It is easy to fall in love with a soft, furry, cuddly warm and gentle-eyed puppy. Puppies and dogs are easy to find, however you should make the effort to find the right one. What breed is best for you? What are the specific needs of this little bundle of love? How much will this puppy love actually cost you? And what questions can you ask the breeder or rescue group before purchasing the puppy to insure the best possible match?

Choosing a breed can be a difficult task for many people because there are so many breeds of dogs. Each breed has breed specific characteristics, some strong points as well as weak points. There are about 8 or 9 different groups of dogs. You have your sporting dogs just as retrievers and spaniels, hounds, working breeds, terriers, herding breeds, toys, non-sporting dog’s, designer dogs or mixed breeds and some rare breeds. Having an understanding of the breed specific characteristics will help you to choose the best breed for you and your family. There are many great web sites and books that are available to help you in making a decision on the best dog for you.

Puppies and dogs do have some specific needs such as food, water, shelter, exercise, veterinary care, your time and of course love. Consider these basic necessities for your puppy before acquiring one. Your dog will need regular exercise to stay in good physical shape. If you do not have a fenced in yard where your puppy can run and play, you will need to take your puppy love on several walks each day. A tired puppy is a happy puppy.

Dogs ARE the love that money can buy. Even if a puppy is given to you FREE from your neighbor it will cost you money if it is cared for properly. Even a FREE dog has costs associated with it ranging from $500 or more per year to maintain each one.

·        About $150 per year for dog food

·        Basic vet costs a minimum of $175 for exams, vaccinations, flea control, and heart worm prevention in the first year.

·        Larger breeds require more food and larger doses of heart worm medication

·        Having your puppy fixed (spay or neutering) $100-$400. Depending on the size

·        Pet supplies such as collars, bowls, leashes and a crate

·        Professional grooming can cost over $150 per year for some breeds (if necessary)

·        A local dog license in the community in which you live $5 to $25 per year

·        You can’t forget training classes $125 (group sessions) or $500 or more for private lessons

·        Dog fence or kennel $400 (kennel) or $1200 or more for electric fencing

There may be unexpected costs associated with owning a puppy or dog, but these categories listed here are most of the basic expenses you will incur when purchasing a canine companion.

When choosing a breed of dog, you are also choosing a breeder. You will need to find a knowledgeable, experienced breeder you can trust as well as refer back to for guidance and support. A list of the following questions will be helpful in making the best decision for you and your family. When purchasing a dog from a rescue or a shelter, many of these questions will not be able to be addressed because a stray dog may have an unknown history. Most rescue groups have great adoption programs and make every attempt to match owners and dogs together.

·        How many years have you been breeding this particular breed of dogs?

·        How many litters do you breed a year? Puppy mills have a lot of litters (red flag).

·        What is your breeding program been developed to produce (what traits are you looking for in your program) temperament, looks or confirmation? Size?

·        Do you see any faults in your own litters?

·        Ask to see both the dam and the sire.

·        Have the parents been OFA (Orthopedic) checked to be free from hip dysplasia?

·        Have the parents been checked for any serious hereditary disorders?

·        Ask the breeder what breed specific problems does this breed have?

·        Do the parents have any AKC titles?

·        Does the breeder show at a competitive level?

·        Is the breeder connected with any canine professional organizations such as a kennel club, training club, grooming organization, etc?

·        Have the parents been temperament tested?

·        Have the puppies been temperament tested?

·        Ask to see the pedigree on both the parents.

·        Does the puppy you are considering seem to be well behaved? Not overly submissive and not overly assertive?

·        Ask to see the medical history on the puppies. Litters should have at least one vet checkup, a worming and the first set of immunizations by the time the pup is 8 weeks.

·        Ask to see the sales contract and read it to see what guarantees and stipulations there are.

·        Are the surroundings clean?

·        Are the parents friendly?

·        Has the breeder asked you questions about your living situation and made suggestions as to the various personalities of puppies which meet your goals.

Now that you have done all your homework, it is clear to see that you really can buy love. It becomes increasingly obvious that such a purchase is a huge responsibility and a financial commitment. I trust that if you are considering buying some love this Christmas season that you do it armed with the information contained in this article and not on an emotional whim.

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Contact Information

Tom Beitz is the owner of the Academy for Puppies and Dogs and is an authorized dealer for Pet STOP Hidden Dog Fences. Tom can be reached at (716) 628-0651 to answer your questions or he can be found on the web at www.smartdogtrainer.com . E-Mail: Tom@Smartdogtrainer.com

Copyright © Academy for Puppies and Dogs 2008 (All Rights Reserved)

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