|
|
|
By Stacey Rogers THE ACQUISITION OF DEVON I was out in my backyard one afternoon and heard puppies rough housing in the yard directly behind mine. After hearing me, they came bounding up to the chainlink that separates our yards. HOW CUTE!! These two puppies were pert, playful, and just plain adorable. That was the first thought I had about getting a puppy. Their owner came outside, and after a bit of conversation, told me they were Toy Manchesters. They were small, about six pounds each, had tan and black short hair, rounded bodies, and floppy ears. My son was about a year and a half old, so visions of a "boy and his dog" flashed before my eyes. I had had only cats, so was a bit intimidated by the thought of getting a dog. Am I going to have the patience for a dog; will I be able to give him the attention he will need, compared to the little my cats require. The idea of a small dog appealled because of my son. The short hair attracted me because I didn't want to have to constantly groom him. So, after diligently searching through the paper for what turned out to be an uncommon breed, I finally found a breeder only an hour away. Upon arriving at the breeders (Paula Shumake, 540 659-0406), I was surprised to see what the actual dog looked like. At two months, the puppy was tiny, only three pounds. He was sleek, black and brown, and ears that stood straight up; no docking necessary. He looked EXACTLY like a tiny Doberman Pinscher. After my initial surprise, I learned to appreciate the dog's appearance and disposition. Now, at five years, he is an ideal seven pounds fully grown. Even without a lead, he stays right next to me, when we walk. I take him to the park, with my son, and he wanders just far enough to investigate the surrounding trees, keeping an eye on me. Devon gets along fine with my cats, respecting the space of Taylor, who occasionally feels the need to put him back in his role as the inferior pet, or so she seems to think. The other two are more tolerant, occasionaly sharing a sun or tongue bath. THE ACQUISITION OF GRUNT My mother decided to take on the responsibilty and satisfaction of breeding her Rat Terrier, Dot. She had made arrangements for stud service with someone who had raised Rat Terriers for years. After an apparently successful breeding expedition, Dot, slowly but surely grew "as big as a house" which says much for a dog who is no more than ten pounds. Dot gave birth to five bouncing babies (well, puppies really, and they bounce more now than then) on October 29. When the puppies were eight weeks old, she started placing ad in the paper for the puppies. She only received two responses. One: "Are the puppies fluffy?" slightly ruffled her feathers because in addition to that question, she felt the person was puppy shopping, but not dog shopping, which is different to us. The other person seemed more interested, but I don't know what ever became of that solicitation. Two weeks later, she felt, and I agreed that the puppies more and more resembled the other dog she had: a male Shi Tsu. Hmmm, didn't think Mr. Brain Donor (a nickname) had 'it' in him. As it turns out, he must have. So, now my mother had a litter of five purebred Rat Terrier/Shi Tsus. Since that 'breed' is not in high demand, I received another donation to my home zoo. I was worried about the possibility of some finding a new short-term home at the local animal shelter, but we easily found happy homes for them all. How happy? As happy as you can be when trying to housebreak a rambunctious pup. Why did you want a dog? Many responded to a survey Kathy sent out a couple of months ago, and survey results included: "I wanted a pet to love" "I wanted to have someone to come home to, since I live alone." "Companionship; to keep the lonelies at bay" And that really sums up what I was hoping to hear. What kind of dog should I get? Considerations include: how much time you can spend with it, what space you have available, how much exercise it needs, how much grooming is required, etc. For a more complete list, see Getting A Dog Keep this in mind: most dogs live for more than 10 years; many over 15, and some over 20. This is a serious commitment, and just because you pass a window with cute, little puppies inside, please think of your responsibities to it. Some books that may help you in your choices are: The Complete Dog Book - American Kennel Club The Right Dog for You How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend The Art of Raising a Puppy So, what are the options out there if you are interested in becoming Dog's Best Friend? Breeder? Pet store? Humane Society? Newspaper? There are many options and more reasons why some are better than the others. BREEDER If you are interested in a particular