How to choose the right puppy

What is a dog for

In order to choose the right puppy and subsequently not regret your decision, first of all, you need to sincerely answer yourself the question: "Why do I need a dog?" Depending on the breed, dogs can perform the functions of guards, watchmen, hunters, companions or just loyal friends. Perhaps you have dreamed of walking in the fresh air all your life with siberian husky , or an evening on the couch with a miniature toy terrier is closer to you close by, or maybe you want to spend time royally in the company welsh corgi ? Some owners are crazy about long-haired breeds, with which you can experiment on hairstyles and buy them funny accessories, other owners prefer short-haired animals, which do not have to be vacuumed daily.

Before you get a dog, carefully weigh the pros and cons. Make sure that your family members support this venture, and the psychological climate in the house is calm enough. Read articles about the care and maintenance of dogs, evaluate your strength.

If the decision to take a puppy is made, and it is unshakable, you need to decide why you need a dog, and, accordingly, what breed, gender and category of pets to consider.

Dogs of any breed are divided into 3 classes.

• Pet. Translated from English, pet means "pet". It follows from the name that simple dogs "for home" belong to this category. They cannot participate in exhibitions and are not suitable for breeding due to any deviations from the breed standard. Such animals are castrated or sterilized so that the marriage is not passed on to offspring. But non-standard does not mean bad, a pet-category puppy can grow up to be a beautiful smart dog and become a devoted friend to you. Pet-class puppies are cheaper than the rest.
• Breed. Breed translates as "breed". Breed-class dogs have a good pedigree, they meet the breed standard, but with minor features. They participate in exhibitions where they do not claim to win. Their main task is to give offspring in which the genes of outstanding ancestors can manifest themselves. Puppies of the breed category are significantly more expensive than pet.
• Show. The word show does not need to be translated. Show class puppies are the best of the best. Experts know such pets by name, and they have no equal at exhibitions. It is often necessary to book a champion puppy even before its birth. Show class is the most expensive category of dogs.

How to choose a puppy breed

There are more and more dog breeds every year. At the moment, their number exceeds 500, starting from the classic german shepherds , cocker spaniels or Pekingese , ending with exotic ones for us so far labradoodle , chauskami or pomski . Fortunately, in order to choose the right puppy, it is not necessary to study them all. Usually each person likes only a few dog breeds , from which he chooses the most suitable one for him.

The breed not only determines the appearance of the pet, but also affects its character, as well as how it will be necessary to spend time with the dog, how much its maintenance will cost. The care, games and upbringing of a pet should not be a heavy burden on the owner, on the contrary, a dog in the house is an inexhaustible source of love and fun!

Dog breeds for apartment

Calm, friendly, non-aggressive pets of small and medium size are suitable for living in urban conditions. A dog living in an apartment should not be hyperactive, otherwise it will begin to destroy the dwelling. It is also desirable that there is no thick undercoat, because of which the molt will be very abundant. Pay attention to the "drooling" – breeds with abundant salivation stain the walls and furniture. It is important that the dog is friendly to others, adapts to the rhythm of the owner's life and can make a decent company on a walk in the park.

Popular breeds suitable for an apartment: welsh corgi , pug , yorkshire terrier , golden retriever , poodle , maltese lapdog , affenpinscher , labrador , spitz , basenji , chihuahua , toy terrier .

Dog breeds for home

When choosing a dog for a private house, you need to decide in advance whether your pet will spend most of his time in the house and periodically go out to the site, or he should live in an aviary and protect the territory. In the first case, the same pets as for apartments will be suitable, as well as their more active relatives, for example airedale terrier or beagle . Life in the aviary will be comfortable for large guard, service and shepherd dogs: Moscow watchtower , German shepherd , bloodhound , alabaya , border collie , doberman , Caucasian shepherd .

If you want a real good-natured man to live with you, who would only warn about danger with a menacing bark and frighten uninvited guests with his size, pay attention to Bernese mountain dog , newfoundland and St. Bernard .

Hunting dog breeds that drive "apartment" residents crazy feel good outside the city and will be irreplaceable on outings in the forest. Hunting dogs are quite independent, they can run away from the owner in search of prey. Dachshunds , greyhounds , russian greyhounds and jack russell terriers , without sufficient walks, they will look for a victim by digging up the beds.

It is also worth taking a closer look at the group of northern sled dogs. Husky , malamutes and Samoyed dogs have a charming appearance, amazing kindness and will keep company in any sports entertainment.

Important: only northern breeds with thick fur with undercoat can live outside in winter. The rest of the dogs should spend the winter in a house or insulated booth.

Dog breeds for busy people

If you devote a significant part of your time to work, but still dream of a dog – take a closer look at independent and relatively unpretentious breeds. Such pets will not suffer, being left alone for a while, they will not have to be cared for for a long time "with the last of their strength".

