CJ has had a rough week. Not only is she apparently infected with a horrible parasite (courtesy of frolicking in muddy puddles), but as we have had builders in recently, she has had to stay in her crate in order to stay out of their way. Naturally, she hasn’t enjoyed this.

The problem with sitting in a crate for most of the morning and afternoon is the lack of entertainment. Watching a builder build some doors just doesn’t cut it, so naturally in the evening, she has been… demanding.

Still, this has been countered by the fact that she is now quite ill and rather lethargic. Currently she is lying on the floor, sleeping despite having done nothing all day.

That is about to change as I’m about to take her to Ashton Court in order to wake her up. Pity the snow has all gone.

CJ is still going through a rebellious phase and as a result, Helen is going back into full on training mode. While things seem to be progressing well, there are still moments of full out defiance. A prime example of this occurred last week.

Upstairs has long been forbidden to CJ and for the past five months she has seemed to understand this. The only time, she is allowed up there is when it is bathtime and she seems eager enough to leave once it is all over.

However last week when Helen went upstairs, CJ followed her. Refusing all commands to come downstairs, she simply sat there mocking me. She didn’t even go exploring, she just sat at the top of the stairs and looked down at me, revelling in her ability to ignore me.

Luckily I have a secret weapon. An inflatable shark.

Now the reason why I have an inflatable shark is unimportant, but while tidying up the living room, I noticed CJ was growling at it. When I picked it up, she backed out of the room and hid. It turns out, she is terrified of it.

So there you go, if you want to re-establish who the boss is – use a large blow-up marine predator.

I feel that the world we live in today is all about seeking perfection – as a mum the competition to have a baby who didn’t cry all the the time and slept through the night was incredible. And if your baby isn’t sleeping as well or is crying much more than anyone else’s, guess whose left feeling rubbish about themselves? Poor mum.

Babies and breast-feeding aside, the main part of my day has been talking about dogs – my day job. This year we’ve invested heavily in audience insights work to try and understand people’s motivations for getting a puppy so that we can develop an intervention plan to reduce the numbers that end up in animal centres – earlier research revealed that 1 in 5 people who got a puppy within the last three years no longer have that dog. And what’s the reason?

It all points to perfection again – people want the perfect looking as well as perfectly behaved puppy. We’re hoping to tackle the issue of how puppies are bred for looks with our new Born to Suffer campaign, which calls for the health and welfare of puppies to be place above looks. Trying to change people’s behaviour to not buy a puppy based on looks is a no go – the power of the puppy is way too strong – so this is an issue we need to tackle via those who have the power to change the way dogs are bred.

But everyone who has ever had a puppy will tell you just how difficult it is to cope with a young pup and this is where I draw on the similarities between the story about breast-fed babies and puppies (and not in a smutty sense, thank you!). I think rescue centres are the formula feed of the dog world, the means by which people can rid themselves of their guilt when they find they can’t cope. By finding a new home for their puppy, they’re happy, the puppy/dog’s happy, all sorted. Or is it?

Animal centres are full to the brim of unwanted dogs while people continue to go out and buy puppies. No amount of education we’ve found will stop people from getting a puppy if that’s what they’re determined to do – for many a rescue dog doesn’t create the perfect image they’re looking for. But what we can do is focus on helping people to keep their dog and not give up when the going gets tough – a controversial thought but just imagine if there were rescue centres for babies…

It seems that shaving CJ last month has had unfortunate consequences. She now hates us – specifically me.

I don’t blame her. Being manhandled and forced to have a disasterous haircut would piss anyone off, but ever since then she has growled at me and Helen whenever we touch her and refused to obey any commands.

It could also be because she is now 7 and a half months old, which roughly equates to her being a 13 year old girl. I guess this is the canine equivalent of slamming the bedroom door, screaming “I hate you” and listening to My Chemical Romance very loudly.

Now Helen has been forced to essentially re-teach her everything.  This includes simple commands, praising her for doing the basics and showering her with attention.

Me? Well, CJ and I are kind of at loggerheads ever since she was ‘overfed’ at Christmas and had explosive diarrhoea over the living room carpet. She ignores me, I ignore her, but every now and then, we put aside our hostilities and watch some TV. However most of time, she is trying to steal my dinner.

I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be a trying year.

Also – I think she’s starting to change colour. She’s getting grey patches all over her. Maybe it’s stress…

OK, so I feel a little guilty about it or I wouldn’t have to protest so much. But only a little! And not because of all the dog nuts that will judge me.

