Dogs are wonderful pets to add to your
family, but remember, they will be just that, family. Don’t set out to purchase
a pet dog unless you are ready to commit
the next several years of your life to its care. Before you start researching
where to buy a dog, make sure you decide what type of dog is right for you and
your family.
Finding a dog for sale is usually easy.
You can look in newspapers, magazines and online for advertisements. You can
also search for breeders who specialize in the type of dog you want. This is
especially important if you want a purebred dog. Reputable breeders often have
detailed websites and are willing to answer questions about the breed they
raise. Stay away from shady breeders who might just be puppy mills and might
not care about the welfare of their dogs.
If you are looking for purebred dogs for
showing, or other specialized activities, you can contact the breed club of the
breed you are interested in. They may have a list of breeders that they
recommend. They may also have a list of breeders to avoid, as breed clubs
sometimes keep lists of complaints they have received from buyers.
When you locate a list of
advertisements, receive a list of breeders from a breed club, or compile you
own list from your own searching, you can start contacting each breeder to ask
questions about their dogs. Find out if you will be able to view one or more
parents when you come to see the dogs. Sometimes, only the mother will be
available, because the father was owned by someone else and doesn’t live at
that location. If the breeder refuses to allow you to see the mother, be
suspicious. Most breeders truly love their dogs and are happy to show them off.
If they are hiding the parents, they are probably not reputable.
View the puppies, and observe how they
interact with people and the other pups in the litter. Depending on your needs,
you will probably want to pick a puppy who is outgoing, but not aggressive. A
very shy puppy could be hard to manage later in life. In the case of purebred
puppies, be sure to ask to see copies of the registration papers. You’ll also
want to see any papers from a vet stating what treatments the pups have had.
Some breeders arrange to have their puppies dewormed and started on a series of
vaccinations before they go to their new homes.
In the case of purchasing an adult dog,
you will be most interested in any past history the current owner can offer
you. In some cases, this is not much, but you’ll want to know how the dog
behaves around other people, other animals, and how well it is obedience trained
to know if it will be a good fit for you.
Taking time to research local dogs for
sale will go a long way in making sure you have a pet you can love for a
lifetime.
