There are so many decisions to make prior to getting a new dog.

First you must decide the breed, the place you will purchase the dog from, if you should choose a male or female, as well as decide if a puppy or an adult dog is right for you. Taking the time to make these decisions is important for both you and your pet.

In making a decision between an adult Spaniel and a puppy, there are several questions you should ask yourself:

· How comfortable are you in training a puppy?

· How much time do you have to set aside for training?

· Can you spend time with the puppy for the majority of the day and night?

· Do you have patience to work with young animals?

The following sections will discuss the positive aspects and the difficulties of

purchasing a puppy or an adult dog. Thinking your options through will help you determine the best choice given your situation and environment.

Anyone who has ever seen, held or played with a puppy can quickly tell you

the biggest benefit of getting a puppy. Their cute, loveable and energetic

personalities are wonderful, and they bring a smile to everyone’s face.

Puppies are great for families and individuals that want to spend time with the

young dog, to bring it up and train it specifically as the family wants and

needs. Raising a puppy allows the owners to provide the training and

socialization to make the puppy into a happy, healthy and well-behaved dog.

Purchasing a  puppy from a reputable breeder or shelter ensures that the dog will be with the family for the longest possible time, as the owners can provide proper care, nutrition, and veterinary treatment for the life of the dog.

Watching the puppy playing with its littermates may also give an indication as

to its temperament as an adult dog. Puppies in the litter that tend to be more

aggressive and assertive are more likely to be independent, and potentially

more difficult to train as they grow. The puppies that stay more isolated are

usually more quiet and shy as adult dogs, and may have difficulty socializing

and interacting with strangers and in strange situations.

If you have made the decision that a dog or a puppy from one of these breeds is the best choice of a pet for you and your family, your next decision is

where to buy the animal. There are a wide range of options to consider when

determining where to get your dog or puppy. Depending on the type of

puppy that you would like (if you want to use the dog for breeding or showing or not), and how long you are willing to wait for a dog or puppy will probably influence which option is best for you.

RESCUE SHELTERS

 

A rescue shelter is a good option to get an adult dog that is going to be a companion animal for you and your family.

Usually the shelter will allow you to spend some time with the dogs that they

have for adoption and purchase, and this will give you time to check on their

temperament and behavior.

Often shelters will agree to take the animal back if it does not adjust to your

home or family. Many of the adult dogs from the shelter are already trained,

and this can be an asset when you do not want to go through the training

process.

When getting a dog from a shelter be sure to check the following:

· Ask for any information available about the dog.

· Make sure the animal has had a complete check-up and that the

vaccinations are up to date.

· Ask if the dog has any behavioral issues or other concerns such as eating

or barking.

· Does the dog appear healthy and energetic?

· Will the rescue shelter allow you to spend time with the dog prior to taking

it home?

· What is the policy on spaying or neutering the animal?

· Can you return the dog if, for some reason, the adoption does not work out

as planned?

Drawback to rescue shelter dogs

 

There are some drawbacks to getting a dog from a

shelter:

· The dog may have learned bad or negative behaviors and will have to be

re-trained.

· You have limited choice over the breeding, size and gender of the dogs

available.

· You have little information on their lineage or medical history.

Shelters are more likely to have adult dogs than puppies.

· Most animals will have to be neutered before leaving the shelter, or you

will have to agree to neuter or spay the animal.

PET STORES

 

There are major concerns when buying a puppy at a pet store. It is against kennel control rules for breeder to sell registered puppies to pet stores, so often the purebred puppies offered are from ”puppy mills“.

These puppy mills are kennels that simply breed dogs to produce large

quantities of saleable puppies, rather than trying to selectively breed to

specifications and positive attributes of the breed. Often these purebred

puppies will not be show quality, and the buyer will not learn of this until they

attempt to register or show the dog. Unless you are familiar with the top lines

of the breed, it is difficult to know a good quality purebred from a poor quality

or line.

The second concern is that there may only be one puppy of a breed to choose

from. This limits your ability to compare the puppy with littermates or other

puppies of the same breed. Puppies in pet stores are also stressed, as they

are away from their home environment. They may be exposed to different pet

diseases, and will need a thorough vet examination as soon as possible after

purchase.

BREEDER

 

While probably the most expensive choice, buying from a puppy or dog from a  breeder is generally the best option if you want a purebred puppy from a reputable line. Most breeders offer a guarantee of health, as well as detailed information on the breed. A breeder will often interview you as a potential owner, and may even want to come and visit your home before agreeing to sell a puppy.

They will often provide recommendations on food, veterinarians in the area, trainers, problematic issues with the breed, as well as other points of interest. Most breeders willalso discuss issues with spaying or neutering the pets, unless it is agreed upon that the puppy will be a show dog or future breeding stock.

Before visiting a breeder, it is important to ask for information on the line of dogs that they are breeding, as well as any relevant health information on the parents. Do some research both on the breed and on the line the puppies are bred from. Calling other kennels that are breeding the same type of dogs or contacting the breed association may be helpful.

