Things To Know Before You Buy A Puppy...
July 26, 2010If you
are seriously thinking of getting a labradoodle, or any puppy, please do a lot
of research. Ask the breeder the following questions: * What
is your health guarantee, and what specifics does it cover? Look for a two year
guarantee against diseases that can be inherited by the puppies, a good breeder
will not ask you to euthanize your pet before refunding your money or replacing
your puppy/dog with another one. I know it sounds incredible that someone would
ask you to euthanize your puppy before they would give you your money back, but
I have seen a contract with that exact language in it. * What
health testing did the parents have? The basic health testing of both parents
should include the following: hip/elbows (Pennhip or OFA), Von Willebrand's
Disease, cardiac, eyes
(CERF). A good breeder will not have a problem producing a copy of the testing
done on their breeding dogs. If the breeder tells you that the parents are
tested thru parentage, (meaning the grandparents of the puppies), look somewhere
else. * Can
we contact or meet a family who has adopted one of your puppies? A referral
will tell you a lot about the breeder and the puppies he/she produces. A good
breeder will not have a problem providing you with a number of referrals. * How
many breeds of dogs do you produce? A hobby breeder will concentrate on one
breed to be familiar with the temperament of the puppies they produce. Most
hobby breeders are passionately interested in one specific breed, not in the
breed dujour, or in trying to maximize profits by having as many puppies as
possible for you to choose from. * How
many dogs do you have? Never get a puppy from a kennel, or a pet shop! You
should get a puppy from a family whose breeding dogs are a part of their
family, and are not kept in a kennel or a crate most of their lives. In
reality, the more dogs you have, the less one on one you can give them. A
happy, well loved breeding dog will produce excellent puppies. * Did
you acquire your breeding dog (s) as a puppy or as an adult? You may think this
is not your business, but you need to know where your puppy's lineage is coming
from, and how the breeding dogs are treated. I know a breeder who acquires
adult dogs who have been bred a few times, the breeder does not intend to spend
a couple of years raising a dog for breeding, instead prefers to breed the
adult dogs she acquires a couple more times then get rid of them in whatever
means she can find, including euthanizing them. * What
happens to your breeding dogs when they retire, or if they don't pass the
health testing, or are found to have some health issues? It may be a shock to
you but I know a doodle breeder who euthanizes her breeding dogs if they are
found to be unhealthy to breed. What you would rather see, is that the breeder has
the dog fixed and given to an approved, loving home. * What
kind of environment are the puppies exposed to? It is very important that the
puppies are handled every day, and that they are exposed to a lot of stimuli,
i.e. kids playing, TV, the radio playing, vacuum cleaner, and other family
routines. Puppies kept away from this kind of environment grow up to be fearful
and have more difficulty adjusting in their new homes. * Do
you do anything special before the puppies go to their permanent homes? It would
be ideal to take home a puppy who has been introduced to crate training, potty
training, and walking on a leash. Also,
be very inquisitive about the price of the puppies. Surely, you would like to
take home a high quality puppy, but do not be deceived by the idea that a
$2000.00 puppy is better quality than a $1000.00 puppy. Your basis should be
the questions listed above. A good breeder's intention is to find a good home
for the puppies, not who can pay the most for the puppies. I have been told by
another breeder that I make her and other breeders look greedy because I sell
my puppies for a lot less... my simple answer to her is that I don’t make my
living out of my puppies, I raise these puppies because I love this particular
breed of dog. Obviously,
you are reading this post because you are taking the time to find the best
puppy for your family; I congratulate you in taking the first step. Get
yourself familiar with the breed of dog that you are interested in.
Labradoodles are wonderful dogs and I don't think you can go wrong if you find
your labradoodle from a reputable breeder. Please
watch for other posts on this blog as we will be giving health tips, training
tips, and reviews on crates, dog toys, dog treats, things that we have found
work for us, either through trial and error or recommendations.
Posted by M. Estabrook.