Did you know

"The Top 20 things you should look for before buying a purebred"  Here are some tips on what to look for as well as some questions to ask.

Always physically check the dog:

1. Check the inside of the ears

(You're checking for mites-black pencil dot specs that move, a yeasty odor and/or any bruises/cuts)

2. Check the skin and fur

(Are there any fleas, ticks, ringworms or bruises/cuts?

3. Check inside the mouth for discoloration, bleeding and/or a foul smell

(You’re smelling for an infection)

4. Last the nose and eyes

(Is the nose dry or excreting any fluid? Are the eyes crusty or have excess eye goop? Do they look clouded?)

　

Ask questions:

5. Is the puppy current on vaccinations?

6. Are there any health issues, hereditary or not?

7. Was the puppy a result of in-breeding?

8. Were there any complications during pregnancy or during birth?

9. Did the Veterinarian give the puppy a clean bill of health?

10. Did the puppy test positive for anything?

(Parvo or Worms)

11. Is the puppy a purebred, are the parents registered, and is the puppy registered?

　

Ask for proof

12. Do you have documentation from the Veterinarian showing proof of vaccinations and a clean bill of health?

(This would show if the puppy tested positive for anything)

13. Any other veterinarian documentation

(Such as if the puppy was born at the hospital, it would prove their was no complications)

14. If purebred, ask to see the parent’s paperwork and his paperwork

15. Finally ask if you have permission to verify all health related questions with the veterinarian

(Be sure they call the veterinarian first and give permission for you to get the info.)

　

Be cautious

16. Make sure you look up the Veterinarians phone number and not to assume the phone number they gave you is true. There are people who forge veterinary paperwork and have a friend or family member on the other side of the phone number they gave you.

17. If they do not have any paperwork on them, take the steps to contact their veterinarian with their permission.

18.If they claim that the puppy is a purebred but have no paperwork for them or the parents and they are charging you money for the puppy, in my opinion don't get the puppy. There is no proof the puppy is purebred without the proper paperwork. People pay breeders for purebreds because they are proven to be a purebred. Without the paperwork on the parents or the puppy, it's just another puppy.

19. Watch for evasiveness, a peddler not answering questions usually means they are hiding something or lying about something.

20. If they refuse permission for you to get the info from the veterinarian, they are probably lying about the puppy's health

　


As a final note, information is they key. The more you have the more you know so you don't end up paying big time in the end.

Everywhere you go you hear the words "Breed Restrictions" and I just have to wonder what it all means. Where these legislators and government officials came to the conclusion that a specific breed is dangerous or even a nuisance. The answers I sought out shocked me. I've been in the veterinary field for quite some time and all the time I have never came across a "dangerous" or "nuisance" dog that was defined as the "bad" dog they are claimed to be. In fact they were outstanding patients. Now wouldn't this dangerous breed actually be dangerous in a hospital setting? I mean after all if the dog is coming in for anything from a nail trim to a blood test the dog would have to be restrained. A dangerous dog in my book would be more aggressive in these circumstances. Now don't get me wrong, I've had my share of aggression in the veterinary field, however I never looked at aggression to be classified by breed. I look at different circumstances to determine the aggression. Such as, have the owners trained him/her correctly or at all, was the dog socialized with other dogs and people besides the ones where he/she lives and was the dog abused or neglected in any way? And I look to the circumstance. Is the dog in pain or even suffering from age-related ailments? Hey, when I'm in pain watch out cause I'll snap too!

So, is one breed more dangerous than the other? Are some breeds hard wired to attack dogs and maim children? In the course of researching this article, my opinion is that much of this fire concerning the "bad breeds" is fanned by those who don't know the breed. The dog owners, the neighbors, the Johnson’s with their 4 kids living down the street and yes even Mrs. Peterson the widow on the corner who makes those rock hard fruit cakes on the holidays and give them out. In one circumstance a middle-aged woman who lived a couple houses down from a young male was attacked by a "Pit Bull". This incident went to court and due to a few more similar cases this breed was thereby restricted and classified "dangerous". Now in Ohio a Pit Bull is classified not as a specific breed but as any dog of the bull terrier type. They also say that any dog that looks like a "Pit" will be classified as a Pit unless the owner has STRONG evidence supporting otherwise.

Breeds earn their negative reputations from newsworthy attacks, media coverage and exaggerated stories spread word-of-mouth. Pit Bull types are crowding our animal shelters because their reputation as the uncontrollable and unpredictable attack dogs make it difficult, if not impossible for them to find a home. That is all because of "Breed Restrictions" and because of the reputation everyone is giving them. It's not the breed that needs to be punished with tainting it's name or restricting these possible family members filled with love from finding a home.

We as a society are constantly placing a label on everyone and everything. We do it to our neighbors and colleagues. Whether by race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion.... whatever. Everything has a place and everything in its place, right? It saddens me that we do this to dogs as well.

My final thought: blame the owner not the breed!