He’s man’s best friend one day, the reason you need to buy a new sofa the next. That’s why we found a few experts (and one opinionated dog) who know what’s going on inside that seemingly simple brain of his — and how to use it to your advantage.
By Bill Gifford
It All Starts With a Good Breeder
Most pet stores get their dogs from quantity-over-quality puppy mills, and the internet is rife with scams, which is why a reputable breeder is the way to go — if you know what to look for.
AKC Cred
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is 125 years old and the leading authority on purebred dogs. Start with its breeder referral resource (akc.org). It’s also worth getting recommendations from people at the dog park whose pups you admire.
Nosiness
A good breeder will be the one asking you questions: where you live, how you’ll care for the dog, whether you’ve owned one before, even how much money you make. Most important, they should be willing to take the dog back if it’s not a good fit.
Happy Parents
You’re not just buying a dog; you’re tapping into a bloodline. A good breeder will allow you to meet the pup’s parents, which should be good family pets themselves. But try to make this happen before a litter has been born, as once the mother is caring for her newborns it’s normal for her to be protective and unsociable.
Health Guarantee
A reputable breeder will have medical records certifying that the parents of the litter are healthy stock, but they should also require you to take the puppy you’re interested in to a vet for a checkup. It’s also worth checking Caninehealthinfo.org, a searchable database of health problems associated with individual breeds so you have a heads-up on what may await as your dog gets older.
A Waiting List
Finding a good breeder takes a while, and then you may need to wait again for a suitable litter — sometimes as long as a year. But a waiting list is a good sign. If your breeder has lots of dogs on hand, then the pups probably aren’t getting the attention they deserve. And if the owners seem more interested in closing the deal than finding the dog a good home, walk away.
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The Puppy Test
A few simple tricks can help you get the pick of the litter.
Place the Puppy in a Separate Room
Remove him from the chaos of the kennel and the other pups, and then move away. Does he hide in a corner, bolt directly to you, or investigate his new surroundings? You want a dog that’s interested in you first, then his environment.
Crouch Down and Clap Your Hands
The dog should come to you, tail up (which indicates friendliness) — but not bite or wrestle with your hands, a sign of dominance.
Roll Him Gently on His Back
If he resists or bites, that’s also a sign of dominance.
Do the Touch Test
Slowly stroke the length of the dog’s back three times. Does he lean in toward you (good), or subtly pull away (not as good)? If he’s a puppy, pick him up in one hand. Cuddliness is good; fighting, struggling, and biting — not so much.
Go on a Speed Date
Spend 20 full seconds patting the dog and talking to him. If he doesn’t stick around, he’s likely to be more independent and harder to train.
Try Paper Play
Toss a crumpled paper on the floor in front of the dog. Does he pounce on it and “fetch” it? That’s a dog that’s going to want to work with you.
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September 5th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Another good resource for dog health information is the Dog Health Handbook.
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September 8th, 2009 at 9:52 am
For tips on how to find a good breeder visit http://www.humanesociety.org/puppy
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September 10th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Any dog list that does not have the standard poodle on it is highly misinformed. The breed is highly intelligent calm in the house gentle with children will run all day. Yeah there is the poodle thing but don’t give him the ridiculous hair cut andmost people don’t even know it is a poodle.
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September 14th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
If you mean a full haircut – clipping nails, cleaning & plucking ears, expressing anal glands,bath, dry, brush, clip, (which includes sanitary clip, shaving pads etc), cologne & bows. Some will grind nails if owner asks or if possible.
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September 17th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Yes, buying a dog from a pet store is always a terrible idea.
But instead of contributing to the pet overpopulation by buying a dog from a breeder, a real man should adopt a healthy, loving dog from a local animal shelter and save it from potential euthanasia.
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boo boo Reply:
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:15 pm
ah yes, how does the old adage go?… real men can pick out *stable*, healthy dogs on sight at the pound… yes, that’s how I picked my husband… rather than contributing to the overpopulation of MY city, I went right down to the the closest correctional facility and grabbed the first guy who came out of the pen who didn’t look scary.
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Frank Reply:
October 10th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
You just proved you know nothing of animal shelters, boo boo. As someone who fosters animals and is a proud owner of several animals adopted from the shelter, I know a bit of what I’m talking about. Most humane societies screen the animals before adopting them out (hence, why they foster them) and they’re very particular on who adopts them.
The type of animals that go to animal shelters weren’t put there because they’re aggressive, but usually because of irresponsible owners who may have abused them, the animal ran away and the owners couldn’t be found, the owners simply moved away and left the animal behind (it happens a lot), ect.
All the animals I’ve fostered have been sweet and well socialized, even the old ones. At their worst times, they just didn’t have manners. Like the cats would sometimes jump onto the coffee table and the dogs would bark when someone walked by. It’s okay though, that’s why they’re fostered first. ^_^
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September 22nd, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Yeah to all that…if you’re looking for a trophy dog. If you want a rough-and-ready, loveable mutt – go to a shelter. We did, and we’ve never looked back. We have a Terrier mix who wormed her way into our lives with a clever bait-and-switch technique and she’s been charming us ever since. She’s part nutjob and part paper shredder, flaunts the house rules, and keeps us in stitches. I wouldn’t swap her for anything – not even the ‘perfect’ pooch described above.
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September 29th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Ceasar Milan has taught me alot about being the pack leader.
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October 29th, 2009 at 1:18 am
We know our dogs need routine physical exercise. What about mental workouts? We train our dogs and interact with them, providing lots of mental stimulation, but there is another kind of activity for your dog.
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December 20th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I just wanted to say great! I was doing some research on Google when I found this blog. After spending some time on this site I’ve come up with some ideas for a new site. I just thought I’d let you know
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January 13th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Thanks for the article, I used the tips to buy a new Chocolate Lab named Chewy. So far so good!
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May 6th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
My husband is the dog lover in our family. He’s had them since he was 4 years old. All of them have come from a local animal shelter, have been just wonderful and lived out happy lives as pampered pets.
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October 22nd, 2010 at 11:31 am
I ran across this article while doing research for walking Australian Shepherds. I really want to purchase the Kelty Dog Leash but can not find it available for sale anywhere.
Do you know of a website I can purchase this leash from?
Thank you.
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Jordan Reed Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Try
http://www.moabsports.com/web-pid-77777404-Product-Kelty%20Dog%20Rope%20Leash-gdftrk-gdfV267_a_7c110_a_7c170_a_7c77777404-item.htm
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November 30th, 2010 at 8:09 am
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May 6th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
great ideas. thank you so much i will be using more than a couple for my upcoming wedding.
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January 24th, 2012 at 7:00 am
pets are very faithful specially dogs. they follow the instructions of their owners and safe to them and their family. we have to give training to follow our instructions.
i have also my dog and i take care of the his food and training.
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