It’s impossible to hear the mention of “dog” these days without a “rescue” chaser somewhere in the next sentence or two. When did this happen? I’ve been based in Austin for the past six years so I can’t tell if this is just a local phenomenon or sweeping the country. I think we can all agree that there’s nothing wrong with people adopting abandoned dogs. But I think we can also agree that nobody likes a sanctimonious prig. Not that allllll (or even most) rescue dog owners are assholes – several GOOD, funny, down to earth, normal friends have taken in rescue dogs and don’t judge those who don’t– but I resent the fact that the “rescue” brand has so thoroughly infiltrated itself in all matters canine.

Going to the pound to get your dog or cat is nothing new. Wanting other people to think you’re a better person because of it, is new. Maybe pound-purchasers are better people, but do the rest of us have to hear about it so much? You’d think that our society didn’t have more pressing problems like…human poverty, child abuse, PTSD and depression among returning veterans…take your pick. I have nothing against champions of the companion pet surplus cause per se – a healthy community should be made up of compassionate people that, for whatever reason, work on different issues. But when the fever pitch for “rescuing” domestic pets rises far above the call to do something for humans in need, I’m calling foul.

The irony is that in the human world, the value system is opposite. Most support planned pregnancies and have little-to-nothing to do with other people’s unplanned pregnancies. When I worked at a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Chicago we used to get protesters from the neighborhood bible school on Saturdays. This was mildly amusing to us because we did abortions six days a week so it seemed strange that our one half day – Saturday – was the target, but we didn’t look a gift protest in the mouth. I’d watch them from the security vestibule window as they marched their little circle, yelling cheerful but brutal slogans to our patients. I wanted to run out there in my pink scrubs and demand to know which of them had adopted an unwanted baby from the South Side of Chicago recently. The protesters would’ve told me that wasn’t the point – their idea of human life trumped practical matters like who would pay for the diapers or provide childcare while mom worked her job at Walgreen’s. It might not be the main point, but it’s a pretty big one if you’re the one trying to figure out that stuff.

At the time we were the only abortion clinic with an on-site adoption agency. On my lunch breaks I’d flip through the photo albums of families who wanted to adopt babies. To a one they were upper middle class white couples who wanted a white baby (maybe Angelina Jolie has changed that?). Then I’d look at the list of women (I say women but most were teenage girls) who wanted to place their babies with adoptive families. They were primarily black. There were few, if any, black couples who wanted to adopt, and there were few pregnant white women who chose adoption. There was supply, and there was demand, but not in the right categories. There’s a project for the bible school protest club.

Anyway, my point is, somehow the rescue dog thing has become a proxy for establishing oneself as an altruist and I think it’s a pretty low bar. The fact that the plight of under-resourced dogs has become so fashionable just highlights to me how unengaged people are with under-resourced people.

How can I say anything that won’t sound like rationalizing my own decision not to go the rescue route? To someone who lives and dies to prevent no-kill kennels, probably nothing. But I did do my research and found out a few things about the risks involved with taking in a pound pooch and decided it wouldn’t be responsible for me to do. If you’re still reading, I’ll tell you about a few. (If not, get ready for a fight on the hike and bike trail.)

When I started thinking about getting a dog I assumed I would go to the pound and take home the first pooch that gave me a sympathetic tail wag. I started looking at the online catalogs for adoptable dogs from the various shelters around town. I was shocked that almost 90% of the dogs pictured were Pitt mixes. This isn’t the shelters’ fault – clearly unfixed Pitt proliferation is a huge problem (see: my neighborhood)  – but one of these “misunderstood” dogs didn’t fit with my first dog ownership fantasy. Fantasy or reality. I won’t enter into the Pitt controversy – let’s just assume with the right person any of these guys could clean up real good and not break into the neighbor’s house to kill her while she sleeps. I’m not that person.

While house sitting this summer I got to spend two months with a Pitt named Chalmers who I fell in love with. It wasn’t like with the other three house mutts – when Chalmers and I looked into each other’s eyes, we communicated. I knew that he had my back (not for dinner, but if anyone like the well-intentioned mailman tried anything on me.) I also knew that his blood lust for squirrels overpowered all of my loudest screams and threats to “Get the fuck back into the house!!” All of the nicey, nicey went out the window if I got in the path of Chalmer’s prey’s scent path. So, I loved the dog 70% of the time; the other 30% I was scared shitless. Again, the right person probably could have worked on a better ratio, but I’m not that person. Ruling out Pitts in this day and age means the pound pickins be real limited. As I continued my research, I realized there was another problem: money.

