There are some simple things you need to ask before you buy a dog, or pup. First of all, do you own your own house, or do you rent? If you rent you must consider landlord permission for a pet. Do you need to pay an additional Pet Deposit? Is your yard fully fenced? If not, can you invest in a secure dog run? It has been proven that dogs who are kept tied or chained have an increased risk of aggressive behavior, and, as a result, many places are putting in bans against keeping dogs on chains and insisting they be confined to a yard or dog run. Are there any restricting laws on certain breeds or sizes of dogs in your area? Does anyone in your home have allergies?
Do you have sufficient time and money for a dog? A new dog, especially a puppy or intelligent breed, will require A LOT of time. A person who is busy with work or young children will not have time to devote to training a new dog or pup. Dogs have on going costs in terms of supplies and food, and also may require emergency vet care, so unless you have a cushion of money in the bank, a dog may only add stress.
Breed Choice
One of the biggest mistakes people make is in breed selection. They fall in love with a breed based on looks, or what they see on TV or in a movie. They do not do research on the behavioral issues of the breed, or what health issues to expect.
If you do not have a lot of time to spend keeping your dog mentally stimulated you will not want to get a high intelligence breed. Such breeds include most working dogs, such as Border Collies. These dogs NEED jobs... if you don't give them a job, they will find one, and usually it is destructive. Terriers are also considered intelligent canines, bred to hunt and kill, they are also very mouth oriented and will chew on anything if not supervised, as such any children's toys will be considered as the dogs own.
Some terriers will be a threat if you own any small animals such as rabbits. If you have cats, or small animals, you should avoid sight hounds, such as greyhounds. Other breeds like Huskies are known for being cat killers.
Make sure you do thorough research on several breeds before narrowing down your choices. Also consider what health problems are associated with that breed, and what breeds are common in your area.
Purebred or Mutt?
With a purebred you know what health problems to expect, and what the usual behavior of that breed is. It gives you a starting point. In order for a dog to be considered a Purebred it MUST have registration papers. Any dog without registration papers is a mutt. Registration papers DO NOT guarantee quality. If you want to determine the quality of a registered dog, you must see the show records of BOTH parents, as well as see the health certificates for genetic checks done on the parents (these checks may vary depending on breed and country, but usually include hips, eye, and ears.)
Mutts are generally less expensive, and easier to find, they make wonderful pets. "Mutt" should not be taken as a derogatory term. It is the correct term for any mixed breed dog, or dog who lacks registration papers. Mutts often have longer lifespans and may be overall healthier because of a thing called "hybrid vigor", which basically means they have well mixed genes.
One caution though. Stay away from paying too much for a "designer dog". These are dogs intentionally bred and given fancy names for no other reason than to make profit. Such mixes include, Puggles, Labradoodles, and Cockapoos. While there is nothing wrong with the dogs themselves, it is an ethical issue, as reputable breeders breed to improve the breed, and people who breed designer dogs, breed for profit. If either parent were good quality, they would be breeding purebreds. Sadly many of these animals are greatly overpriced and many naive new owners pay way too much for a pooch. There is no guarantee which genes from which parent a pup will inherit.
What should you ask a Seller?
How old is the pup? You should never take any pup under 6 weeks, and for smaller breeds, you should not take any under 8 weeks. Some breeders will take your name and down payment even before the pups are born to ensure you a pup from the next litter.
When was it vaccinated, vet checked, dewormed? You should NEVER pay a cent for a pup or dog who has not had these things done. You could end up paying a lot for a sick dog. The vaccinations should be done at least 24 hours before the dog leaves its home, and you should get a copy of the vet check and vaccination record. Vaccinations will need to be boostered.
