Buying a puppy requires patience and care

I want a puppy and I want it NOW!  I am reminded of Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  In today’s consumer society, we are accustomed to being able to buy something immediately.  Especially with online purchases.  I have recently signed up to that horrible company’s ‘Top’ service, where something comes before you’ve ordered it.  This makes it harder than ever to wait when buying something so meaningful.

Buying a sofa

Buying a puppy is not a quick job, on the whole.  You need to think of it as being a cross between buying a sofa and getting a job.  If you are buying a sofa, you think about what you like.  You reflect on what will go with your home and your lifestyle.  Perhaps you try out a few first, or talk to friends about their sofas and what works for them.

Then you go to the sofa shop.  You decide what you want to pay and narrow down your choices.  If there is a salesperson available, you listen to their advice and take note of their suggestions.  You might want a particular version of the sofa.  So you are prepared to wait.  Your order will take 9 weeks, you are told.  That’s fine you say.

That’s how long it takes to make a puppy.  Not too long to wait really, is it?  Delivery takes a bit longer, as your puppy needs to be ready for you, so allow another 8 weeks.  If you can be patient, you should get just what you are looking for.  Made to order, so to speak.

Making a job application

When you apply for a job, you start by looking at what’s available.  Reading through the adverts and matching it to your requirements.  You might have a list of criteria drawn up:

• earn lots of money
• good additional benefits
• reasonable hours
• friendly colleagues

What would a list look like for your puppy?

• not too big (but big enough to cuddle)
• not too hairy (dogs ARE hairy, all the better to snuggle into)
• won’t chew the house (it will!)
• will be obedient (if you train it, it will be)

Next, you write an application.  Here’s one I received yesterday:

“I am writing to enquire wether you have any  puppies to sell. I am looking for a KC registered Border Collie, health checked, wormed, vaccinated and, of course, micro-chipped.”

Now tell me honestly, would you give that person the job?  Would you think, yes, I would like that person to have one of my puppies?  I’m pleased they want it to be registered, health checked etc, but who are they?

Just as a person recruiting for a job receives hundreds of applicants, a responsible breeder receives hundreds of enquiries for puppies.  I could sell a few hundred pups a year, if I wanted to.  Unfortunately, I only produce half a dozen a year.  So the homes I send them to must be super special.

Vetting puppy homes

I vividly remember going to buy Sunny – the only dog I have bought (see My life in dogs) and being vetted by her breeder.  I had assumed that because I already had a couple of collies and the breeder was a friend of a friend, that I would obviously be getting what I wanted.  Not a bit of it!  I was judged on how I handled the pups and talked about my dogs.  I had decided I wanted to do agility and breed from her and that had to be considered.

Never assume, because that makes an ASS out of U and ME.  This applies to buying a puppy as much as anywhere else.  You are not entitled to a puppy, just because you have the money.

You get what you pay for

Finally, be aware that when buying a puppy, just at with any other purchase, you get what you pay for.  Something that is cheap and where you have to make no effort to get it will probably not have been produced with much love or care.  Unfortunately that might mean a life of pain for you and your dog, both figuratively and literally.

Remember..

If you are buying a dog, start by looking at the What Dog? page, then contact me?  Part of this service is that I will provide a form for you to fill in.  This acts like a CV, enabling you to demonstrate who you are clearly to other breeders.

Please CONTACT ME if you want to know more about me and my dogs?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think.  If you want to know more, why not FOLLOW ME?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.