Puppy Buying Guide

Puppy Buying Guide Index :

Description of a responsible breeder
Designer Dogs
Pure bred or mixed breed?
Pet Store Dogs
Internet puppy and dog sales "Caution"

**PLEASE REFER TO OUR "RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP" page. READ HOW YOU CAN BE A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER BEFORE YOU PURCHASE YOUR NEXT PUPPY OR DOG! http://kyleewood.com/responsible_dog_ownership.htm

Pull up a chair and sit a while!
This page is intended to help educate and inform people that are thinking of purchasing a puppy or older dog. The advice here is inclusive of all dogs, purebred or mixed regardless of age. Purchasing a dog or puppy on impulse can lead to frustration for buyers. There is a very important point for anyone looking for advice when buying a dog or puppy I would like to make. Be careful when seeking advice. Many people have made a business and huge profits when targeting the general public looking for advice on purchasing a puppy.

Consider the source and what they are getting from you when giving that advice. If your researching a breed of dog, look for advice from true breeders that have focused on breeding one or two breeds at the most for several years. Avoid the advice from the "The Jack of all trades" or (breeds) in this case. Also avoid breeders that put out several litters a year. And ask for references from previous buyers. Don't expect positive feedback from most dog pound employees or many shelter workers when asking about pure bred dog advice. Remember, most of these workers see the absolute worse examples of purebreds as well as see many pure bred dogs euthanized because of irresponsible breeders and owners. They would prefer to get their shelter dogs or pound dogs adopted and saved rather than give advice for someone to go buy a puppy elsewhere. I cannot say I blame them at all! I would probably do the same if I cared for those animals.

The fact is, if all buyers educated themselves before buying a new dog or puppy there would be no need for dog shelters. The countless numbers of dogs and puppies would not be destroyed as they are now. Dogs found in dog pounds or dog shelters are the result of irresponsible breeding practices, impulse buying and dog owners neglecting to educate themselves before purchasing a puppy. I hope the contents of this page help you make a wise decision when purchasing your next puppy or dog.

A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER:
A responsible breeder breeds one or two breeds of dogs. A responsible breeder continues to supply the puppy buyer with help and advice after the sale of the puppy. They sell purebred dogs with proof of lineage and guarantee the good health of their puppies. Puppies are bred for soundness of health and mind. Puppies are born inside the home as well as raised inside the home, handled from birth and socialized as much as possible before being sold to a new family. Knowledge of that breed and any genetic problems that can occur in the breed is supplied to all puppy buyers before they purchase a pup. If a problem with a very home-able puppy arises, prices are adjusted to compensate the buyer. Responsible breeders do not over inflate the asking price of a puppy. They do not sell puppies before the age of 8 weeks, nor do they sell puppies to pet stores or dog brokers. Their dogs live in the house with them as members of their family. They do not have large numbers of litters every year. They screen prospective buyers and turn down those they do not believe have the puppies best interest at heart. Most responsible breeders have at some time been involved in the sport of dogs whether it is in dog shows, dog obedience, agility as well as many other dog related activities. They are extremely educated in their breed of dog and usually are very knowledgeable about dog health. They usually do not advertise in news papers to sell their dogs as they can sell the dogs on word of mouth, breeders lists, reputation or responsible dog magazines. Responsible breeders will not breed a dog of poor conformation, or genetic health . Purebred papers are not an indication of quality. A responsible breeder NEVER intentionally breeds two purebred dogs (of differing breeds) together for the purpose of selling puppies. Please see below in "Pet Store Dogs" for a link to view puppy mill conditions.

DESIGNER DOGS:
"Designer Dogs" is the phrase given to the newest fad in selling dogs to an oh- so- naive public that seems always eager to make poor decisions at the expense of our beloved canines. Designer dogs are the offspring of two purebred dogs of different decent (breeds). These dogs are also referred to as "Hybrid" dogs. The genetic definition of hybrid is - The offspring of genetically dissimilar parents or stock, especially the offspring produced by breeding plants or animals of different varieties, species, or races. In other words "MIXED BREED DOGS". They are also known as mutts, mixed breeds, the same dogs you can find at the pound for about $50.00 dollars. There is nothing wrong with a mixed breed dog. I own two of my own. I owned a "mutt" named Dusty when I was young that stayed with my little brother when he was lost in the woods at the age of 2 years. He never left my brother Matt's side until a rescue party found Matthew and took him home. I get very angry when I see people breeding different breeds of dogs together, naming them something cute and passing them off as some sort of new breed. They are mixed breeds. Nothing more. People are creating litter after litter of mixed breed dogs when we have shelters and dog pounds full of mixed breed dogs that need homes. The mere fact that a person bred two purebred dogs together is a testament to irresponsible breeding practices.

