By: Bob Hendricks
So you’ve decided on purchasing a puppy! Good, now let’s take a look at some ways that will insure that you find the right puppy for you and the best quality puppy available for your needs.
What kind of puppy are you looking for? Do you want a hunting dog or do you want strictly a pet? Of course you can have both. I do not buy into the philosophy that a hunting dog cannot be a pet as well. A strong bond between the owner and the dog can only be a plus in hunting with the dog.
By now you have decided on the best breed for your purposes what next? It’s time to find a quality breeder. Pick a breeder with a good reputation. Talk to some people who have bought dogs from the breeder and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Observe the parents of the puppies if on the premises. What kind of temperament do the parents have? Do they seem hyper or aggressive? These are things to watch for. Check out the pedigrees of the pups to get a feel for the bloodlines that they are coming out of. Make sure the hips are certified as well as the eyes. Do not purchase from a pet shop.
Make sure the puppy has not been weaned too early and has been socialized with people and other dogs. Puppy should have had his first shots and wormed by now. One note while pick of the litter is great, beware, as most quality breeders will have pups spoken for already. Don’t take the firs dog, shop around and observe the puppies.
On pricing of the dog the old adage you get what you pay for is very well said when purchasing a quality puppy. Remember your pup is going to grow into a trusted friend and a dog that will hunt by your side over a period of many years. Look at the price as an investment. If you are purchasing a female you may want to breed her to a quality stud dog and you stand a good chance to make some money off of the sale of the pups if they are out of quality bloodlines. To obtain these types of dogs you will pay the going rate. This again is an area to shop around but remember that you get what you pay for. Joe down the street a back yard breeder may have some pups for sale, and while cute, they possess no quality bloodlines or proven track record in the history of the dog’s ancestors. The price may be cheap but if the quality is not there you have wasted your money if you desire a dog with good temperament and good hunting abilities. This is not to say that good hunting dogs have not come from such litters because they have but the odds are more in your favor with the dog that has established blood lines and a good track record in its ancestral blood lines. Yes it will cost more for a quality dog, but look at the investment over a ten year period of your dog’s life.
Male or female? Now this is a good question and both have their negative and positive sides. Just as many hunters will tell you that one is better than the other depending on which hunter you talk to. The female will be smaller and unless spayed will have her heat cycles that can be a problem during hunting season. However the female tends to not be as aggressive or have the urge to wander as a male may have. IF she is spayed at six months this can prevent mammary, and uterine cancer or pyometra. The male on the other hand is stronger and does not have the heat cycles to deal with. If neutered his urge to wander can be greatly decreased. Both have their pluses and minuses and deciding if you are going to breed your female or use your male for stud weighs heavily in the balances of options. This is all a matter of personal preference.
When picking out your dog observe the way the pups behave. Call the pups to you and if one comes to you quickly it may have a strong attachment to people. If one stops along the way he may have an independent streak. If one doesn’t come at all he may have trouble bonding with other people. If possible try to see the pups a couple of times and observe them. The breeder may be able to give you some feedback on which one is best for your needs.
Once you have chosen your puppy be sure to socialize him with other family members as well as pets. Don’t get too concerned if the other pets are a little stand offish or let out a growl or two at pup. This is normal and they are getting acclimated to one another.
It is a great idea to get pup into a puppy obedience class and teach him the basic commands of sit, stay, down, and not allowing him to jump up on you. Also training him to the leash to heel is a good way to have a dog that you can walk easily on a leash.
If you want a hunting dog, find a good trainer with references and talk to the trainer about what you want from your dog. Let the trainer access the dog to determine the best plan of training. You can of course train the dog yourself from many good tapes and books on the market. You benefit from the trainer’s experience because he has done this many times. You alone can make that decision on which way you want to go with the training. Be patient with pup and do not be harsh with him. The time and quality training that you do with pup now will have a lasting bearing on his future with you and what you expect of him.
Good luck on finding and training your best friend. Your dog will give you endless hours of enjoyment, and friendship that cannot be equaled. If your dog is to be a hunter you will share experiences in the hunting fields together that will bond you for life with beautiful autumn golden memories. It all starts with picking the right pup.