One of the many things that annoy me about the rescue dog phenomenon is that everyone acts like taking in one of these dogs is free, so you must be a double asshole to actually spend money on a planned-birth puppy. First of all, “rehoming” fees (another ridiculous re-branding term that reeks of sanctimonious hidden profit) can be up to $500. I know this often includes spay/neuter and other supportive stuff, but $500 is $500. It’s not free. And, because, depending on the circumstances, you’re never entirely sure about what you’re getting, that could be just the beginning. Over the past few months I’ve been talking to friends who’ve taken in abandoned dogs about how much the overall experience cost. I was astounded. Maybe my collection of friends and acquaintances is more unlucky than most, but three that I asked paid over $1,500 in the first week of ownership for various undiagnosed medical problems not discovered or disclosed by the rescue organization. One dog was pregnant and needed an abortion and hysterectomy, one had some intestinal infection and another had a necrotizing wound in its shoulder. These are the exceptions, the rescue ralliers will tell me. They might be, but I don’t have $1,500 to bet on that. Another costly item that’s come up for most was training.

Most dog owners invest in some type of training these days – whether unplanned or planned puppies (for exceptions see: my neighborhood). But through this process I’ve learned that there are a few early puppyhood experiences that can increase the likelihood of behavior problems – primarily aggression – later down the line. One revelation was the importance of how long puppies get to stay with their litters.

I found a bargain basement Golden Doodle on Craigslist and had a very brief window to decide if I wanted to “rehome” her. She had an eyelash issue that made her weep that the seller said she would probably grow out of but there was a small chance she’d need surgery. Surgery worried me. Surgery is expensive. My mom suggested I call her breeder, I did, and she spent an hour on the phone with me answering my questions. The eyelash thing was no big deal, the breeder told me, but it sounded like she might have a bit more poodle in her than one would want because it upped her risk of hereditary weirdness, but maybe not…by minute 43 of the 45 minute conversation I had my checkbook in hand and was ready to pounce. Before we hung up I said, “Oh, just one more thing. I’m sure it’s not a big deal but my mom thought it was kind of weird that the puppy had been taken away from her litter when she was only six weeks old…is that a big deal?” “Caitlin,” the breeder told me, “I’m sorry but you can’t get that dog.”

She explained to me that while most people think the crucial issue with taking a dog away from it’s doggie family early is because of bonding with its mommy, the real problem is the rumbling and cuddling it misses out on with the rest of the puppies. Apparently the six to eight week window of puppy-on-puppy play is essential to their socialization. Without it, she has seen dogs become very aggressive towards other dogs right around when they turn two. After having to put a few dogs asleep that she had taken in as puppies (knowing they had been taken from the litter too early) she changed her practice as a breeder to keep puppies until ten weeks to make double sure she doesn’t send home any dogs that might pose a future risk to the families. If you do get a too-early-taken puppy, she said, you have to work incredibly hard to try to recreate the puppy socialization from the moment you get it, often involving professional help.

Armed with this information, I said no to the Craigslist special and started to look at the pound again for non-Pitt puppies who had a full puppyhood. For most, it was impossible to tell. They’d been found somewhere, histories unknown. I decided I just couldn’t take the risk. I hope to have a family in the next few years and fearing that I had a ticking time bomb of aggression in my dog just wouldn’t work.

I felt pretty stuck after all this research. I really wanted a puppy but I don’t have very much money for surprises and will be learning as I go about training. I called the breeder again. We worked out a deal: I’ll write some articles for her website in exchange for a hefty discount on one of her well-cared for family farm-raised Golden Doodles that her several babies and toddlers (her own “litter” is quite vast) have nuzzled and cradled since they hatched. The dog’s health is guaranteed for five years and I’ve met several dogs from her batches and all were gentle, friendly and fit my fantasy of my new best friend.

Next time around I’ll find an exhausted Beagle who’s retired owners couldn’t care for anymore. This time, I need a puppy and I’m getting one and if anyone asks if it’s a rescue dog I won’t argue. “Yes, this dog just rescued me.”

“Um… CJ?”

The past week has seen me walking CJ for a few evenings and once in the morning. It has raised some interesting questions, namely – how the hell do you keep track of a black dog in a dark park during the evening?

Helen decided to solve this by buying a flashing LED light that hung from her collar. She ate the first one and the second one’s effectiveness is limited to say the least.

While she generally stays close if it is just us in the park, throw another dog into the equation and she will going running off into the dark completely out of sight.

It requires following the sound of her jangling collar to finally track her down which is more tiring than it sounds. Especially when she’s chasing a terrier…

That is why I favour the ‘take her to the beach and let her tire herself out’ approach. As I’d left my wallet work, that’s exactly what we did at the weekend – cue lots of running and jumping over rocks to make sure she slept well.

In fact, it seems I have found my niche – tiring the dog out. We did the same thing tonight and she is currently crashed out in front of the TV after an evening of doing a few errands in the car (she wasn’t driving) and going to the park. Plus she seems to be genuinely affectionate to me – which is nice.

“Please play with me.”

