Do you understand that you will be responsible for the care and well being of
a living, feeling creature that will be dependant on you fifteen years, give or
take? Yes, with modern veterinary care and quality food and excerise you can be
walking your dog in the rain and snow every day for almost as long as it takes
for an infant to grow up and graduate high school. Getting a dog is not a short
term commitment.
Have you ever owned a dog before. What breed? For how long? What happened to
them? Some breeds are easier than others to own. Just because you had a dog
before doesn't necessarily mean you're prepared for something like a Shiba-Inu.
God help you if the first dog breed you get is a Shiba. Generally the dog breeder
is just trying to gauge your level of experience with dogs.
What happened to your previous dogs is also important. If you had two run away,
one get hit by a car, and one turned over to the pound because it was "too much
hassle", don't wonder why a breeder won't sell to you. In fact, if that's
similar to your history with dogs, please buy a cat or maybe some fish.
Do you have any experience with this breed? Every breed is different in it's
own special way, and they all have their own delightful quirks and problems.
The dog breeder knows what his line's are and will try to make sure you're not
going to get involved with something you can't live with.
What hours do you work? How often do you travel? Dogs are pack animals. A dog
left alone ten or twelve hours a day or constantly boarded in a kennel isn't
going to be happy. Unhappy dogs usually develop behavioral problems, which in
turn leads to unhappy owners. Also, dogs require company to be happy and
healthy. If you're never going to be home, why do you want a pet in the first
place.
How many people are in your household? Any Children? How many? What ages?
Some breeds get along with all children, some older children with some
self-control, and some can't handle children well at all. Larger aggressive
breeds may try to bully children, while toy breeds can be injured by rough
play. If you're getting a dog to teach your kids responsibility, start off
with something like a house plant unless you don't mind inheriting the dog's
care when the novelty wears off. Otherwise, if they can care for a house plant
properly for six months, then think about buying them a dog.
What's the layout of your property? Are you in a house or an apartment? Some
dog breeds are perfectly happy in a small apartment as long as they have room
to nap. Others need to stretch-out, explore, and play.
Are you aware of the costs of owning a dog? The cost of good quality dog
food, vet care, licensing, and boarding can add up quickly
Other pets? Some breeds can cohabitate with just about any sort of animal,
others have a strong predatory drive to kill anything that won't kill them
first. Even if your other pet is another dog, it's still important to know
that you understand the social dynamics between dogs in a multi-dog household.
Do you have a yard? Is it fenced? How High? You should never leave a dog
outside unrestrained and unattended and many breeders will not sell to you
if you intend for their puppy to be an "outside" dog. For some breeds an
electronic fence will suit your containment needs. Some of the more aggressive
or guardian breeds will require a physical fence instead of an electronic one.
Not to keep them in, but to keep other animals and children out. For some of
the larger breeds you may need a six foot high fence as a standard height fence
can be jumped by a determined medium size dog. On a side note, tying your dog
to a tree, swing set, or stake is not really a good method of restraining a dog,
especially for protracted periods of time.
What sort of exercise will they get? Some breeds need long daily walks for
their mental and physical health. Dogs with lots of unspent energy will spend it
finding ways to get in trouble. If you don't like walking a few miles daily or
you don't have a really big yard, something like a Greyhound is not for
you.
Do you know, comprehend, and plan to follow the dog laws of your community?
If you can't be bothered to find out or follow local leash and containment
laws, why would a breeder want their puppies going home with you?
Are you going to obedience train? This is less critical for some breeds,
but for some of the more aggressive or guardian breeds it's a must. In general,
obedience training is good for any dog and it'll be a happier, better behaved
dog for it.
Is this puppy going to be a pet? Shown? Bred? The breeder is not trying to
trick you into revealing if you're going to be "competition" in the future.
If you're buying the dog as a pet, they'll probably want you to spay or neuter
the pet to prevent extra puppies, that while they are cute, the world really
doesn't need. Most breeders also have puppies that aren't show or breeding
quality, but will still make wonderful pets and will place them at a
reduced price.