So you’ve decided on purchasing a puppy! Good, now let’s take a look at some ways that will insure that you find the right puppy for you and the best quality puppy available for your needs.
What kind of puppy are you looking for? Do you want a hunting dog or do you want strictly a pet? Of course you can have both. I do not buy into the philosophy that a hunting dog cannot be a pet as well. A strong bond between the owner and the dog can only be a plus in hunting with the dog.
By now you have decided on the best breed for your purposes what next? It’s time to find a quality breeder. Pick a breeder with a good reputation. Talk to some people who have bought dogs from the breeder and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Observe the parents of the puppies if on the premises. What kind of temperament do the parents have? Do they seem hyper or aggressive? These are things to watch for. Check out the pedigrees of the pups to get a feel for the bloodlines that they are coming out of. Make sure the hips are certified as well as the eyes. Do not purchase from a pet shop.
Make sure the puppy has not been weaned too early and has been socialized with people and other dogs. Puppy should have had his first shots and wormed by now. One note while pick of the litter is great, beware, as most quality breeders will have pups spoken for already. Don’t take the firs dog, shop around and observe the puppies.
On pricing of the dog the old adage you get what you pay for is very well said when purchasing a quality puppy. Remember your pup is going to grow into a trusted friend and a dog that will hunt by your side over a period of many years. Look at the price as an investment. If you are purchasing a female you may want to breed her to a quality stud dog and you stand a good chance to make some money off of the sale of the pups if they are out of quality bloodlines. To obtain these types of dogs you will pay the going rate. This again is an area to shop around but remember that you get what you pay for. Joe down the street a back yard breeder may have some pups for sale, and while cute, they possess no quality bloodlines or proven track record in the history of the dog’s ancestors. The price may be cheap but if the quality is not there you have wasted your money if you desire a dog with good temperament and good hunting abilities. This is not to say that good hunting dogs have not come from such litters because they have but the odds are more in your favor with the dog that has established blood lines and a good track record in its ancestral blood lines. Yes it will cost more for a quality dog, but look at the investment over a ten year period of your dog’s life.
Male or female? Now this is a good question and both have their negative and positive sides. Just as many hunters will tell you that one is better than the other depending on which hunter you talk to. The female will be smaller and unless spayed will have her heat cycles that can be a problem during hunting season. However the female tends to not be as aggressive or have the urge to wander as a male may have. IF she is spayed at six months this can prevent mammary, and uterine cancer or pyometra. The male on the other hand is stronger and does not have the heat cycles to deal with. If neutered his urge to wander can be greatly decreased. Both have their pluses and minuses and deciding if you are going to breed your female or use your male for stud weighs heavily in the balances of options. This is all a matter of personal preference.
When picking out your dog observe the way the pups behave. Call the pups to you and if one comes to you quickly it may have a strong attachment to people. If one stops along the way he may have an independent streak. If one doesn’t come at all he may have trouble bonding with other people. If possible try to see the pups a couple of times and observe them. The breeder may be able to give you some feedback on which one is best for your needs.
Once you have chosen your puppy be sure to socialize him with other family members as well as pets. Don’t get too concerned if the other pets are a little stand offish or let out a growl or two at pup. This is normal and they are getting acclimated to one another.
It is a great idea to get pup into a puppy obedience class and teach him the basic commands of sit, stay, down, and not allowing him to jump up on you. Also training him to the leash to heel is a good way to have a dog that you can walk easily on a leash.
If you want a hunting dog, find a good trainer with references and talk to the trainer about what you want from your dog. Let the trainer access the dog to determine the best plan of training. You can of course train the dog yourself from many good tapes and books on the market. You benefit from the trainer’s experience because he has done this many times. You alone can make that decision on which way you want to go with the training. Be patient with pup and do not be harsh with him. The time and quality training that you do with pup now will have a lasting bearing on his future with you and what you expect of him.
Good luck on finding and training your best friend. Your dog will give you endless hours of enjoyment, and friendship that cannot be equaled. If your dog is to be a hunter you will share experiences in the hunting fields together that will bond you for life with beautiful autumn golden memories. It all starts with picking the right pup.