Buying a Puppy or Kitten
As you drive along, you see a sign on the side of the road: Purebred chiuahadoodledors, $100 a piece, AKC registered!! $100! That's a good deal! Plus, the kids are now just old enough to read the word puppy, and they saw the sign. They are now chanting "Puppy, Puppy!!" in the back seat. So, how do you know if these "purebred" puppies are the real deal? This article aims to go over adopting or buying a puppy and kitten and what to (and not to) look for. First things first…..there is no such thing as a purebred doodle anything.
Step one: Think over if you really want a puppy at this time and are ready to deal with whining, pooping, peeing, and biting - and that's just from the kids who swore they would help care for it
Step two: REALLY think over if you want a puppy
Step three: Think over if you want the ADULT version of the puppy in 8-12 months
Step four: Find a good breeder
Red flags when looking at a breeder: It is much like a relationship, so ignore them at your own risk!
The sellers do not let you see the parents or the environment they are raised in.
Seeing the parents can show if genetic abnormalities can be inherited. A cryptorchid (undescended testicle) male can pass it on to the puppy. That undescended testicle, if not surgically fixed, will stay too close to body heat and can become cancerous. Parents can also pass on heart murmurs, cleft palates, and hernias.
A good breeder will always disclose this type of information.
If the owner does not have both parents, there is no guarantee of what you will get or what genetic abnormalities they could have. For all you know, the dad could have been Cujo.
If raised in a poor environment, they may have parasites, poor nutrition, disease exposure, or any issues that would go unnoticed due to lack of attention. Your puppy is less cute when it brings fleas into the house or gives your kid worms.
The puppies are being sold before eight weeks.
Those big puppy eyes and floppy ears make us terrible at setting boundaries, so puppies must be socialized and taught "right and wrong" by siblings and parents (who aren't suckered in by that sweet face). Being separated too early may cause behavioral issues.
The first vaccines are typically given to puppies at eight weeks old. If you buy a puppy before then, it is unlikely that it has been adequately vetted…by a vet and received its first puppy vaccines.
You should always make sure the puppy has been looked at and has a record of health from a licensed veterinarian.
A vaccine given at 5-6 weeks by the breeder is NOT the same thing.
Rare color or unique characteristic breeds
These colors are as rare as unicorns—as in, they aren't actually real. They are a marketing tactic created by breeders.
Rare colors are usually the result of non-purebred genetics or can be associated with medical issues. If you would like an almost guarantee of allergies in your adult dog, find anything with "blue" in the name.
AKC certification
Here is a super fun-to-read PDF that lists every breed and the diseases they are predisposed to. Consider it some light evening reading.
AKC registered breeders are held to a higher standard than backyard breeders. While I may only sometimes agree with what the AKC considers 'breed standard,' they have some beneficial information here, as well as a place to search for puppies. However, it is essential to note that this does NOT mean they had any genetic testing, and it should not be the sole thing to sell you on the breeder.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
Their goal is "To improve the health and well-being of companion animals through a reduction in the incidence of genetic disease," which is vital to me when choosing a puppy. They also have tons of resources for anyone looking for a new pet. If you ask about OFA certification, their reply is, "Huh?" then RUN!
Sold in pet stores, flea markets, or side of the road
Typically, these pets are brought in from puppy mills, which is bad. For those of you who watch The Good Place, buying a puppy from a pet store will cost you points.
As the name implies, the goal of puppy mills is to quickly turn a profit, often disregarding quality over quantity (think IKEA vs solid wood furniture)
Puppy mill puppies are not tested, often sick with no treatment, carry disease or parasites, and have not received proper veterinary care.
If you paid for it, you are not "rescuing" one of these puppies
Or…go to a local shelter and adopt. (This is where you DO get to feel heroic)
If breed doesn't matter, this is the best place for you to go. Shelter pets have been vetted, vaccinated, and spayed/neutered.
If breed does matter, there are a lot more purebreds in shelters than most people understand. Shop around; there are so many dogs up for adoption right now. Shelters and Animal Control are overrun with animals.
How to choose a Cat:
Go to the nearest dumpster/shelter/swamp
Find a cat
Name it Chonkosaurus Hecks or something
Congrats, you have a new cat!
It is not a purebred Maincoon. It is never a purebred Maincoon
It probably won't like you much, but that cat is officially in charge of your household now
Make sure you also have it vaccinated at 8 weeks, tested for FeLV/FIV, and spayed neutered at 6 months
We recently acquired a new livestock guardian dog (his name is Oy, for you Steven King fans). We waited about 6-8 months after getting on a list. His parents were OFA tested and AKC registered. He was vetted, dewormed (correctly), vaccinated, and AKC registered. We got him at ten weeks old and had already spent time learning the ropes of protecting a farm.
He is fluffy and adorable.
Please take your time, do a ton (of the right kind) of research (so help me God, if the words Google, Reddit, or Facebook come out of your mouth during a puppy exam), and, as always, ask your vet for help. We would much rather see a healthy puppy visit than a genetic abomination (which happens more often than we would like).
Here are links to my blog posts on Puppies and Kittens for what to do after you’ve brought your new fluff ball home.
