Deciding on a breed and breeder for your next puppy
I wish more people would reach out to trainers to help them find a puppy. We know lots of dogs, and can certainly help direct you to a breeder and puppy that will match your lifestyle. Here are some of the considerations I made when looking for my next puppy. I hope they help you in your search!
Energy level
As a dog trainer, I want something biddable that wants to do all the things with me. I need something that will scream at me if they are bored, and can handle training sessions every day, going hiking and playing and then sleep on the couch when I have to work. I am willing to do the things needed to earn the quiet on the couch time. If you do not enjoy walking miles each day and planning training sessions for the week, then we are not looking for the same things.
Size
I’m getting older and lots of dogs take up lots of space. I think this is a good time to start looking for smaller dogs. Since I don’t plan on living in a 5000 sqft house or a kennel, smaller dogs take up less space on the couch. Their crates are smaller, they eat less. You get the idea.
Coat length and grooming
I do not want something I have to groom. I need wash and wear. My hair gets done twice a year, I need something i can throw in a bath tub when they are gross and be done with it. Dogs with double coats shed more as in quantity and frequency of hair. Shorter coated dogs do not require as much vacuuming. Having to schedule professional grooming to keep my dogs coat healthy sends me into a panic. Sorry, no poodles here.
Temperament
This might the most important consideration and how you determine what breeds actually fit with your lifestyle. Know the meaning of words like Aloof, predatory, biddable, independent, loyal, trainable. I am looking for a breed that is highly trainable, and handler focused. Aloof or reserved with strangers are both characteristics that are fine for my lifestyle. This dog will need to be fine with people being around them but not necessarily want to engage with them. If you have kids and a bunch of people through your house, a dog who is aloof or reserved around strangers will not thrive in that environment. As a behavior consultant, I get calls for help most often because a dogs temperament was not matched to the lifestyle it lives in.
Prior experience with dogs and training
If this is your first dog, know that you have to learn how to dog and learn how to work with that particular breed’s characteristics. I’ve been around awhile, and had many dogs. I know the types of behaviors I do not want to have to train. I also have the knowledge to make quick adjustments in real time to avoid larger problems down the line. If you do not have experience in the breed in question make sure you are honest with the breeder about your abilities.
The non-negotiables
Health testing and proven parents. I am paying money for a puppy, I want to make sure this is the healthiest puppy I can find. Once you have settled on a particular breed, you can look on the OFA website for all the applicable health testing. Your breeder should be able to readily supply the certificates to show testing was completed. If your breeder passed on a particular test, and states they are “cleared through parentage”, which means both grandparents of your puppy passed the particular test, you should be able to see that as well. While this may not be a big red flag, take pause if the breeder is claiming “cleared through parentage” for congenital defects or genetic diseases that are very common in your breed.
Puppy Prospect
Since I want a dog who can do the sports and thrive under pressure, in chaotic environments, that is what I will look for in the parents of my puppy. Those are questions I can ask the breeders as I talk with them to determine which pairing will be the best fit for me. Even if i was looking for a nice pet for someone, these are still the questions I would ask. Most families do not want to spend hours training their dog, or needing to bring in a behaviorist. They want a resilient dog with a stable temperament that can adjust to anything thrown at them. Finding the right breeder will help get you as close to that ideal puppy as possible.
You can certainly find a lovely dog at a shelter or rescue, and I am sure that I could find something that fits my criteria if I looked. Since that’s how I ended up with 5 dogs at one time, I am going to choose an ethically bred puppy to stack the deck in my favor of finding the right dog for the specific things I need. I wrote a blog about that too!
Feeling a bit overwhelmed, reach out to us or another trusted trainer in your area. They can help you figure out which puppy would be a good fit for you and your family.