Pets Information

Breed Success in Your Puppy Search


The numbers will make any pet lover blanch with disgust, anger, and sadness. The Humane Society of the United States calculates that as many as 500,000 puppies every year are sold in pet shops, and that many of these pet shops buy their pets from the worst breeders-so-called puppy mills. What do these puppy mills (and kitty mills) have to do with you if you're on the market for a new furry companion? You know what you're doing when it comes to buying a purebred, right?

Truth be told, puppy mills are largely responsible for even harsher statistic: as many as 25 percent of all purebred pups suffer from genetic difficulties because of bad breeding. And as knowledgeable as you think you are about buying a dog, you could come across one of these poor pups and not even know it.

That could mean that you spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on a pet, only to have it succumb to a birth defect and maybe even die at an early age. Even if this worst-case scenario doesn't occur, buying from the wrong breeder can also land you an animal that picked up diseases because of the intolerable conditions at the breeder. That could lead to additional thousands spent on vet bills.

Why leash yourself to such heartache? There's no need when there are so many great and trustworthy breeders out there, who can pair you with a loving new puppy.

To find the right breeder for you, start local. Your best bet is to find breeders within driving distance. That way, you can visit the actual breeding facilities. And while there, be sure to scout out for the following characteristics that all best-of-show breeders possess:

? A litter of dogs that play, smile, and show all the other signs of being happy and healthy. Take notice, too, that the pups are sociable to the breeder, you, and their brothers and sisters.

? More demand for their dogs than they can handle. Usually a long buyers' waiting list at a breeder is like a wagging tail on a puppy-a good sign.

? A discerning eye for customers. Good breeders should ask you as many questions as you ask them, on topics such as your reasons for wanting their dog, your past pet experience, whether you have enough space at home, and who in your family will be responsible for daily puppy care.

? The willingness to show you the puppy's parents during your visit if you provide the right answers to the above questions.

? A wealth of knowledge on the dogs that they breed, including specific advice on the breed's standard and temperament, to satisfy all of your questions and concerns.

? A health guarantee in writing that shows exactly what vaccinations the pup has had.

? The friendly advice about what future vaccinations you should give, along with the best ways to train and care for the puppy.

? A guarantee, again in writing, this one stating that the breeder would be willing to take back the dog if you cannot keep it at any time.

? The care and thoughtfulness to keep in touch for some time after your purchase, to check on the dog and offer further advice when needed.

If you keep your eyes peeled and your ears perked for these signs of a good breeder, you won't have to rely on luck or a good reference in finding the right puppy (though those don't hurt either). You'll learn soon after you bring your new pal home that you made the right choice, and over time, your family and pet bond. Your pet will live a long, healthy life as part of your family.

Donald Lee is the public relations manager for Buysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides free classified listing services. Buy, Sell and trade: auto, computers, household items, real estate, pets and much more. For national and localized classifieds, please visit http://www.buysellcommunity.com - Free Buy & Sell Classifieds


MORE RESOURCES:

BellaDOG Magazine

Pampered Pet Business Booms in US
Voice of America
February 07, 2012 Pampered Pet Business Booms in US Americans spent $50 billion on their animals in 2011 Deborah Block | Fairfax County, Virginia At “A Dog's Day Out” in Alexandria, Virginia, people bring in their dogs to stay either for the day or ...
Consumers pamper pets with healthier productsCanadianBusiness.com
Big Pets Get Bigger: Latest Survey Shows US Dog and Cat Obesity Epidemic ExpandingMarketWatch (press release)
National Pet Day - April 11th {Pet Day USA}BellaDOG Magazine

all 26 news articles »


ChicagoNow (blog)

Pet Food Product Recalls, U.S. Senator Expresses Concerns
ChicagoNow (blog)
At a news conference on February 6 in Cleveland, Brown was joined by Kevin Thaxton, whose 10 year-old pug, Chancey, passed away unexpectedly after eating chicken jerky pet treats. But Thaxton didn't know why his dog died at that time and fed the same ...
Northeast Ohio pet owners want fast FDA action on pet treats from ChinaPlain Dealer
Concerns about potentially tainted pet treatsWTAM.com
Brown, Kucinich Seek FDA Action to Protect Dogs From 'Tainted' TreatsCleveland News - Fox 8

all 5 news articles »


