So, the quest for a dog has begun.  You’re not sure whether or not you want an adult dog or a puppy.  You’ve already decided on the breed and for the sake of this blog post we’ll say you’ve decided on a Golden Retriever.  We’ll cover puppies as well as adult dogs.

Puppies can be found primarily three  places.285218_1845500426711_1516677321_31524095_2439254_n

1) A breeder

2)In a pet store

3) A breed rescue.

If you choose a breeder, you can pick a well respected breeder that sells her dogs through word of mouth or referrals.  Most times you will have to go on to a waiting list as most breeders have their pups sold before they are born. The breeder with most likely have you fill out a form with all sorts of questions on it such as where you live, what kind of house, how many kids, other dogs in the family and what do plan to do with the puppy. They will require a deposit if you’re approved, and most likely the breeder will want to meet you and your family. In rare cases, a breeder may have a pup available right away but you will still have to go through her application process.  A good breeder will have health clearances for the parents, and will have done everything possible to ensure the pups are healthy, happy, and long lived. Most good breeders will not let you pick out your pup, rather they will take all the information you have given them and they will match you with the pup they think will best fit your lifestyle.

Next, there are the breeders you find in the paper or on the ‘Net. More often than not, they are what are called Puppy Mill or Back Yard  breeders. (Or at the least, breeders who are breeding to make money, rather than finding perfect homes for their dogs) These breeders will usually have pups available and there will be far less hoops to jump through to get one. Almost always, their dogs will not have health clearances, and even though they may offer a health guarantee,  it is more a sales tactic than anything else.  These people usually breed multiple breeds of dogs and the conditions the parents live in may not be good.  They will talk a good game, saying that the dogs live on their farm, or in the house, and while this may be true in some cases, most likely the dogs are in less than ideal living conditions.  Some catch phrases to be aware of are “Both parents on premises”  “AKC certified or registered”.  Anybody can register a dog through the AKC. It sounds good, but means little. Finally, the breeders are from out of state and are willing to ship their dog to you. If you buy a dog from one of these breeders and do have issues with the dogs health, chances are you’re on your own. If you do return the dog, most likely they will be euthanized. You will not be told this.  A good breeder will not ship their dogs, and will have a return policy that lasts the life of the dog. If you return the dog, the good breeder will re-home him or care for him as long as necessary.

Next we have the pet store. All dogs for sale in a pet store come from either a puppy mill or a back yard breeder. No respected and conscientious breeder would ever sell their dogs in a pet store. Ever. These dogs can have all sorts of health issues, and they will certainly not be of the quality breeding stock that you would find  with a good breeder.  Look up puppy mills on the Internet and look at the conditions of the kennels. These people are in business to make money. The dogs come in a distant second…if that.

Finally there is Rescue.  Almost all pure bred dogs have their own breed rescue.  A quick Google search will find them. We found four on the first page.  You can also contact the breed club for your area.  They will know of rescues that serve their breed and maybe even a breeder that is looking to place a returned dog. Most breed rescues have foster programs so the available dogs will have a history of behavior and health. That is very beneficial to the potential adopter. It makes matching people to dogs so much better.

We’re fortunate to have a few great shelters in 0ur area and if you contact them and ask about the breed you want, you may get lucky, or you may be asked to add your name to a list. If you’re looking for a puppy and want to rescue, you will find yourself on a long list! It would also be a good idea to stop in and visit the shelter.  Be warned, though. You may find yourself falling in love with a dog there and that could change your plans…but in a good way.

Please educate yourself and remember that if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.  Here are a few links.

Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue    www.ygrr.org

Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue  www. sunshinegoldenrescue.com

Heartland Golden Retriever Rescue  www.heartlandgoldenrescue.org

Northeast All Retriever Rescue  www.near.com

The Stratham SPCA  www.nhspca.org

Cocheco Vally Humane Society  www.cvhsonline.org