are aware of all the costs involved with owning a dog, from feeding to vet costs. Be aware of the things that could crop up or go wrong with the specific breed you want to have. Above all, don’t go into purchasing a dog unarmed. Research the breed and the breeder you are considering buying from. Does the breeder require a contract for you to purchase a puppy from them? Is the contract unreasonable, or does it make sense? Does the breeder have a good reputation with other breeders? Is the breeder willing to take the pup back should you change your mind or the pup develop health problems specific to that breed? Do the puppies as well as the parents look healthy? Are they kept in a clean environment?
Do the homework, and believe me, it will pay off in the end.