CJ is currently doing laps of the living room while I write this. I’m sat on the sofa and she is running around me like she’s on fire. I don’t know why – she should be tired as we’ve just spent the past 20 minutes playing with her new toys. That’s right – new toys!

Toys are awesome. Everyone thinks so, but there are three main groups that know so – men, children between the ages of 2-8 and, as I learnt this week, dogs.

My previous blog post charted how an evening with just me and CJ descended into barking, anger, frustration, mud and eventually, me drinking lots to calm me down. To apologise for leaving me along with an excitable puppy, Helen decided to clean up the house and after a couple of hours, the kitchen and conservatory were mopped and they looked like the day we moved in. Of course within 10 minutes, CJ had muddied the floor, but I appreciated the effort.

One of the main sources of ‘mess’ are CJ’s toys. Previously, Helen has gotten her cuddly toys like a pineapple and a duck which she has, over time, shredded to pieces. In order to prevent more stuffing and pieces of toys strewn across the living room, I agreed to accompany Helen to get some ‘tougher toys’ from The Range. Oh and also get some new door mats to soak up the amount of water and dirt, the excitable sponge seems to absorb.

I decided if I was going to use these toys to play with CJ they had to meet certain criteria:

1) Last more than a month

2) Not be shreddable

3) Entertain me

With that in mind, I choose (and Helen bought) one of these things and that most fun of all toys - a frisbee! All attempts to play fetch with CJ have resulted in a trek to find and recover the ball, so I was hoping even if she didn’t get the idea of a frisbee, I’d still be able to play with it.

I shouldn’t have worried. She loves it – both of them. The little minx now ‘drops’, ‘sits’, ‘waits’ and ‘fetches’ when ordered and chases the frisbee like there is tomorrow. That’s right, I have complete control again!

Though she has promptly shredded one of Helen’s new house mats.

Many breeders today in the United States practice in-breeding and line-breeding in all breeds.  It has caused an ocean of health problems in every breed.  Some breeds have passed the point of being saved due to genetic disorders from this practice.  Still many breeders, dog clubs, dog registries, etc. put their head in the sand and pretend it is not happening.  Instead they boast of health clearances and sell bold guarantees on the health of these puppies/dogs.  The public is unaware.  No one can give a clearance for health on any dog/puppy that has been in-bred or line-bred.  Generations of these practices is a nightmare for the dogs/puppies that have to endure the health problems and their owners that do everything in their power to save them.

It’s time to demand from the AKC, dog clubs, dog registries and breeders that these insane practices of in-breeding and line-breeding be stopped.

It would the greatest loss we as a people ever endured if we lost the Golden Retriever and other breeds that we all love.  It’s happening NOW!

White Oak Golden Retrievers has clean lines of goldens and we do NOT in-breed or line-breed.  We have a very healthy line of puppies that we offer to good families across America.

Pick up a copy of ”The Bark” today.  This current issue also has a great article on diet written by the Editor in Chief; Claudia Kawczynska.  If you have a dog; you need this info.

White Oak Golden Retrievers

www.whiteoakgoldenretrievers.com

“Erm… it’s not going to be this big is it?”

I never liked dogs as a kid. To me, they were smelly, noisy, hairy and took up too much of your time for not much in return. When my brothers in their youth proposed the idea of getting a dog to my parents, I was quick to shoot the whole idea down.

For almost 28 years, I have lived a dog-free existence. I have left books on the floor, electronic devices on low tables and assorted items of clothing wherever I want.

That is about to change.

After resisting for several years, my girlfriend Helen (avid dog lover) has persuaded me to get a puppy (half Newfoundland Poddle (I am not calling it a Newfypoo) and half Old English Sheepdog).

It was no mean feat. I demanded the following:

a) A full breakdown of costs (one time and monthly) for the dog to make sure SHE could afford it (This was then sent to dog-savvy friends for verification).

b) A guarantee that I would not have to:

• walk the dog early in the morning
• pick up dog poo
• pay for anything (unless I wanted to)
• feed her
• essentially do anything unless I wanted to

c) Any mess and breakages would be cleaned up/replaced by her

d) I get to pick the name

All of the above was agreed to and here we are – 48 hours from getting a puppy… and I still haven’t decided on a name.

So what’s the point in this little site? Well,  I see it as an experiment – whether I, Timon Singh, long time member of the “I don’t care about dogs and their stupid furry faces” club can, over time, learn to appreciate them.

It will also chart the almost guaranteed disasters, fights, breakages and hopefully the feelings of warmth and ownership I am assured will follow.

It might even be cathartic.

However right now, the only feeling I have is one of deep foreboding.

"So?"

Yes, THAT Gus. Gus the Beagle-Basset. In case you don’t, let me tell you more about him.

zzzzzzzzzzz......

