I have the money why cant I have the puppy?

Why should you care about who you get your next puppy or dog from?

It is what happens after you walk away with your new pet that counts the most.   You want a breeder or rescue group to provide you with a healthy dog or puppy and make sure you are aware of any problems.   You want knowledgeable support when it comes to training and behavior issues.    you need support if you can no longer keep your dog for any reason.   A good breeder or rescue group will be like an extended family.  


Good Rescue Groups:

Are very community involved so they know what you need to know about dog concerns in your areas.

Have evaluated all the dogs that they sponsor and in most cases have trained them.

Understand that stressed shelter dogs who are reactive to other dogs are not necessarily dog aggressive.

Practice positive reinforcement and desensitization of stressed and fearful dogs and are very successful at changing old behaviors and teaching you how to continue.

Enjoy staying in touch and hearing about your dog.

Will understand that they may miss a perfect home because the applicant does not fit their parameters.

Will be around for future support as needed.

In most cases will help re-home the dog if necessary.

Charge small adoption donation fees that generally cover the dogs spay / neuter and vaccinations and at times other health issues.

Work hard to match family to dog.


Good breeders:

Believe it is all about a good caring conscientious forever home.

Consider new owners like family

Do not repeat a breeding unless there were no puppies or something spectacular happened!

Help and support their breed rescue and their local community by fostering, donations, shelter help, fighting BSL, promoting Responsible dog ownership and have practices in place to ensure none of their product becomes a community statistic or burden

Do not have more dogs than they can provide quality of life for each.

Look for the best stud dog for their bitch, which is usually not the dog in their own house

Will take back their puppy/dog at any time of it's life. 

Wants to stay in touch

Have a contract which will be about the welfare of the dog and may include spay and neuter requirements

Are careful how their puppies are placed and at times will co-own or put limits on registration in order to provide mentorship before removing strings.

Can prove the temperament of their dogs is correct.

Are willing to let you meet the dam and any other examples of the breed in their home.

Will be there for you for days, weeks, months and even years after the purchase.

Have titles on their dogs that will justify Type * Temperament * Soundness for the breed.

Health test their dogs per National Parent Club Health Committee requirements for the breed and often times more.

Will be willing to mentor you or steer you in the right direction so that you can pursue other avenues in the dog world.

Will carefully screen and evaluate the homes for their pups.

Will understand that they may miss a perfect home because the applicant does not fit in their parameters.

Are proud of the dogs they own and have bred and are active in their dog community. 


Good Homes:

Understand that a good breeder wants a future relationship and continuous communication therefore it is like interviewing for a position and you can be turned away even if you have 100 dollar bills falling out of your pockets.

Understand that a rescuer wants the best possible outcome for shelters dogs who have already had a rough start so they may make you jump thru several hoops before approving you for adoption.

Understands the importance of a strong adoption approval process

Is not offended if the breeder or rescue group does not choose them for a puppy.

Knows a breeder is invested in knowing how their/your puppy grows up so they can continue to improve their future choices for breeding.

That there are not always enough puppies or dogs to meet specific demands.

Know that researching the breed and breeders is important to get a healthy properly matched dog for their lifestyle.

Know what proper care, training and socialization are and they don't mind learning new ways of doing things. 

Know how very important responsible dog ownership is in their own community

Know their community dog laws, and what BSL is

Are realistic in their expectations of how a dog fits in their family and proper interaction between the children and puppy/dog.

Understand the importance of meeting the breeder in person and picking up their new puppy.

Do not argue over price because they know the purchase cost is the smallest part of the expense of owning a dog. 

Understand that there may be costly and emergency expenses during the life of the dog

Understand that proper health care and nutrition has a cost associated with it.

Look forward to the home visit part of the process as a way to ensure they are ready for their new dog.



Copyright 2013 Ciera Reflections. All Rights Reserved