Must Knows to Select the Best Dog for You – #2 of 5, Be Informed

Must Knows to Select the Best Dog for You – #2 of 5, Be Informed

I think this article is the most important one in this five part series because it gives you the tools you need to be informed enough to make a very good decision when selecting your dog. There is so much more to it than searching randomly online to find the dog that melts your heart. For sure you want to have a great connection with your dog but you also want one that matches your lifestyle and temperament. Your dog is out there, now let’s go find him/her!

Have you ever heard the expression, “you really need to have your ducks in a row”?  My real estate agent said that to me when I was shopping for a new home. At first I thought, “no, let’s just get looking! I will know the right house when I see it!” My agent asked me questions that helped me define the kind of house I wanted, my budget, the location, etc. Once I gave her the information she was able to find the short list of homes for us to look at and vola! I found a great home! If you have ever purchased a home or a car for that matter, you can relate to this experience. So what I am telling you is that you need to define a few things before you begin. We created a form that will walk you through the thought process to find your dog. For example, how active are you, do you travel much and what are the specific dog characteristics you want? Click My Dog Finder Profile to download the form.

With these answers in hand you can start looking at breeds of dogs. I recommend going to the AKC website and searching through their more than 150 breeds of dogs to find the short list of likely matches. I like this way of researching breeds as opposed to going directly to breeder’s websites and even more than talking with friends. A breeder is going to tell you all of the wonderful, glowing things about their dogs and, of course, they will sound fabulous, but is that breed really right for you? Wait to go to this step when you have a list of breeds you really want to look into more closely. Talking with your friends may seem like a great idea but be careful because what works for one person/family may not be the right choice for you and your family.

Now you are ready to start shopping because you know what you want.  After reading the last blog, did you make a decision as to which source will work best for you? I hope so because knowing where you want to source your dog from will determine how many of these questions you can find answers to.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PARENTS

If you are talking to breeders you may want to ask if they do genetic screening of the parents for conditions such as hip dysplasia, exercise induced collapse (EIC) or blindness. Remember that if it’s ‘just not available’ you are probably talking to a puppy mill broker and the information won’t be accessible or may not even exist. You might be wondering about the value of genetics and health testing. That’s a good place to start. I like the article, “I Tried the Most Popular Dog DNA Tests to Find the Best One”, by Lizz Schumer in Good Housekeeping (May 2019). Some well known genetic and health testing companies are Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), PennHip, Wisdom Panel, Embark and DNA My Dog. By knowing your dog’s genetics you will understand if there is a possible predisposition toward certain diseases/ health conditions and will help you manage health surprises.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PUPPIES

One of the most valuable whole body exercises that can be done with new born puppies from day 3-16 is referred to as Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) or Puppy Culture. As an AKC Breeder of Merit I strongly believe in the value of this exercise because I see the differences in the dogs I breed as far as their tolerance for stress, their improved immune systems and their improved abilities to learn complex material at an early age (e.g. potty training). Dr. Carmen Battaglia has an excellent short video that explains more about it. Another really cool thing that many exceptional breeders do is to give the puppies a temperament test to determine which puppy is best suited for which family/individual. An example of a very common test is the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test. The benefits to you, as the new owner of the dog, is that you will know the dog’s tendencies toward shyness, biting or how willing the dog is to want to please you. Here is a great  video that demonstrates the temperament test.

I will always respect the decision a person makes for selecting their dog but please be informed.  There are a few key things to look into when making the decision that will be with you for the next 10-15 years. In a nutshell, it’s worth a little time now to put your thoughts together and dodge some unnecessary stresses and potentially sad experiences.  I think you will be so well armed to begin your new life together after watching these videos and reading the article!

Happy Shopping!

Julie