Gus has a few problems. When we got him at 6 months, he was overweight and had almost no training (including house-training…that was fun). He didn’t make eye contact with people. He had separation anxiety and would howl in the most heart-breaking way when we left the house. He had to be fed in a separate room from Madeline and confined until she was finished eating, or else he would attack her and steal her food.

Unlike Madeline, who is a very bright dog and a quick learner, Gus was (and is) very slow to learn new things. It took him a long time to learn not to pee in the house. It took him a long time to learn a routine that would allow him to eat in the same room as Madeline without incident.

It took him a long time to learn that, when we left the house, we were coming back.

I don’t know just why Gus is, to put it charitably, a bit slow. Probably a combination of poor maternal nutrition, early puppyhood neglect, and maybe a few kicks to the head. Because he’s a rescue dog we don’t have any way of finding out. But I do know that, even though it took a while and he’ll always have some issues (he still needs to follow a food routine and he’ll always be a bit chubby), he’s become a wonderful, loving, fun dog. And I wouldn’t trade him in for the smartest Bagel Hound in the world.

Mostly because I already have the smartest Bagel Hound in the world.

So what’s the PSA? Did I write this just to wax sentimental about my slightly developmentally delayed dog, or do I have a point?

It’s this: It’s spring. I’ve been seeing lots of new puppies in the dog parks. And if you’re thinking of getting one – maybe you promised your kids that if they do well on their last report cards they get a puppy, or maybe you’re taking up running and want a dog to go with you, or maybe you just want a dog – don’t go to a breeder and get a $2000 puppy. Go to Petfinder or your local shelter and get a Gus.

Sure, there will probably be issues. But you can work through them – we did with Gus – and there will be issues with any dog you get. And at least when you get a Gus you know you’ve saved a living creature from a painful life and a pointless death.

I feel that way too sometimes

She didn’t like it too much, even though she used to sneak out of my in-laws house every chance she got.

I haven’t been playing with her much lately and so she’s been being a brat and getting into things. So I figured a little torture would make her more appreciative haha. Don’t worry, it was only 5 minutes.

I’m hoping to get her a companion puppy within the next year or so once we are settled at whatever base we’ll be sent to. Or maybe during tech school if it’s going to be a long time. Who knows? I just feel bad because she always seems to be so bored!

This time of year I get lots of inquires about puppies as Christmas gifts for children.

It’s a wonderful idea, but just remember a few things before jumping on the band wagon. First, getting a puppy is a very long commitment. It is going to be another “child” or member of the family. It requires food, water, exercise, time to relieve itself and all on a constant basis. Puppies cannot be left alone for long periods of time. Puppies need exercise. Puppies need their “people” pack to teach them how to live and become a dog. Sights, sounds, experiences are all necessary.

Many families today are so busy going to extracurricular activities with children, parents both working and holiday vacations that they simply don’t have time for a puppy or dog.

Puppies spend the first 8 weeks of their lives with their mother and are attended to by her and their people mother on a constant basis. They learn many things from her and from their siblings. They run, play, wrestle and absorb every sound and experience. Consider….will you be able to provide the same for the puppy you adopt?

If you can possibly fit a puppy into your life, by all means do it. The rewards to yourself and your family are immeasurable, but be sure that you have time to give a dog what it needs to mature into the best friend, companion and loving member of the family that it can be.

Happy Holidays

White Oak Golden Retrievers

www.whiteoakgoldenretrievers.com

• Visit the home of the breeder. Meet the parents of the puppies, or the mother at a minimum. The parents should live with the family in the home as pets, and should appear friendly, well-socialized, and healthy. Remember, behavioral tendencies can be inherited, if mom is skittish there is a good chance her puppies will be, too! The puppies should be in a clean, safe environment within the home, and if they are 5-6 weeks or older they should be out in the hustle and bustle of family life so they can get used to it. Too much isolation can lead to a fearful adult. Looking at pictures of the home is not enough – puppy mills can take pictures of homes and put them online – this does not mean the puppies are actually raised there! If you cannot visit the home, have someone you trust do so for you. If that is not possible it is safest to look elsewhere. Be sure you meet in the home, meeting in a “neutral location” is often code that you are dealing with a puppy mill.
• Make sure they only breed one type of dog, or two at most. Every breed has their own potential health problems, and a breeder should be well-versed in them. By focusing on one breed the breeder ensures that they are fully prepared for all of the potential issues that could come from breeding these dogs.
• Ask what health and genealogical tests have been done on the parents. The breeder should have given both parents full medical exams before the breeding, and should have checked that no congenital problems were present in either parent. They should also have looked back at least three generations in the parents’ history to ensure that there is not a history of congenital problems and that the parents are not closely related.
• The breeder should ask you questions about yourself. A responsible breeder will want to know where his puppies are going, that they will be cared for, and that you are ready for everything that goes along with the specific breed. They should also be available for contact with questions even after the puppy is home.
• Ensure they will take back any puppy at any point in her life if her family cannot keep her. This is one of the most important criteria to me. Even if you cannot foresee any condition in which you would need to give up your puppy, such situations can happen, if not to you, then to other owners. If every breeder took responsibility for every puppy they bred for their full lifetime, there would be no need for shelters.

