Choosing a Puppy

Jester hours old.

Choosing a puppy is by far the hardest topic to address. It is one of emotion, and for some, it is a political decision. My decision wasn’t difficult, but for many it is. Now that I have decided to get a puppy, what’s the next step?

Deciding on the breed
Trying to decide the breed is much easier for some than others. There are purebreds, hybrids (intentional mixed breeds), accidental known mixed breeds and unknown mixed breeds. Many people make this decision based on a childhood dog; a dog that their best friend has that is well-mannered; a dog for dog-sport competition, hunting, search and rescue or similar activities; or the cute Jack Russell doing clever behaviors on a popular television sitcom.

There’s much more to picking a breed type or types in the case of a mixed breed. It is critical to think how this companion will fit into your life.

What is your lifestyle?
• Athletic, on-the-go, never home, always home, coach potato, children in the house, constantly entertaining?

Do you enjoy maintenance?
• Can you handle a dog that requires constant brushing, ear cleaning, grooming appointments as well as keeping your own home clean of their hair and dirt?

There are dogs to fit all of the above. For example, there are dogs that are bred to run for six hours all day in the field before coming home to retire – EVERY DAY. There are dogs that are bred to sit on your lap, be brushed and petted and enjoy every minute. And, there are those somewhere in the middle. Perhaps you determine a dog that fits your activity level, but then you hate all those short little hairs getting into your rugs and sweaters.

You love the way a Border Collie looks, and you have read how smart they are, so they must be easy to train. But alas, you didn’t see any of the shows on PBS showing Border Collies running on acres and acres of property in hilly Ireland herding sheep all day long, every day, in all weather conditions. That’s a hard-wired behavior and, if not given the appropriate outlet, will manifest in some very challenging behavior problems. How will you accommodate a Border Collie in a house with a small yard in the city?

Jester at 10 days old.

Most importantly – there is no such thing as a perfect puppy – no matter how much homework you do. I think of clients who have researched the “perfect breed”, but failed to research the breeder adequately and were left with a puppy with all sorts of health and temperament problems. They thought they were getting the “perfect puppy”. The fact that you can actually choose a puppy dog by its looks and what it is bred to do, tends to become a very emotional decision for people and that “perfect puppy” concept is born. You can imagine the pressure I faced from my friends and peers as they heard me talk about a getting a new puppy.

Everyone is attracted to something different. I am a gun dog or sporting dog person, more specifically the spaniel family, so I will be getting another Cocker Spaniel, the smallest dog in the Sporting Dog Group. My father was a hunter and so I grew up with a variety of hunting dogs. It’s what I know. We also had miniature poodles with multiple behavior problems that left me with a negative association. They were the product of bad breeding for both health and temperament, otherwise, I’m sure they would have been lovely companions, as I know so many are.

Where do I get this puppy
If you thought the first step was tough, this step is even worse and it is where politics can play a role. Here are some ways to find a puppy - in no particular order:

• AKC Registered Breeder
• Other Registered Breeder (there are over 23 different registries besides the AKC)
• USDA Approved Breeding Kennel (selling to retailers)
• Breed Club Referral
• Newspaper Advertisement (typically backyard bred dogs)
• Internet Advertisement or Petfinder.com
• Word of Mouth
• Shelter, i.e., Animal Care & Control or SPCA
• Rescue – both purebred rescue and any dog rescue

Since Harleigh came to me by “word of mouth” and was a backyard bred dog with a bad start in life genetically, I decided I would find a breeder this time so I could learn the process first hand. I looked for a breeder that specifically bred for temperament and health. Ahh, but isn’t that what everyone is looking for? Technically, I should think so, but I can tell you more stories than I care to about how this didn’t work out for people. And whatever you do, don’t bring your kids on the first visit to the breeder, as you will surely walk away with a puppy whether you were ready or not.

Jester at 3 weeks old.