type of dog, go to a breeder. Most breeders are highly concerned with the quality of the animal and maintaining the standards for that particular breed. I liked getting a dog from a breeder because [this particular breeder] asked questions about me. What was my home like? Did I have a fenced yard? Did I work all day or would I be at home often. To me, this shows that she cared for those puppies. Also, she was able to give me the pedigree of Devon (my dog), veterinarian records, and registration papers. Sometimes, you will find unscrupulous breeders who only do this for the extra cash, but that is where doing your homework comes to play. Don't pay top dollar for a dog without papers. And a breeder who will give you a deal on his/her 'purebred' paperless dogs is full of malarky. Registration expenses are minimal. Please don't fall for that line. Research the breed you like on the internet. There is a wealth of information available right at your fingertips. Here you can find photos of the dog, general character traits, genetic defects relating to that breed, etc. Welcome to the AKC United Kennel Club, Inc. How To Find A Quality Puppy And Reputable Breeder PET STORE What can I say about a pet store? Hmmm, I'll try to restrain myself and just BEG you not to fall for those sweet babies who sit there gazing at you longingly. I mean REALLY! You went to the mall for a pair of new jeans, a lamp or some chocolate chip cookies (talk about impulse buying!) and you are now thinking of going home with a new member of the family? Mall pet shops cater to impulse buyers. And if you actually bought one from there, history and research tells me that you most likely regret your choice. Disease, poor living conditions and inbreeding are all too common. Where do these pet stores obtain their 'livestock'? From what is known, in the industry, as a "Puppy Mill." This is a "breeder" only in the sense that they manufacture dogs. ANIMAL SHELTER Jane must relocate and can't take Fifi with her. Mike's Princess got out one night, and delivered three princes. Little Timmy developed an allergy to Snuggles. The Jones were tired of walking Tarzan. What do Jane, Mike, Timmy's mommy, and the Jones all have in common? A trip to the local animal shelter. There, you can find quite an assortment of animals. Mutts are mixed with champions; dogs with cats; trained with plain old stupid. But most of them would make wonderful pets. Also, you would be saving a life. Many animal shelters require a deposit to ensure that you spay/neuter the animal within a certain period. Some also do home checks to verify the family for pet adoption. Local Shelters and Humane Societies Montgomery County SPCA Maryland SPCA Anne Arundel County SPCA Frederick County Humane Society The Humane Society of Baltimore County Patuxent Animal Welfare Society, Inc. Potomac Stray Cat Rescue Sanctuary SPCA / Humane Society of Prince George's County Homeless Animals from the Animal Welfare League Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Pet Adoptions SPCA Home Page Fauquier SPCA, Inc Northern Virginia Animal League Inc. Getting a pet? Consider Adoption For more resources - ASPCA Jump Page ANIMAL RESCUES The goal of animal rescues is to remove animals from abusive homes. Many rescues focus on a particular breed, for example Golden Retrievers or Beagles. If you love a certain type of dog and have the patience that will be necessary for developing trust on the part of the dog, this is a great idea. Keep in mind, these poor animals were abused. Tender loving care is of the utmost importance in developing this relationship. Alley Animals - Welcome! Partnership for Animal List of Animal Rescues NEWSPAPER Often, you will find puppies/dogs in the newspaper. Free to good home? Gee, that tempts me to send them the $30 to get the dog fixed in the first place. I am not hot on the idea of getting a pet this way. I don't know the history of the parent's, the medical history of the actual puppy, etc. Request for animal owners: Please, spay and neuter your pet. Doing so will prevent unwelcome "visitors" to your home. It also makes it less likely that your animal will want to roam in search of "romance" and "mark" the furniture and carpets. For more information about this see Zibby's informative article here and review the links below. National Animal Control Association American Veterinary Medical Association Other miscellaneous information: PuppyChow Free Offer Waltham - dogs, dog care, dog nutrition... Dog Owner's Guide: The Mixed Breed dog |
|
A Bird's Eye View | Ask the Minx | Etc. Critic's Corner | My $1.59 Worth | Point Of View Past Issues | E-Mail Me All information © 1998-99 by the WebGoddess. No portion of this site may be copied without permission. |
|