There is nothing wrong with wanting a puppy, as long as you make sure that puppy is coming from a place that is good for dogs and good for their people! A puppy from a responsible breeder will be healthier, happier, and less likely to present behavioral problems, saving you money and heartbreak as you spend the next 10-20 years with your newest family member. When you are looking for a puppy, be sure the breeder you find meets all of the criteria listed above, and you’ll be off to a great start!

Shelters take in animals who no longer have homes, either because their people brought them in or because they were found wandering the streets, and houses them in a group facility. Many dogs at shelters are purebreds, and there are many lovable mutts. Most shelter dogs are adults,which leads many people to not want them because they are afraid of the possible bad habits the dog already has. Often, however, there will be less training involved in retraining a shelter dog in the few areas he needs it than in training a new puppy in everything. Shelters can be a great place to get a dog if you are open to some unknowns and want to do good for an animal in need.

Rescues are organizations which take in certain dogs who meet their criteria (for example, a certain breed, close to being euthanized but with a good personality) and hold them until homes can be found. The dogs are often held in foster homes, living with a family until a home can be found. This usually means you will have more detailed information about a dog from a rescue than you would from a shelter. A great place to find shelter or rescue dogs in your area is Petfinder, and online directory of animals available for adoption across the country.

Pet stores carry very young puppies, often puppies who are too young to have left their mother. All of the puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills or irresponsible breeders. A responsible breeder will never give their puppy to a pet store. Because price is the bottom line, it is rare that genetic or health tests are done on the parents of the puppies, and the puppies are usually very under socialized before arriving at the store, which means that there is a high likelihood that pet store puppies will have health or behavioral problems – or both! Pet stores will lie about where their puppies come from. Buying puppies from a pet store is in all ways a bad idea; the puppies typically cost more than they would from a responsible breeder, have not had health tests done on their parents (a guarantee is offered after the fact in case genetic problems show up, but they do nothing to try to prevent the problems, gambling that by the time they do show up you’ll be too attached to the puppy to return it), are poorly socialized, had poor early care, are highly likely to show health problems leading to high vet bills, and buying from pet stores supports the horrific organizations known as puppy mills.

Puppy mills are disgusting organizations in which dogs are kept in tiny cages, deprived of human contact, and often do not have their basic requirements of food, water and cleanliness taken care of. In mills dogs are mass bred like livestock. Often such organizations will say their dogs are fine, because they follow USDA standards. However, USDA standards only require dogs to be kept in a cage with enough room that they can turn in a circle. They do not ever have to be let out of that cage in their entire life. When adults get to old to breed, puppies do not look enough like they should (i.e. a “designer” mix which looks too much like a purebred), or puppies get too old to sell, they are killed. Dogs from puppy mills rarely receive vet care, and so suffer from conditions like having their teeth and jaws rot away, urine burns where the dog is so caked in urine the ammonia actually burns the skin, legs and feet which are broken or torn off in wire cages, hernias which can reach the size of grapefruits, sores between the pads of the feet from standing on wire, all of which are typically left untreated.

Breeders come in two kinds, responsible breeders and what are known as back yard breeders. Back yard breeders are casual breeders who breed without the knowledge or care required to do so responsibly. Often they just breed a litter or two for fun, have puppies accident, or breed their dogs to make money. They typically are not well versed in what is involved taking care of a pregnant mother, how to deal with problems in the birth, the early stimulation and socialization the young puppies need, and as with puppy mills the parents are not screened for health problems and the proper pre-natal care is not given. Puppies from a back yard breeder will be more socialized than from a puppy mill, but otherwise they are very similar in their likelihood of health issues and behavioral issues. It is back yard breeders and puppy mills who have led to the extreme overpopulation in our nation’s shelters, largely because they do not take responsibility for their puppies once they are sold.

Responsible breeders care for their dogs. They do health checks, give their mothers prenatal care, know what to do in the emergencies that can surround whelping, and know how to care for and stimulate their young puppies. They take responsibility for all the puppies the sell, and ensure that the puppies go to good homes.

If you are looking for a puppy or dog, finding a shelter, rescue, or responsible breeder is not only best for the dogs, it is best for you. You will end up with a healthier, happier dog who will live a long, full life with you. Check back for more information on how to find a responsible breeder, and how to make sure you’re not inadvertently buying from a puppy mill.

