Before You Buy a Purebred Dog, Read This

I'm a Registered Veterinary Technician, and in my field I see my fair share of crazy: crazy clients, crazy dogs, crazy cats, crazy doctors, even crazy ferrets. One of the things that makes me crazy is when people insist on buying purebred dogs, or insisting that a purebred dog is inherently better than a mix.

If you want a dog who's going to live forever and never get sick, get a mutt. There are over 300 health problems (either congenital or acquired) that relate to being purebred. Everything from skeletal abnormalities to joint problems to heart problems to difficulty breeding and giving birth to skin problems to behavior problems to breathing problems to pancreatitis. The list goes on and on.

Purebred dogs are bred for profit. That means their sole reason for existing is to make money for the breeder. They aren't bred for companionship or showmanship. And a special note about the AKC registry: it is simply a registry of genetics. All it means is that the mother and father were both AKC registered. It doesn't mean the dog meets the breed standard, it doesn't mean the dog has particular personality traits the breed is known for, it doesn't mean the dog has been screened for health problems. It doesn't even mean the dog is a particularly NICE dog.

I don't want this to sound like I categorically hate breeders. I don't. There are some good breeders out there. If you're looking for a purebred dog, you need to make sure it comes from a good breeder. How can you tell? Well, I'm glad you asked. A good breeder will not advertise in the paper. He will not stand outside Wal-Mart with a sign. He will not sell his puppies to a pet store. He will not place an ad on Craigslist, and he will not sell you a puppy for less than $1000. A good breeder is not looking to make money. He is looking to improve the breed. He will make sure both the mother and father are not only AKC registered, but have been checked for common hereditary problems by a veterinarian. He will carefully select his breeding pair for not only physical soundness, but also temperament and behavior patterns. He will maintain the integrity of his breeding stock by retiring females while they are still young enough to appreciate their quality of life, and he will spay those females to prevent them from getting pyometra, or infected uterus. Good breeders are few and far between and often difficult to find.

Pet stores are not a good place to get puppies. Most will tell you they don't get their puppies from puppy mills, but take a look at your paperwork. If the puppy's breeder of origin is somewhere in the midwest, chances are good it's from a puppy mill. The AKC has a list of certified breeders on their website, which is a good place to start. Most breeds have a local club for showing and breeding. Check with them to see what breeders they recommend.

When you look into a breeder, there are some guidelines to follow to ensure you are not compounding an already devastating problem. First, make sure and visit the breeding facility. Is it clean? Do the animals have access to food, water, and shelter? Are the puppies in a cage or running free to learn what it's like to live in a house? Is it the kind of place you would be comfortable bringing your dog back for a visit?

Second, both the mother and father should be on site when you go. You should get a chance to spend time with both parents to get an idea of what your puppy may be like when he or she grows up, both in size and temperament. Do the parents look healthy? Have they had regular veterinary care? Do they look well-fed? Are their hair coats in good shape?

Third, make sure and ask the breeder lots of questions. Have the parents been screened by a veterinarian for common hereditary problems? We all know health problems can be inherited, but 90% of a dog's behavior issues will also be inherited. Has the breeder ever noticed any problems with aggression? Obsessive behaviors? Anxiety? Do the parents have any obedience training? How did they do with that? How many litters has this female had? The answer should be only one or two in her lifetime.

Lastly, any puppy you buy should be seen by a veterinarian prior to purchase. A good breeder will be willing to pay all or part of this expense. A good breeder will also allow you to choose the veterinarian you prefer, rather than insist you go to one they prefer. If you don't have a veterinarian you prefer yet (perhaps this is your first dog) ask the breeder if they have one they like and go visit the doctor's clinic. What do you think of the place? Would you be willing to continue here?

Sound like a lot of work? It should. You should also realize that animal shelters have many beautiful, purebred dogs who have been screened for behavior problems, if not health ones. Before they put animals up for adoption they are tested for aggression and personality quirks you may want to be aware of. When you adopt a pet, you save two lives: the life of the pet you adopted, and the life of the one who can take its place in the shelter.

Shelter pets won't have papers to prove they're purebred, so if owning a purebred dog is still important to you and you want to make sure they've "proven" they're purebred, look into a rescue. There's a rescue for almost every breed out there, and all you have to do is Google the breed and the word "rescue" along with your zip code to find one near you. Rescues that specialize in purebred pets will do some of the prep work for you so you know what you're getting into when adopting from them. They all require an adoption fee that you won't be able to get back, but you WILL be able to claim on your taxes. Make sure you understand the terms of the adoption before you sign including the fee as well as any return policy they may have. Many rescues require you return the dog to them should the match not work out so they can find another home for him or her. They will usually offer you another dog in return. They will have an application for you to fill out, and many require a home visit so they can see the environment where the puppy will grow up.

If all this purebred stuff sounds way too complicated, and you still want a dog, take a trip to your local animal shelter and give them a shot. Most mutts have the best of all their breeds mixed together without the health issues. Whichever way you turn, make sure you're informed. It's an important decision.