Chow-chow , resembling teddy bears, are very patient and self-sufficient. Workaholics will also be able to find their place in the schedule alaskan malamutes , sharpei and greyhounds .

The cardinal solution to the problem of loneliness of a dog is to have two pets. If they are of different breeds, the more interesting. For example, it was noticed that labrador retrievers get along well with papillons . By the way, both breeds are included in the top 10 smartest dogs in the world .

Dog breeds for families with children

By nature, dogs love children, while some breeds show special awe and friendliness. Boxers and beagle will play and mess with the kids all day. Border Collie , husky and samoyeds will become real babysitters. And in the company of good-natured labradors and St. bernards children will always be protected.

Families with toddlers should avoid miniature breeds, as the child may accidentally injure the animal. Giant dogs by type tibetan mastiffs , on the contrary, may accidentally push the baby.

Boy or girl

After choosing a dog breed, future owners think about which sex is better to take a puppy. In this matter, we recommend focusing on personal sympathies, however, males and females have differences in appearance and behavior that should be borne in mind.

Pros and cons of males:

• males are more suitable for participation in sports competitions;
• more powerful and larger than females;
• lazier in matters of training;
• males have a stronger sex drive. It will be necessary to compensate for his needs with the help of prolonged physical activity;
• during the walk, the male is active, aspires to his fellow tribesmen. If there is a hot bitch nearby, you will have to keep him firmly on a leash.

Pros and cons of bitches:

• more homely and affectionate, more attached to the owner;
• less aggressive and pugnacious;
• sleeker and smaller in size;
• more docile and easier to train;
• 2 times a year, bitches go into heat. They become nervous, unruly, and the risk of infections increases. During these periods, the dog needs to be protected from males and watch it especially carefully, because it may try to escape.

In general, it can be noted that the distinguishing feature of males is independence, and bitches are complaisant. But a lot depends on the temperament of a particular dog.

How to find a good nursery

So, if you have already decided which breed and gender of the puppy will suit you, it's time to look for a reliable breeder. In the matter of buying a dog, there is no need to rush. The animal will live with you for about 15 years, so it is so important to choose the right puppy. Refrain from spontaneous purchases at the bird market or through free bulletin boards on the Internet. At a minimum, a puppy may not meet the breed standard when it grows up, and at a maximum, there is a risk of buying a sick animal that will have to be treated for a long time, expensively and unsuccessfully.

The best place to buy a puppy is a specialized kennel. You can choose a pet together with a dog breeder who understands the topic or independently, following the call of your heart. As a rule, nurseries have their own websites, you can find customer reviews about them.

Life Hack: Go to the dog show of the breed you dream of. There, see which dogs you like the most, get to know their owners and find out where they bought puppies. Usually dog lovers are happy to share this information, as well as give valuable advice. Representatives of leading nurseries also actively participate in exhibition events and will not forget to provide you with business cards.

The number of nurseries depends on the popularity of the breed and the region. Having chosen a credible option, call there and arrange a meeting. During the conversation, ask the breeder about the conditions of the puppy and its parents. If you have a feeling that the puppy is being urgently sold by all means, this should alert you. A good breeder will ask you a lot of questions about your family, living conditions, availability of free time and even hobbies to make sure that the puppy will fall into good hands and will suit your character.

How to choose a healthy puppy

It's time to go to the nursery for your future pet. Please note that puppies should be kept in a clean room that does not have a sharp unpleasant smell. Often the breeder begins to show all his diplomas and lists the exhibition titles of the puppy's parents. Listen to this information, but do not lose your vigilance. In addition to potential champion regalia, it is very important what kind of character the dog will have.

If you have an opportunity to meet the puppy's parents, do not miss it. This way it will be possible to evaluate their behavior personally. If you can't arrange a meeting, ask the breeder if they were aggressive, pugnacious or cowardly. These qualities are inherited, as well as the desire to howl, tear furniture and bark for no reason. Look at the photos of the puppy's grandparents, if any.

You should refuse to buy a sick puppy right away. However, many diseases are not obvious, or may manifest themselves only in the future. Try to "talk" the breeder, he may accidentally mention points that may indirectly indicate the diseases of the puppy:

• hip dysplasia test for producers of giant breeds is mandatory, its absence is suspicious;
• if the puppy does not eat well, he may have gastrointestinal or liver diseases;
• allergic dogs often have puppies with the same problem;
• if an animal is terrified of fireworks, thunderstorms and other loud sounds, then its nervous system is unstable. Hysterical parents are unlikely to have a brave and balanced puppy;
• dogs running away during walks are unwanted offspring producers;
• in pursuit of profit, unscrupulous breeders can knit dogs with epilepsy, which will not be noticed until there is an attack.

