Be aware that dogs are not things. They are living creatures who, by no choice of their own, are totally dependant upon us. They are at our mercy for their very survival. As pack animals, their mental health is dependant upon being with their pack. That should be us. It is best not to leave a dog alone all day. Dogs need a lot of attention. They require regular, systematic aerobic exercise for at least 20-30 minutes, at least 3-4 times a week, just to be healthy. Few dogs get the exercise they need for good physical and mental health. Lack of exercise is the number one reason followed by lack of training, that dogs become mischievious and burdensome, then are blamed, dumped and often killed. Remember a tired dog is a good dog. Having a yard is not enough. Dogs do not exercise themselves unless chasing something, perhaps along a fence line, and that alone is a problem.To make good pets dogs need training. To be safe pets they need early socialization. Lack of proper socialization in the first 6 months of a dogs life creates shy dogs, which to often become fear biters. Along with those who were simply born with poor temperments, these types of dogs are responsible for the majority of the over 4 million dogs bites each year. 60 % of these victims are children, half of all kids under 12 have been bitten by a dog. Everyday more than 900 people are hospitalized due to dog bites. Every year 25 people are killed by dog bites.
If you can not be a responsible dog owner, please wait until you can be to purchase a dog.
Most purebred dogs and ALL mixed breed dogs should NOT be bred. The majority of dogs have some defect that should not be passed on. Whether it is structure, temperment, health, or coloring. All dogs used for breeding should be health and genetic tested and cleared, that is definition of quality. Papers do not mean much. They are nothing more than birth certificates. Plenty of dogs have papers, but some are so poorly bred they look like mutts. No dog should ever br bred without having veterinary/laboritory testing and pedigree research to be sure the dog is healthy.This will also make the breeder aware of which genetic faults are in their lines. Failure to test or search for inheritable health problems is the number one sign of a back yard breeder. It is also the most damaging to dogs and the most heartbreaking to dog owners. The owners end up with yet another generation of poor quality dogs who too often develop expensive, early health problems and often die prematurely.
When producing puppies, a good breeder tries to maximize their parents best qualities while minimizing those qualities which are less desirable. The result should be puppies which are better quality than the parents.
BEWARE OF BREEDERS WHO SAY THEIR DOGS HAVE NO GENETIC PROBLEMS, ALL DOGS CARRY GENETIC PROBLEMS OF SOME SORT IN THEIR LINES.
There is currently a severe pet overpopulation crisis in Canada. We slaughter thousands of beautiful, healthy dogs every single day. 25% of dogs in shelters are purebred. Every puppy produced by a back yard breeder and placed in a home takes the place of one killed in a shelter because no one adopted it. Every puppy produced by a back yard breeder can make more puppies, and those puppies can make more puppies. There are just not enough homes, not to mention enough good homes, available for all these puppies. No matter how hard one tries, only 30% off all dogs live their entire lives in the home they went to afeter weaning. 70% will be given away, dumped, and abandoned for one reason or another. "we don't have the time anymore", "he is to much work", "he keeps jumping up", "he bit my child", "we had to move", these are some common excuses all meaning the same thing. This was not a good home to begin with, the buyers failed to socialize the dog, they failed to train the dog, they lacked the time, money and commitment required to own a dog. Not enough good homes available.
If everyone bred only dogs with excellent conformation, and stable, correct temperments, working titles, and clean health, we would have top-quality dogs in this country. Get your dog evaluated by judges and trainers. If he meets breed standard and is healthy and has the correct temperment and drives, show him, work him, and get him titled. If you feel you have what it takes to be a professional breeder, educate yourself, and with enough experience in dogs, maybe you to could make a possitive contribution to your breed. But if your dogs only credentials are that he is a great pet, then love him, socialize him, train him, exercise him, give him the best in feed, comfort and medical care, but for your dogs own good ( including health), and for the sake of puppy buyers, society and all canines, get it spayed or neutered.
