Living With Dogs (4 page)

Good breeders want the best for all their animals, from new puppies to retired breeding dogs. They take steps to ensure this by providing detailed advice to new owners about how to care for their puppy, and don’t have old breeding dogs put down because they’re no longer productive.

• Ask the breeder what happens to their retired breeding animals — are they kept or rehomed?
  

• If the breed you’ve chosen was traditionally docked, what is the breeder’s view on tail docking? (Routine tail docking of puppies is no longer legal in Australia.)
  

• If you are not intending to breed from your puppy, the breeder should provide advice on desexing (unless your puppy has been desexed already).
  

You should be provided with information on diet, socialisation, registration and identification requirements, and any medications or vaccinations given or required in the future.

Good breeders want to make sure you are well-informed about your new puppy and will provide information on the background, size, breed and temperament of his parents. They are willing to answer questions and allow inspection of records and paperwork such as registration documents and veterinary records. A breeder who refuses to answer reasonable questions probably has something to hide.

A new puppy is a long-term commitment, so both you and the breeder need to be certain you are making the right decision. A good breeder will ask you questions to make sure this is the right puppy for you and that you’re able to care for it properly.

For example, they might ask:

• if you have children or other animals in the household,
  

• where your puppy will be sleeping, and
  

• how often it will be left on its own.
  

They should also tell you what to expect from the breed, such as how suitable it is for families and how much space and exercise is needed. If you’re at all uncomfortable with what you are told, you might want to consider another breed.

Different breeds are predisposed to different inherited disorders or diseases. Some of these aren’t apparent until later in a dog’s life but can have devastating consequences. Some breeds also have exaggerated features that can cause problems, like a squashed-in face, which makes it hard to breathe, or very short legs, which can lead to spinal problems.

A good breeder will be aware of, and screen for, any known disorders or anatomical problems specific to the breed and will exclude dogs with problems from breeding. They will be able to show you copies of veterinary reports and screening tests to confirm this. They should also breed to minimise any exaggerated physical traits specific to the breed that are known to have an adverse impact on the health and welfare of the dog.

• Find out what inherited diseases occur in your chosen breed (an internet search for inherited diseases and the breed name will help you) and ask the breeder what steps they have taken to prevent them.
  

• One proven way to minimise the risk of inherited problems is to avoid breeding closely related animals. If you are buying a purebred dog, you should check your puppy’s pedigree to make sure there are no close relative matings, such as brother–sister or grandfather-granddaughter matings.
  

• Ask the breeder what they think are the most important characteristics in their puppies. A good breeder will put health, welfare and temperament above appearance. Some breeders put success in the show ring above all else, but breed prizes such as ‘best in show’ don’t mean that a dog’s puppies will be good family pets as show dogs are judged on their appearance, not their behaviour.
  

A good breeder will provide full contact details and encourage you to get in touch if you need more information on the care of your new puppy.

What if you take the puppy home and it has a health problem, or doesn’t get on with your children or pet cat and you can’t cope? A good breeder will offer to take back unwanted animals within a specified time period after sale. They should also offer to accept animals returned as a result of problems arising from an inherited disorder at any time after sale.

You might have asked a lot of questions so far, but you’d like to be absolutely sure that the breeder is genuine. A good breeder will readily provide references on request, including testimonials from previous or existing owners, letters from the vet, and documents indicating membership of a breed association, canine council or companion animal club.

Requirements for dog breeders vary from state to state, but it’s a good idea to call your local council and ask whether breeders have to be registered with them and if there is a code of practice or guidelines that they should be following. If the answer’s yes, you can ask the breeder for their registration details and what guidelines they follow.