Getting this information prior to visiting the breeder is essential as it is all too

easy to get caught up in the excitement of getting a new puppy.

Make sure that the Kennel Club in your country or location recognizes the

breeder. Ask for information on shows or events that the breeder has

participated in and where his/her dogs have been entered. If the breeder is

unable or unwilling to provide this information, it may be wise to consider

trying another breeder.

Be aware that puppies from championship lines may be difficult to purchase

and you may have to wait for a puppy. Good breeders will not produce litter

after litter; rather they will breed their dogs based on the health and well being

of the female.

Purchasing a puppy from a breeder is the option that allows you to know the temperament and lineage of the parent dogs, as well as the medical background of the puppy. It also insures that you will get a quality animal that can be shown or bred if desired.

FINDING A GOOD BREEDER

 

Being a dog breeder is not like being a doctor, lawyer or teacher; there are no

set training or educational requirements to the job. Rather the health,

temperament and adherence to breed standards or their animals are the

measure by which a breeder is judged.

Most breeders have a genuine love for their animals, and breed them responsibly and in the best interests of the individual animals – as well as the breed as a whole. After all, breeders’ reputations are based on the ability of the puppies they sell to develop into champions of the breed. Unfortunately, as with most things, there

are those who consider themselves breeders who are more interested in making money than raising dogs.

In order to get the puppy that you want and to be satisfied with the dog both

now and in the future it is important to do some research on the breeder that

you are considering.

WHY GET A PUPPY FROM A BREEDER?

 

Purchasing your puppy from a breeder provides you with:

· Peace of mind as to the medical background of the puppy’s parents in

current and past generations.

· Quality assurance that the puppy that you purchase will meet breed

standards and specifications.

· Support in understanding and working with the breed of your choice

· Advice as to vaccination regimes, medical concerns associated with the

breed, local trainers and handlers, and other questions you may have.

The breeder’s role is to continue to choose dogs to breed that will enhance

the most desirable characteristics of the breed, and minimize any undesirable

characteristics. A will usually be active in showing animals, and will be very aware of the current trends in the breed, so they will be actively pursuing the breed standards.

In addition to being aware of current and future trends, a good breeder will

also be aware of the history and lineage of each individual dog that they have,

and will be aware of any potential problems in breeding into another line.

WHAT SHOULD YOU ASK A BREEDER?

 

Breeders that are concerned about advancing the breed, and who care for

each of the puppies they have will be more than happy to answer any

questions you may have. They will, in fact, probably want to ask you several

of their own before deciding if you are right for their puppy.

As the buyer you should consider getting the following information from the

breeder:

· Does the breeder have a contract to purchase that clearly outlines the

guarantee of health and a return or refund policy?

Does the breeder know or has he/she worked with both the parents of the

puppy?

· Can the breeder provide a lineage chart for the puppy tracing back several

generations?

· Will the breeder let you see the other animals in the kennel and is the

kennel clean, well maintained and animal friendly?

· Are you allowed to see other adult dogs and puppies that the breeder

owns socialize together?

· Does the breeder limit the amount that you handle the pups?

· Does the local, state or national breed organization or club recognize the

breeder?

· How often does the breeder allow the female and male to breed and

reproduce?

A good breeder will be concerned with the safety and health of the puppies, and will only allow serious buyers to handle the puppies. If you are just enquiring about the breed you may be able to see them from a distance and may be able to interact with the adult dogs. A breeder may also limit how long you are in the kennel with the puppies at any given time, even if you are a serious buyer.

WHAT SHOULD A BREEDER ASK YOU?

 

Many people who are buying a puppy from a breeder for the first time feel a

bit overwhelmed by the information that the breeder requests. It can seem

rather gruelling! This is done to ensure that the puppy will be properly cared

for and treated once it is sold.

Answering the breeder’s questions and making any recommended changes in

your arrangements will increase your chances of obtaining a puppy.

The breeder may typically ask the following:

· What is your home and yard like? The breeder may ask to home and visit

your home, just as you are visiting the kennel or the breeder’s home.

· What are your intentions for the dog? The breeder may require that you

spay or neuter the dog, or only breed to animals that they approve

· They may ask for a history of your pets, and may require you to sign an

agreement regarding how you will train, use or show the dog.

· They may ask the situation and schedule of your family, and may want to

know how many people will interact with the dog, and how old any children

are in the family.

· The breeder may require that you train the puppy at a particular trainer, or

using a particular method.

· The breeder may require that you return the dog to them before selling or

giving the dog to someone else, in the event that it does not work out for

you to keep the dog.

The more information that you know about the breeder and the breed, and the

more information the breeder knows about you, the better the match will be.

Discuss your concerns or issues with the breeder, and take the time to do

some research before making the first visit. Attending some dog shows or

events may help you to determine which breeder you would like to work with.

last, but not least ......

Despite being a gentle and affectionate breed, these breeds do generally have the patience for young children, with any dog young children need to be supervised, particularly unruly children. Early socialization and obedience training of both puppy and child are important.

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