A healthy puppy will be active and friendly. If you kneel down and call him, he will come to you. The kid will be curious about new people and toys. He should look happy, frolic with his brothers and sisters. In the hands of the breeder, the puppy is calm, gives himself a pat, including normally perceives touching the paws and muzzle. Refuse to buy cowardly and intimidated pets, as well as aggressive and dominant individuals. With age, the character of the dog will not change significantly.

10 main external signs of a healthy puppy:

• clear, lively look;
• there is no pus and other secretions in the eyes;
• wet and shiny nose;
• correct bite, the number of teeth meets the standard;
• ears pink and clean;
• there are no sores, pimples and, moreover, parasites on the skin;
• shiny, silky wool;
• tail without strong creases or docked;
• lymph nodes are not enlarged;
• not a bloated tummy.

A big plus in favor of the breeder will be his consent to conclude a written contract for the purchase and sale of a puppy. In case of detection of significant defects prescribed in the contract, the animal can be returned. In addition, the very presence of "insurance" will discourage the seller from wanting to slip a problematic pet.

At what age to pick up a puppy

Russian dog breeders are recommended to pick up a puppy at 8-10 weeks of age. By this time, the baby already has a basic upbringing, is accustomed to the toilet, he has been vaccinated.

Important: do not take the puppy immediately after weaning from the mother. Up to 9 weeks, the baby learns the dog's language and socializes in the process of communicating with other puppies. Let him spend a couple of weeks in a "dog manger".

A decent breeder will never give away a puppy that is less than 6 weeks old. If the buyer has a rich experience of keeping dogs, he can count on a 6-7-week-old baby. This option is not suitable for beginners.

The age at which it is better to pick up a puppy is influenced by the breed. So, large and giant dogs develop more slowly than medium and small ones. Big dogs are bought only at 3 months. It is important to feed such pets properly and monitor their weight in order to avoid sudden jumps that promise problems with the musculoskeletal system.

If you want to buy a breed or show class puppy, pick it up even later. It is possible to fully assess compliance with the breed standard and the champion's inclinations no earlier than 6-9 months of age. Despite the desire to pick up the baby as soon as possible, be patient!

Note: even selling the most expensive puppy, a conscientious breeder will never give guarantees that the dog will become a champion. He can only assess the potential of the puppy and make a forecast. It happens that the appearance of an animal changes significantly by the year. Also, a lot depends on the actions of competitors and how the owner will take care of the dog and prepare it for the exhibition.

What questions should I ask the breeder

First of all, find a brand on the ear or in the groin area of the baby and ask the breeder to present a puppy card (metric). The brand code and the code in the metric must be the same.

Metric is the primary document of a puppy, which is issued when the baby turns 45 days old. A dog handler comes to the kennel, examines all the babies from the litter and fixes defects. Subsequently, the owner of a dog aged 6-15 months can exchange the metric for a pedigree, which will give the pet the right to participate in breeding.

Note: the metric is not paid separately, its price is included in the price of the puppy. If you are not given a puppy card, then this may be a signal that the mating was unplanned. It doesn't make sense to buy pedigreed show- and breed-class dogs without metrics, since they won't be able to make an exhibition career or become producers of offspring.

It is desirable that the puppy has a veterinary passport with marks on deworming and vaccinations. If there is no VET passport, you can make it yourself.

After checking the documents, you can proceed to the questions. Don't be afraid to look stupid, ask everything you care about. Take the breeder's contacts – surely after a while you will have additional questions.

Don't forget to ask:

• How many puppies were in the litter (the optimal number is from 3 to 7)?
• Was the litter planned?
• What vaccinations and when are to be done?
• What kind of food does the puppy eat? When and how to transfer to a new one?
• When will it be possible to walk and in what mode?
• How to take care of a pet?
• What commands does the puppy know?
• Will the breeder advise the veterinarian and provide support in the future?

If the answers you receive satisfy you, and the puppy no longer wants to part – congratulations, you have found your little miracle!

Puppies from the shelter or from the street

Puppies do not always get into the house directly from the caring hands of breeders. Sometimes people are ready to save a dog by taking it from the street or from a shelter. In this case, first of all show the pet to the veterinarian to immediately find out about possible diseases.

When choosing a dog of a "noble" breed, it is important to understand that such animals have a more independent character than their purebred relatives. Dogs living on the street adapt to vagrancy, they have highly developed instincts. A puppy can be cowardly or, conversely, show aggression. Negative additions can be poor learning ability and frequent escapes.

On the other hand, among the mongrels there are also very sensitive, intelligent and affectionate dogs. It seems that they thank the owner every day for his kindness. Do not forget that mongrel dogs are the descendants of those pets that were once left on the street by their owners.

The right choice of a puppy for each person will be his own. Evaluate your material and mental capabilities, and then do not be afraid to take a step towards responsibility – the dog will become a real friend to you and will give you many happy moments!