French Tribune

A Bite as Healthy as Their Bark
Wall Street Journal
By LAURA JOHANNES Pet dental health, largely ignored by many owners, is moving into the spotlight. Many veterinarians are recommending you brush your pet's teeth, daily, just as you do your own. A wide array of "dental care kits" for cats and dogs are ...
Time to Brush Up! Petplan Pet Insurance Provides Toothy Tips Just in Time for ...San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
Pet Dental Health Under the Spotlight in the USACosmetic Dentistry Guide (press release)

all 65 news articles »


PR Web (press release)

Pet Brief: Feb. 8
San Antonio Express
Pets should not be given food or water after 10 the night before surgery. A random lottery at 7:30 am each clinic day will determine which animals will be seen and in what order. Lottery tickets will be distributed at 7 am One animal per household will ...
Royal Pet Club Announces Partnership With Animal Aid to Donate Profits to ...PR Web (press release)
Why People Don't Fix Their PetsPatch.com
Sex and the Kitty: Discounted pet spay/neuters during FebruaryExaminer.com
St. Augustine Record -GoLocalProv -Mail Tribune
all 15 news articles »


Pet Friendly Hotel of the Year Award Winner New York's Hotel Pennsylvania ...
MarketWatch (press release)
7, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- As the 2012 Pet Friendly Hotel of the Year award winner and host hotel for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, New York's Hotel Pennsylvania has become the only hotel to stay at for the Westminster Dog Show.
Purely Products to Sponsor VIP Pet Bags and Allergy-Free Home Makeovers at the ...Business Wire (press release)

all 10 news articles »


Bothell dog therapist helps pets get fit
TheNewsTribune.com
Josie's owner, So Scazafavo, began a program of pet therapy at Wag Wellness in Bothell. Josie can't twirl around like a ballerina like she used to, but she has regained some of the use of her hind legs and is doing really well, Scazafavo said.
Bothell dog therapist helps injured, overweight pets regain mobility with ...The Republic

all 12 news articles »


Meet Your Match boosts puppy love (and kitty love) by matching people and pets ...
Washington Post
The color-coded program evaluates shelter pets and the people looking to adopt them in an effort to match personalities, energy levels and needs. Playing Cupid with Meet Your Match helped workers at the Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to ...

and more »


BBC News

Godmanchester pet charity celebrates rehoming 'first'
BBC News
The Paw 2 Door scheme allows owners to keep their pets at home until the charity finds them new, vetted owners. Wood Green ensures the animal has up-to-date vaccinations, is neutered, microchipped and has a month's worth of veterinary insurance.



Delta Society(R) Is Now Pet Partners(R)
MarketWatch (press release)
BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb 07, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Delta Society(R), one of the world's oldest and largest human-animal interaction organizations, is now Pet Partners(R). The renaming is part of the organization's new brand strategy to achieve greater ...
Delta Society® Is Now Pet Partners®Business Wire (press release)

all 4 news articles »


ABC Action News

Animal-control officer accused of stealing donations for homeless pets
Orlando Sentinel
By Kevin P. Connolly, Orlando Sentinel A 21-year-old Polk County man quit his job as an animal-control officer after he was accused of stealing donations meant for homeless pets. Benjamin Derrick of Fort Meade confessed to removing cash from a "Save ...
Detectives: Animal Control worker confesses to stealing money from homeless ...ABC Action News
Polk County Sheriff's Animal Control Officer Benjamin Derrick arrested for ...WTSP 10 News
Deputies: Animal control officer stole from homeless petsMyFox Tampa Bay
The Ledger -WKMG Orlando
all 15 news articles »

Google News

home | site map | First Rate Hosting
2006 First Rate Hosting

Powered By First Rate Hosting