The pure bred dogs used to produce these "designer dog litters" are for the most part poor examples of the breed they represent. By "poor" examples I am not trying to lessen the importance of all dogs, including the unfortunate dogs that have no control over the poor choices their human owner's make. I will explain by saying dogs bred to conform to the AKC standard for the breed are bred for good conformation (less hereditary joint and skeletal problems), and sound temperaments which are part hereditary and part nurturing given to them by the breeder (less likely to become aggressive and have temperament issues). Dogs nurtured and handled by a caring breeders are also more likely to have more stable temperaments. Of course it is equally important for the new owners to continue on the positive road to a well rounded, even tempered dog. Some are claiming hybrid dogs are "healthier" and free of the genetic flaws of purebred dogs. This is also a false claim. Example 1. Responsible breeders will not sell their quality dogs to people for the use of breeding them to other breeds of dogs. The best examples of our purebred dogs are NOT used for breeding designer dogs or "hybrid" dogs. 2. This is a get rich quick fad that people are using at the dogs' expense as a way to make easy money. They know nothing about the health of dogs, they sell pups before they are ready and they do not give those pups the best start in life which is very important if your want your puppy to end up with the best chance of having a solid and safe temperament. 3. Since your breeding two different breeds of dogs there is NO GENETIC foundation to guarantee what the offspring will grow into as far as appearance, temperament or coat. There are "chances" that they may turn out one way or the other. But that is all they are..... CHANCES. 4. Offspring of two different breeds of dogs DO get the same genetic diseases their parents do. Two large breed mixes stand the same chance of getting hip displaysia. Don't be fooled by this claim! Since the purebreds being used for this type of breeding are MORE likely to have temperament issues and genetic faults or diseases the incidence of problems in designer dogs actually increases.

Some breeds that are being used for these mixes are Labrador Retrievers and Poodles, (Labradoodle), Beagles and Pugs, (Puggles). Some Designer Dog breeders are attempting to convince buyers they are breeding dogs for positive reasons. Take the so called "Labradoodle". They claim the coat on the Labradoodle is totally hyper allergenic. This is far from the truth. A Labrador's coat is meant to be water proof (through special oil glands) and dense with the undercoat serving a very important roll in keeping a lab warm and dry after swimming in water. A Poodle's coat was meant to protect it from harm from brush and weeds. When combining these two breeds, neither coat type of the purebred dogs are carried over to their offspring. In other words the coats are useless for their intended purpose. And, as previously mentioned, there is no way one can guarantee the coats to be hyper allergenic when two purebreds are mixed there is no true way of foreseeing which trait will be dominant or from which parent. I see so many people that have purchased the mix of Cocker Spaniel and Poodle, (called Cockapoo) that at times resemble some sort of in between with it's own fluffed up coat. And just as many times they look more like a purebred poodle or purebred Cocker Spaniel. Since this is just a mixture of two purebred dogs there is NO WAY to know which physical or personality traits will be more noticeable in the offspring of these dogs.

Now for the "Puggles". Bad knees, popping knee caps or "luxated patellas are one of the genetic problems common in Pugs. I happen to have a rescue Pug with two bad knees. Since the Designer Dog breeder is usually limited to buying Pugs from backyard breeders to use for breeding, the chances of these genetically unsound breeding stock of passing knee problems onto their offspring is greatly magnified. Most dogs bred as Designer Dogs have similar problems regardless of the breeds being used to make these mixes. People buying "Designer Dogs" are running a much higher risk of buying puppies with health and temperament issues. If you want a mixed breed of dog, save yourself a large amount of money and go to a dog shelter or the dog pound for your puppy. Save a mixed breed that is truly in need. The longer people continue to be sucked into the "designer dog" fad, the more mixed breed dogs will end up dumped in dog pounds or shelters. I welcome any comments or questions you have on this subject.

