Tuesday, December 27, 2005
A Choice: Making a List and Checking it Twice
In this article, I will discuss the pros and cons to the dilemma that dog buyers find themselves. Where should I buy my new pet? After you have decided that you can properly take the responsibility to care for another life, and the breed you would like. There comes the issue where do I get my new pet? There are options:
•From relatives or friends.
•Street corners
•Newspaper ads
•Internet sites
•Local pet stores
•Corporate pet stores
•Dog rescues
•Veterinaries
•Small Family Breeders
•Big Time Breeders
There are many issues with each of the above choices; we will need to make a logical decision from those sources and choice the best for our particular needs.
What you need to do if you are serious about making the best choice for you is to list pros and cons for each and determine which you can live with. Let’s take each one and make a list. Now remember, I suggest that you make your own lists based on your experiences, location and cost factors.
Consider the following issues to weight in you lists:
•Price
•Shipping costs
•Purity of Breed
•Experience in breeding and controls
•Socialization of puppy
•Health
•Immunizations and worming
•Puppy happiness or physic
•Certificates (AKC, CKC, Veterinary examines, etc)
•Guarantees
Consider, intuitive issues;
•Is this a puppy mill?
•Is the owner or business in this for purely profit or providing a good service and a healthy and happy puppy?
•How did the breeder or representative come across to you personally?
•Ask for references, to call about previous sales and puppies.
I know this may seem like a lot of work and you may feel that you do these things mentally and you don’t need a physical pro and con list. Your mind does two things it sorts good and bad according to your wants. While a physical list makes you analyze the data. You still may make the emotional decision, but in the long run isn’t your new dog, companion, and friend worth the extra investigation up front?
•From relatives or friends.
•Street corners
•Newspaper ads
•Internet sites
•Local pet stores
•Corporate pet stores
•Dog rescues
•Veterinaries
•Small Family Breeders
•Big Time Breeders
There are many issues with each of the above choices; we will need to make a logical decision from those sources and choice the best for our particular needs.
What you need to do if you are serious about making the best choice for you is to list pros and cons for each and determine which you can live with. Let’s take each one and make a list. Now remember, I suggest that you make your own lists based on your experiences, location and cost factors.
Consider the following issues to weight in you lists:
•Price
•Shipping costs
•Purity of Breed
•Experience in breeding and controls
•Socialization of puppy
•Health
•Immunizations and worming
•Puppy happiness or physic
•Certificates (AKC, CKC, Veterinary examines, etc)
•Guarantees
Consider, intuitive issues;
•Is this a puppy mill?
•Is the owner or business in this for purely profit or providing a good service and a healthy and happy puppy?
•How did the breeder or representative come across to you personally?
•Ask for references, to call about previous sales and puppies.
I know this may seem like a lot of work and you may feel that you do these things mentally and you don’t need a physical pro and con list. Your mind does two things it sorts good and bad according to your wants. While a physical list makes you analyze the data. You still may make the emotional decision, but in the long run isn’t your new dog, companion, and friend worth the extra investigation up front?
