Some of my friends had to give me sad news recently, about the loss of a dog. This is always hard to recover from - in fact, I don’t think we ever really do.
But as one door closes, another opens, and I’m one of those people who’s always thinking about their next puppy!
Not straight away, of course. But plans start to slide into place after a couple of months. Then there’s all the research needed to narrow down the perfect puppy.
You can research as much as you like, find the perfect breeder, study the lines … or you can take pot luck.
But just like with children, you get the one you’re given - not necessarily the one you wanted, hoped for, or expected!
What puppy research should I do?
I would definitely recommend checking the parents’ test certificates. This could save you many thousands of pounds in just a year or two.
What certificates? You can check with your national Kennel Club. They’ll have a listing of all the tests recommended for each breed, as the breeds all have their own tendency to certain ailments or problems.
I’m sure you’ll agree that the best gift you can give to your new puppy is good health and freedom from pain.
This means carefully checking out his/her ancestry. Any reputable breeder will have gone to the immense trouble and expense of getting these tests done for their bitch, and only using a stud dog with similar qualifications.
(I know you had a wonderful Heinz 57 dog once, who lived to a hundred with never a day of illness - but you were lucky!)
I’ve heard too many accounts from my students of expensive procedures being necessary to make their dog’s life liveable. Expense they would have been spared with a bit of study and research.
Which dog breed?
This is very much an individual thing. Try not to be swayed by fashion. I always look for a dog that looks more like a wolf - long nose, long limbs, slim rangy body, a coat that doesn’t need endless clipping. (So how did I end up with Coco Poodle, who despite his long nose and long limbs, still has to be shorn and shaved every 3-6 weeks?? 😳)
Why do I choose that type of dog?
Because dogs with squashed noses, short legs, and squat bodies tend to have a lot of problems with breathing, movement, weight-gain, and so on.
For more detail on how to choose the right breed or type for your family, check out Choosing a Puppy 1. There are three posts for you on this critical subject, showing you what really is important and what really isn’t.
The most important aspect of your puppy
But the key thing to remember is that your dog is an individual.
There is more difference between individual dogs than between breeds.
It doesn’t matter how carefully you choose your new pet, he’ll be his own individual self.
He may not be at all like others of his breed: he may be from an active breed but is a couch potato; he may be a guard breed who’s afraid of his own shadow; he may be a lap dog who hates cuddles.
Thing is … he’s yours now! And developing a meaningful relationship with this new person in your life will result in a long-lasting devotion between the two of you.
And it will also change you forever.
