Our Dogs Past & Present
BUYING A PURE-BRED PUPPY
As with any expensive purchase, buying a pure-bred puppy requires a great deal of forethought.You must consider the care, attention and exercise required, also the costs of feeding and
medical care.
Remember, like most things in life, purchasing a pet has both an up side and
a down side. Playing ball with your dog in the park is fun, stooping and scooping is not.
Getting a pet is not a decision to be taken lightly. Some of the questions your family should
first resolve include:
* Who will feed and walk Rover everyday?
* Do you have the time and desire to train a dog?
* Can you afford the cost of food and vet bills?
* What happens to Lady when you go on vacation?
* Can your home accommodate a pet?
* Are you prepared for a 10-12 year commitment?
Dogs have feelings too. A visit to your local Humane Society will soon impress upon you
what happens to man's best friend when they are acquired in haste.
CHOOSE THE PET THAT BEST SUITS YOUR LIFESTYLE AND YOUR HOME
Size
A large Labrador Retriever with a thick tail is not a good idea if you live in a small condominium
or apartment filled with knick-knacks. One quick sweep of the tail and Grandma's porcelain
will be history.
Coat
Also consider the coat you will find on your new pet. Labradors who are inside dogs tend to
shed all year long with the bulk of coat loss in spring. Perhaps you are allergic to dog hair?
There are some breeds who do not loose their hair at all and are clipped instead on a regular
basis.
Why buy a Pure-Bred?
The advantage of a pure-bred is that they are bred to meet certain standards of size and
temperament. Be sure that the breed you choose is an actual breed. There are many
popular cross-breeds on the market which are often sold with the implication that they
are a pure-bred dog.
What breed is best?
By familiarizing yourself with your breed, you will avoid any surprises. Be sure to research
your particular breed in advance. Different breeds have their own characteristics and
temperament.
Shop Around
Shop around at different kennels before deciding on a puppy and try to resist the first
pair of appealing brown eyes. The condition of the dogs in the kennel and the kennel
itself will be an indication of the quality of the breeder. Buying a puppy is a very risky
business these days.
Under no circumstances do you EVER buy from a pet shop!
Not even because you feel sorry for the animals.
WHAT A BREEDER SHOULD BE WILLING TO OFFER YOU
(IN ADDITION TO A PUPPY)
* Every breeder should have a breed standard on hand and they should
be able to point out major, minor and disqualifying faults.
* They should be aware of the major breed problems. Every breed has some.These are problems that occur in the breed with more or less frequency that all decent
breeders try to eradicate. Labradors have problems with Hip Dysplasia (HD),
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and to a lesser extent Epilepsy.
* The breeder should know their own pedigrees well. They should know the faults
their own lines may carry. All lines have some faults. They should be willing to put in writing
what they will do if your puppy develops any of these problems.
* Ask for proof of any testing the breeder has claimed to have done. Ask to see
the OFA, WIND_MORGAN or PENN HIP papers to prove their dogs have been x-rayed free of Hip Dysplasia.
If they do not have the OFA rating, they should still have proof from a veterinarian that
their dogs have been x-rayed and found free of HD. Be aware that a majority of vets
do not know what dysplastic hips actually look like on x-ray. What they may feel looks
normal, the OFA would consider dysplastic. If they cannot produce these papers,(on both parents), do not buy the puppy. Do not be taken in with lines
such as "my dog has never limped" or "my vet said it was unnecessary".
* Also ask to see all certification that the parents have been checked within the
last 12 months for PRA. A regular veterinarian cannot check for this, it must be
done by a Canine Ophthalmologist (dog eye doctor). Again, if they cannot produce these papers (on both parents), do not buy the puppy.Breeding stock must be checked yearly for their eyes. Again, beware of excuses.
* Ask for references such as past puppy buyers, other breeders, trainers, vets, breed
club affiliations, etc.
* Beware of the hard sell breeder or the one who appears too willing to part with their
puppies. Decisions to sell a puppy should not be made based on telephone conversations alone. A reputable breeder will be keen on interviewing you.
* Breeders should provide some sort of written instructions on caring for your new puppy.
Most will give you 48-72 hours to have the puppy checked by your own vet and if necessary
return or exchange the pup.
* Puppies should not be released to their new homes before 6 weeks of age (7 weeks
is preferred) and should have had their first set of vaccinations (Parvo/Distemper).
If the puppy is older, vaccinations should be completely up to date.
* To protect your rights, ensure that the sales contract indicates the breed of dog,
that is is pure-bred and eligible for registration by the American Kennel Club, Canadian
Kennel Club, United Kennel Club or which other registry the breeder is claiming.
* Ask to see the contract/guarantee before you leave a deposit or purchase the puppy. Some
guarantees/contracts give the puppy buyer the run-around and don't actually cover anything.Some make the puppy buyer put down the dog before the breeder will pay off on even
a case of mild dysplasia. READ THE CONTRACT THOROUGHLY
* Ask to see the dam (mother) and the sire as well if he is on the premises.
Beware of the breeder who either doesn't allow you to see the dam or says the dam
is not there. This person might not be the actual breeder but someone who buys
whole litters for resale.
Registration of a Pure-Bred Dog
At the time of purchase, you should receive the litter registration paper. A litter registration
paper indicates the breed, date of birth, registered names and numbers of the sire and dam
and the name and address of the breeder. Make sure that all the information on this paper
matches the information that the breeder has told you. Beware if the birth date on the paper
is not the same as the breeder has told you.
If the litter certificate is not avilable, check the individual certificates of the dam and sire to
ensure that they are indeed AKC/CKC/UKC registered (or other registry) and registered in the
name of their owners. Take note of their registered names and numbers. If the paper is not
available ask questions as to why and when it will be available to you. If the breeder is
evasive, do not buy the puppy. If the registration paper is not available, get it in writing that
the breeder will send it to you within a certain amount of time (30 days) or refund fully/partially
your purchase price. This is your only legal recourse.
Some breeders will not release the litter registration paper until the first 48-72 hours are
over or until your cheque clears the bank. Again, you should have something in writing
that the breeder will release the papers to you after this time.
If you are buying the puppy as a show or breeding animal, get it in writing. Any terms
included with this purchase should be in writing. If the breeder guarantees the puppy
for health, hips, eyes, etc, be sure to get everything in writing. Again, this is your only
legal recourse.
Be aware that AKC/CKC/UKC registration (or any other registry) does not mean quality.
It only means that your dog is a pure-bred. Remember, "Pet Quality" puppies should be
considered as just that! Even litters from very well bred parents usually contain only a few
"show or breeding" quality puppies. The rest of the litter, sold as pets can well supply
the pet-buying public without any lessening of the breed standards, providing that the
buyers realize that, while pure-bred, these individuals are not breeding stock. You
might not be able to tell the difference between a "show or breeding quality" and a "pet quality"
dog, but there are differences. Your pet will still be a delightful companion, but it might
have some minor "fault" not desirable in a breeding animal. Spayed and neutered
dogs make better family companions and their chances for some cancers are lessened. In
fact most reputable breeders will insist that pets be sold on a spay/neuter
contract or on a limited registration.
MEMBER: CKC, Labrador Retriever Club
of Canada, Labrador Retriever
Club of Quebec, SD&G Dog Association, The Labrador Retriever
Club (UK) and
Midland Counties Labrador Retriever Club (UK).
Copyright © 2004 Greenhill Labradors
Last modified:January 04, 2005
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