DO  YOUR  HOMEWORK!!!

Where will I get my dog?

• Friend
• Humane Society
• Rescue Organization
• Breeder

Never select a breeder that will not allow you to touch or hold puppies.  Never select a breeder that meets you half way from your home to view pups, or delivers your dog to you.

A breeder’s home, kennel, and the pup’s environment should be clean and fun with plenty of interaction between its siblings and people so that you can observe the social attributes of the dog.

A good breeder should not be in a hurry to sell and remove the pups prior to 8 weeks old.  If AKC, papers need to be properly filled out and given to you at the time of purchase. The pup should also have all veterinarian paperwork forwarded to you to review and in your possession upon pickup.

Choosing a new dog from a shelter

If you have selected a shelter, make several visits to determine if a particular dog is the one! Does the dog come to the door of his kennel to greet you barking or is the dog calm and relaxed?

Does it pace and not look at you?  Never select a dog based solely on its looks, size, or breed. You should be open-minded.

Mingle, go on walks and sit at least 2 separate times if possible.  Do your homework of the breed to determine the breed’s energy level, the breed’s general profile and ask questions to several different people who have handled the dog.

• Take it for a walk with your entire family.
• Sit with it on the floor while eating something.
• Sit with it outside.
• Have all your children, all ages and as many family members as possible, males and females present.
• Make the indoor environment while interacting with the dog as vocal and noisy as it may be at home.
• Watch how this dog observes you up close or from a distance and how they observe another dog.
• Does this dog jump up on you or others, does it look you in the face when you speak, sits on your feet at rest, understands basic commands?
• Does it urinate on the floor when you enter/exit, shies away from an individual in your family, cries or howls when you leave?

All these things are important to know when choosing a new dog.  Please keep in mind they may act differently on your 2^nd/3^rd visit.  If they have been abused or neglected they may need a bit more quiet and patience.  Hopefully, they will be thrilled to see you come back.  Please keep your 2^nd and 3^rd visit as close as possible so they will remember you.

Choosing a new dog from a Specific Breed Rescue facility

This same concept of greeting a new dog should also be practiced at a Specific Breed Rescue facility if possible.  I realize the distance may be greater.  Try to pack in a whole weekend for visits.  Even if you come back two times in one day, you will see a different personality both times.  Be open-minded, do not base your selection on “cute.”

Even if you select the same breed as your previous dog, never assume that this dog will have a similar personality as your previous dog.  They are individuals, just like humans!