My criteria did not require me to find a local breeder that is driving distance from my home. I didn’t care if I needed to fly to pick up the puppy or have the puppy shipped. Other factors weighed more heavily with me. I wanted a breeder that truly knew something about their dogs’ genealogy and health, that handled the puppies every day, that allowed them exercise and fresh air and that for about the first 4-6 weeks raised them inside the home (since that is where my dog will live) listening to sounds such as doors slamming, dishwashers running, vacuum cleaners zooming, phones ringing, alarms sounding, radios blaring, neighbors shouting, etc.

Jester at 5 weeks old.

Of course I also had an appearance criteria — since no matter how hard we try to put that aside, it is part of the process. I wanted an old-fashioned looking Cocker Spaniel, one that does not have all the exaggerated lines of the show Cocker. I also did not want a “field” dog, which is a dog whose breeding lines come from field work such as hunting. In most cases, show quality dogs and field quality dogs not only look completely different, but they act completely different. Field dogs are bred to run, flush, retrieve, work out problem situations and even kill vermin in the case of terriers. Show dogs are bred for looks and they must meet the breed standard for appearance. Of course, show dogs must also possess a certain temperament to handle being in the show ring, but I think that gets overlooked. In order to keep them looking like cookie cutter, show quality dogs, an inexcusable amount of inbreeding takes place, which is a huge detriment to the health of the dogs. Pet quality is the label given to dogs that do not meet show quality or field quality standards. I do believe that that is what most of the people out there are looking for — a great pet! So, can we find a breeder who is actually breeding for “pet quality” instead of selling its show quality rejects as pets? Yes, they are out there, but you have to know how to find them. (Watch for our future article on “Choosing a Puppy” that will provide more details on finding a breeder, picking a puppy and choosing the right breed for you.)

The biggest criteria for me, was that I had to find a breeder that did not dock tails – nearly impossible in the Cocker breeding arena. That was my first internet search “cocker with natural tails”. I wanted a full tail on my Cocker Spaniel as I don’t feel there is a reason to dock them any longer. My Cocker was not going to be running through a field of brush flushing Woodcock. If you are unfamiliar with what tail docking is, I’m sure you’ve seen many breeds with either partially docked tails (Vizsla) or a stub (Corgie or Australia Shepherd) or even a handle tail (Terriers). Some breeds are born with a stub or bob tail naturally.

In time, I found a breeder in Florida. I agreed to fly there to pick him up instead of shipping him. I knew I needed a boy to get along nicely with my already bossy little girl. (I don’t recommend two girls in most households – there are exceptions for individual dogs, but it’s usually the worst combination.) Because I was in no hurry and started my search more than six months in advance, I waited for a mating between two smaller dogs in her kennel hoping to get a small sized Cocker making it easier for my apartment living. I was also most interested in the mother’s breeding line for temperament reasons. The time has come and I am due to pick up my little boy shortly.

How to choose within the litter

Jester at 6 weeks old.

Lucky for me, I had no choice as there was only one boy in the litter.
This is also not cut and dry. If you are getting a puppy without meeting it (due to shipping), it is best to have the breeder match the puppy’s temperament to your lifestyle. Many people will pick by looks, but a breeder lives with the puppies and sees their daily interactions and many often conduct temperament tests and place according to their score. So be sure to consult with the breeder as to which pup is best for your family situation. If you are picking the puppy out of a litter – be sure you take a puppy that is not hiding in the corner; the puppy should be naturally curious when you arrive; it should want to come over and say hello and be with you. That’s what puppies do – not a care in their body, happy-go-lucky and curious. If the puppy(ies) hide or run away when you arrive, say “No thank you” and walk away as fast as you can. It’s not a match.

There is so much more to choosing a puppy than I can possibly cover in one blog but hopefully this gives you an idea of how difficult and critical these decisions can be — so watch for our future article with more details on “Choosing a Puppy”.

Next: Choosing a Veterinarian . . .