A little ball of fluff

Regular readers may recall my piece about the passing of our much loved little mate while we were away for our holiday by the beach, well after a respectful time we have made some effort to find a new family hound. Now it would have been easy to rescue some undoubtedly loveable mutt from the pound or just to have bought the first cute looking ball of fluff that came our way. I was even offered, gratis, a Labrador retriever who had developed a taste for domestic poultry. But that offer fell through when the dog’s owner decided to keep her out of the hen house rather than give her away.
After much thought we as a family decided that it would be better to stick with the breed that we know and love. This meant that I had to do the ringing around the small circle of people who do “our” breed. having been on the other end of this conversation so many times it was strange to be the one seeking a pup. In the first instance we had to decide which gender we wanted and I put the argument to my beloved wife that a dog tends to be more loyal to its master than a bitch. My wife and daughter won and we decided to get a bitch this time. Eventually I found a breeder who has some pups and we will be collecting ours on the 19th of February. Our little ball of fluff is costing more money than I want to talk about and everyone here is getting quite excited as each day passes and the special day approaches. The breeder has kept us updated and she was even happy to ensure that the name that we have picked will be the one that appears on the pedigree.When we collect our little ball of fluff she will be eight weeks old and she will have already had her first vaccination, the booster at twelve weeks should provide her with protection from the most common and deadly canine maladies. All of this stuff is running around my head so I of course noticed  the piece that I quote below:

Research by pet industry lobby group the Australian Companion Animal Council has found that it costs $746 a year to keep the family pooch and $583 for a cat.

Australia has one of the world’s highest pet ownership rates, with almost two-thirds of people owning at least one pet.

Australian Veterinary Association president Mark Lawrie said his organisation updated its policy last year to recommend vaccinations be conducted every three years.

“It’s vital that people still get kittens and puppies done. As with people, vaccines save many lives,” Dr Lawrie said.

He said all vets were aware of the association’s policy.

It had always struck me as rather strange that vaccines that we use in humans generally impart a life long immunity to the disease that they target but that the vaccines for diseases in dogs had to be redone annually, now it seems that my suspicions may have been correct.  It may now be policy to advocate vaccination every three years but I will be interetsed to see if that is the message that I get when I take our little girl in for her 12 week jabs.

Cheers Comrades

]]> http://aschae.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/akc-warns-against-impulse-dog-purchases/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:31:37 +0000 aschae http://aschae.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/akc-warns-against-impulse-dog-purchases/ Posted: October 6, 2008, 5 a.m. EDT

“Beverly Hills Chihuahua” release prompts reminder to potential owners.

The Chihuahuas are out in movie theaters, and the American Kennel Club is urging potential dog owners not to get star struck.

With the release of “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” the AKC reminds moviegoers about the importance of making careful, educated decisions when adding a dog to their home. The new film follows the story of “Chloe,” a pampered Chihuahua from Beverly Hills, Calif., who finds herself lost in Mexico. Alone for the first time, Chloe must rely on new friends to lend her a paw and help her to find her way back home.

The AKC and the Chihuahua Club of America would like to lend moviegoers a paw in finding a breed that suits their lifestyle. The groups advise people to research a breed when buying or adopting a puppy and to only buy from reputable breeders.

“Chihuahuas are very delicate as puppies, and can be inadvertently injured by being dropped, stepped on, or having a small item fall on them,” said Bruce Shirky, Chihuahua Club of America president. “For this reason, we recommend that families with very small children perhaps consider a larger breed. The Chihuahua Club of America hopes that anyone who becomes interested in owning a Chihuahua as a result of seeing this movie will educate themselves on responsible dog ownership and all that it entails.”

People who see the film may think about owning a dog like “Chloe,” said Lisa Peterson, AKC spokeswoman. “Chihuahuas are also known for longevity – so remember, before you add a new member to your family, dog ownership can be a 15- to 20-year commitment for the life of your dog.”

Growing complaints to the Humane Society have triggered this new legislation. Mostly because of the Humane Society’s investigation into the pet store of the stars, Pets of Bel Aire. The pet store has been accused of selling puppies that come from puppy mills in the midwest. Although they state that they do not knowingly buy from puppy mills, there is information that states otherwise.

California law requires that pet retailers “state on each dog’s cage where the dog was bred/brokered.” They also must have the dog examined by a veterinarian and maintain documented health records. All puppies that are for sale must be examined by a veterinarian within 5 days of arriving at the store and at 15 day intervals after that. They also must have enough room to stand up, turn around and lie down without touching the sides of the cage.