PURE BRED OR MIXED BREED:
So you have decided its time to get a new puppy or older dog. Now for the big decision. Do you go to a shelter or pound and purchase a mixed breed or do you decide on a purebred dog as the new addition to your family? If you are like me there is no question about it. I'm a Beagle lover and will always have Beagles. I will add to that comment the fact that I have rescued about ten dogs in the last 12 yrs. Three of those rescues have been pure bred Beagles. Three of the rescues have been mix breeds. I still own five of them.

The purebred dog
      A pure bred dog is the offspring of two dogs of the same breed. A mixed breed dog is offspring of parents of two or more breeds of dogs. If you visit a shelter to look for a dog do not be surprised if you hear comments from shelter workers that look negatively on purebred dogs. After all, they see the worst of it all and work hard to find homes for their shelter dogs. Rarely do you see dogs bred well from responsible breeders at shelters. You may see pure bred dogs as many shelters and pounds do get pure bred dogs often, but for the most part these dogs were bred by irresponsible breeders and sold to anyone they could talk into purchasing the dog or puppy.

    If you do your homework and research and decide to purchase a pure bred dog from a responsible breeder you will purchase a animal bred to a standard. You can expect that dog to look a certain way, have a specific type of coat, grow to an expected size and you can even look forward to a certain type of temperament. When I have a litter I know the size, genetic health and temperament of my puppies. It is almost like ordering a specific puppy. A good breeder can do that. Now.. as far as good, responsible breeders that is another story. Buyers need to be as careful in choosing a breeder as they are in deciding whether or not to buy a purebred dog. The long term quality of your purebred dog starts with choosing a breeder who is dedicated to the breed they have and do the best they can to choose a loving home for that puppy for it's life.

    Please go to the American Kennel Club's website to learn about pure bred dogs and the particular breed or breeds of dogs you are considering adding to your family. You can also find much information from a magazine that is released once a year but available to purchase all year long. I believe it is put out by Dog Fancy. The name of the magazine is DogsUSA. You can find it in most large pet stores and large magazine stands everywhere. It has a breeders directory but buyers must still screen breeders. Go to a dog show! Its the best place to see the breeds as they should actually look. It may be the only place you have a chance to see purebred dogs bred to the standard the American Kennel Club passed. You can find locations for dog shows at www.infodog.com

The mixed breed dog
A mixed breed dog has parents of differing breeds. This can be just two breeds or you may get the true heinz 57 with several breeds in it. Regardless of how many breeds of dogs a mixed breed has in its background, it still shows certain purebred characteristics. Every purebred in a mixed breed dog's background has something to do with how that dog looks and acts. If you adopt a very young mix breed dog you can only guess at the final size and appearance of that puppy. Adopting an older mix breed will give you a better idea of how the dog will turn out. Many times older mix breed dogs available in shelters have issues that must be dealt with by the adopting family. But, the family choosing to adopt this type of dog is a family with compassion for dogs and are indeed special people. I would like to say something about those who think mixed breed dogs are always more healthy than purebred dogs. NOT TRUE! I have seen countless mix breed dogs with the same health issues I see in purebred dogs. As far as I know, statistics are usually not kept on mixed breed health issues as they seem to be for purebred dogs. I have owned both in my lifetime.

Mix breed dogs tend to be the offspring of dogs bred by backyard breeders. Backyard breeders many times are not educated at all about breeding. The fact is they do not care to become educated about breeding. Their goal is to sell puppies for a profit as quickly as they can. Most genetic problems in purebred dogs are passed along by dogs bred by back yard breeders. They do not screen for genetic problems. Many times they breed dogs regardless of problems that are very evident in the dogs they use to produce litters. Backyard breeders for the most part sell the dogs that have unwanted litters that end up as the mix breeds you find in shelters and pounds. They do not screen buyers or use spay neuter contracts. I see many mix breed dogs in classes with behavior problems that stem from a not so great beginning in life. These puppies are often separated much too soon from their mothers and siblings. This can lead to behavior issues as well as health issues later on in life.

If you do decide to adopt a mix breed make a commitment to that dog and working with the dog until you have the type of pet you enjoy as member of your family. Most shelters do their best to place their dogs with a good match in pet parents and take the dogs back if for some reason it does not work out. I have also seen countless mix breed dogs with wonderful temperaments that trained very easily. The mix breeds I have adopted, rescued and placed have all for the most part been very trainable with great affectionate temperaments. I wish every family would rescue and adopt at least one dog in their lifetime. It can be a very rewarding experience and guarantees a family at least a bunch of canine kisses!