Because state law doesn’t require pet stores to be licensed and the state does not handle inspections, it is up the the Humane Society to take care of any complaints. Most often inspections by the Humane Society are conducted after hearing a complaint from a pet store customer. If a customer feels that the pets available are being mistreated in any way, they are urged to contact the local Humane Society.

For more information on the new California State Pet Shop Laws, click here.

It is good to see that people are finally realizing that not all pet shops are what they seem. Personally, I prefer to adopt animals from the Humane Society, but that’s your choice if you want to purchase one.

Stumble It!

Sure, the industry glamourizes the name by calling them teacups or tinies, but there is nothing glamorous about these tiny dogs. Although it may happen as accidents of nature, greedy puppy factories and breeders have capitalized on the idea. Breeders will often underfeed mother dogs to encourage the production of small puppies. In essence, they are STARVING HER. In cases like this, puppies are born tiny, extremely fragile, and most likely, unhealthy.

When the tiny puppies are born, they don’t allow them to eat as much as they want. They are often taken away from their mothers and hand-fed specific amounts after a certain age. Although puppies should stay with their mothers until 8 or so weeks, these tinies are taken away as early as a few weeks. These tiny puppies are thus, underfed and under-nourished. It isn’t rare for these little creatures to have health problems and reduced life span. In addition, they are extremely expensive, ranging from $1800 to $7000.

If you’re absolutely insistent on getting a tiny dog, you should speak to the breeder. Meet the breeder and the mother dog, and view pictures of the father dog. When the puppy becomes an adult, it should be a similar size to its parents. If the breeder tells you that the puppies will be much smaller, chances are, they have starved the mother dog and underfed her pups. You should walk away without purchasing a puppy.

Please understand that even at 5 pounds (adult weight) your dog will be relatively small. Have you ever seen a 5 pound dog? If you did, you would feel that this is small enough.

If you desire a small dog, look for a breeder that breeds small dogs. I know someone who has a 4.5 pound yorkshire terrier, cute as a button. Her mother was 5 pounds and her father was 4.5 pounds. Look for similar parent dog weights if you really want a small (but not tiny) dog. Usually, you can guess the adult size of a puppy by his three-month puppy weight. If the puppy weighs 3 pounds at 12 weeks old, he will probably be around 6 pounds as an adult.

I will soon be adopting a baby yorkie whose parents are 6 and 7 pounds. That’s small enough for me. The mother dog’s half-sister is a 4 or so pounds and is TINY, but very healthy. So when puppy shopping, remember at 4 – 5 pounds is very, very small to start with! Opt for one of these cute creatures instead of unnaturual teacup-sized purse dogs.

REMEMBER — A DOG IS NOT AN ACCESSORY. IT IS A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY.

• Puppies need lots of care and love. Ask yourself: Will someone be home often enough to take care of the puppy? Puppies require attention and training to become healthy and proper adult dogs.
• Puppies are like human babies — they have to be potty trained. Also, they frequently need to eliminate, so you will have to take a puppy outside quite often. Can you make this kind of commitment, including waking up at odd hours to do so?
• Puppies are a huge responsibility. Your young children may not know how to take care of a little puppy, so your role as an adult is extremely important. You shouldn’t get a puppy if you intend to stay out of the picture altogether.
• Are a patient person with time to properly train a puppy? It’s easiest to train puppies when they’re fairly young, so you should have some time to dedicate for housebreaking, crate training, and walking.
• Are you willing to learn and become educated in puppy care? There is lots to know about puppies and their behaviors. Learning is the only way you’ll understand the mind of a dog and what to expect from them.

If you can’t commit to any of the above, you shouldn’t get a puppy. Starving puppies of attention is like doing so to a human child. They need proper care and handling — a puppy owner must be patient and willing to put forth much effort.

In addition to the above, you should also consider your home. If you’re unwilling to clean up messes or make sacrifices, please don’t get a puppy. In addition, you should consider the following:

• Your house must be puppy-proofed. This means that wires must be hidden, shoes must be stowed away, and cabinets and closets need to be blocked off.
• You should have enough room to place a crate. A dog crate can and should act as a den for your new puppy.
• Your children and other family members must know the rules. Carelessness can lead to puppy abuse, bad behaviors, and possibly, biting.

I encourage you to read around to better understand what is involved in caring for a puppy. There is much that most people don’t know. You can’t just get a puppy and leave it at home like a trophy. In fact, potential puppy owners will have to rework their work and home schedules to cater to a puppy. If you can’t do this, then it is simply inhumane to get a puppy in the first place.

 However, if you can commit to taking care of a puppy, you’ll be amazed at how rewarding the experience will be. It’s like watching a child grow before your eyes! Soon, your new puppy’s fears of abandonment and change will subside. You’ll be left with a friend for life and a dedicated member of the family. Good luck!