Pet store dogs
I urge everyone that may enter a pet store with dogs for sale to not visit such an establishment. Pet stores that supply dogs buy very young puppies both purebred and now Designer Dog mixes to appeal to the general public. Most of the time these puppies are ill with compromised immune systems. They usually change hands two to three times (through dog brokers) before arriving at a pet store at the very young age of 7 or 8 weeks. They usually are taken from their mother and siblings at 5 weeks of age.

People fall into the frame of mind that these puppies need to be saved. In fact, when you purchase a puppy from a pet store, you are in part responsible for the continued suffering of the mother of that puppy. The studs kept to sire these litters also have an isolated, lonely life. As long as there is a demand for puppies in pet stores the abuse and neglect and constant breeding of those poor dogs will continue. Most adult dogs used to supply puppies for pet stores never leave a small cage. They never get held and cuddled by a loving human owner. Many times they are bred while ill. They live a truly horrible, lonely life. You may be able to convince yourself that you saved a puppy by purchasing it, but when you look into that puppy's eyes, try to see the suffering behind those eyes of it's mother as well as the countless others doomed to be used for commercial breeding practices. Please read about PAWS or "Pet Animal Welfare Statute" of 2005. Click HERE to see an example of a puppy mill.

Internet puppy/dog sales
The newest threat to the welfare of dogs and puppies is, believe it or not, internet dog and puppy sales. As a breeder with a website I have been approached (via e-mail) by internet companies promising huge puppy sales for me if I advertise on their sites. They appeal largely to breeders and brokers who's intent is to sell very large quantities of puppies over the internet. Although I do advertise on a few websites, I try to pick and choose the sites carefully. Many people are buying puppies from irresponsible breeders for resale over the internet. The mere fact that someone has a web site does not translate into a responsible breeder or even someone who should own a dog let alone be breeding them. These people are only interested in the profits from selling these unfortunate puppies and not at all concerned for the puppies welfare or where they end up in the end. I just received an email yesterday from a new site advertising the grand opening of "The Dog Internet Fairgrounds". This will be a site where huge quantities of dogs can be sold as well as dog supplies. I have absolutely no problem with selling products like this, but the large amount of puppies that can be sold on sites like this does alarm me. There are many sites like this on the internet. Some are genuine and try to weed out the large volume breeders. There are also sites that shelters and rescue organizations have on the internet to help adopt the animals they have in need of new homes. These sites are wonderful (ex. Petfinder.com) and promote the adoption of dogs. Be very careful when shopping for dogs or puppies on the internet. It is up to the buyer to become educated. Learn the difference between a private, hobby breeder and a large volume breeder or dog broker as well as how to tell if a backyard or inexperienced breeder is advertising puppies on web site you are viewing.. Again learn about PAWS. Be patient and be aware!

The end is near!
I hope this has been of some education and help to you. It is a large amount of information to take in so please visit as many times as needed. My intent was not to frighten anyone out of purchasing a dog or puppy but to inform and educate you instead. If everyone took time to think before purchasing or even breeding their dogs, there would be no need for shelters and rescue organizations. This may be a bit unrealistic, but I do believe we can greatly lessen the large number of shelters needed as well as the number of dogs euthanized every year in dog pounds. I believe in purebred dogs and I always will. Of course the Beagle will always be at the top of the list for me! Our dogs give us loyalty and devotion, teach us compassion and patience. The least we can do for them is take the time needed to help insure they have the best life possible. Thank you for taking the time to read all of this!

This link to the OFA website shows a list by breed rankings of HIP DYSPLASIA http://www.offa.org/hipstatbreed.html

Did you know that 61 percent of all PUGS screened had dysplastic hips?? While 20 percent of Golden Retrievers and 12 percent of all Labrador Retrievers screened were positive for hip dysplasia?

Keep in mind as a rule people believe that large breed dogs have problems with hip dysplasia. This is true to an extent. But, some small breeds of dogs are affected by this disease to the point of it being a very real problem in the breed. (ex PUGS). Feel free to contact me if you have questions about understanding the stats and ranking of breeds by the OFA and how this affects the breed you are interested in purchasing.

****Purchasing puppies and dogs from backyard breeders and pet stores increases the chances of that puppy or dog having hip dysplasia or another type of genetic disease.