What kid doesn’t ask for a puppy? Puppies are so cute! When you see those sweet faces on your favorite TV show, family movie or Christmas card, makes you want one, right? Think again!

First of all Christmas is probably the worst time to bring a new pet into your home. With guests coming and going, trying to prepare dinner and set the table who’s got time to watch the new puppy? Think chaos! What about the tree, the new toys, new slippers, and new baseball mitt? Think destruction! Not to mention harmful things like ribbon, electric light strands, tiny game pieces, and turkey bones! Think Emergency Vet visit!

Do I have you convinced to wait until the holidays are over and the house is pet proofed? Great! But on to the second consideration – owning a pet is a long term commitment.

Puppies need to be house broken, they need to be fed, groomed, exercised, and trained. They are expensive little critters, and they turn into dogs! There are various estimates (do an internet search) on the lifetime costs of owning a dog, but expect something between $15,000 – $38,000 if you factor in food, supplies, Vet bills, training, grooming, kenneling costs, etc. This is on top if what you pay to purchase the pup. Still not deterred? Great – let’s go shopping for a puppy! Where do we go?

There are only 2 options:

1. Rescue a puppy

2. Purchase a pedigreed puppy.

It’s a very personal choice.

Rescuing a pup from a shelter or rescue group can be very rewarding. Giving an animal a second chance is a wonderful thing to do, and some people believe that “mutts” make better pets than purebreds. However, unlike buying a purebred, you will rarely have any information on the animal’s background, so health, temperament and behavioral issues are all questionable. It will be up to you and the shelter or rescue group to find a puppy or dog that best suits you and your family’s lifestyle. Yes I mentioned “dog,” as they are much more in need of adoption than puppies. If you plan to rescue a puppy, that might require additional time and patience. But, if this route is for you, try the following approach:

1. Visit your local city or county shelter.

2. Find a local rescue group or foster home network.

3. If none of the local groups have what you are looking for, try searching nationwide by using: www.petfinder.com.

Purchasing a purebred puppy is a nice option for families who have done their research and know exactly what type of dog best fits into their lifestyle. Most breeds of dogs are hundreds of years old, and have fairly predictable health, temperament, and behavioral characteristics. However, no breed is perfect. We have all heard horror stories about certain breeds of dogs having terrible health issues. Again, if you have done your research well, you may want to steer clear of the more troublesome breeds.

Once you know what breed you want and have identified the health issues common in the breed, start looking for a responsible hobby breeder. Hobby breeders tend to have smaller kennels than large commercial breeders (often called puppy mills). Hobby breeders show their dogs or are involved in dog sports or other canine activities. This requires that the breeder breeds to the breed standard, so you are more apt to get a good quality puppy. A responsible breeder is very knowledgeable about their breed and is not only active in the breed community, but they screen for genetic diseases and obtain breeding clearances on their dogs. For instance – if you are looking for a breed known for hip problems, make sure the breeder has all breeding dogs x-rayed for hip dysplasia. Always ask the breeder if they guarantee the health of their puppies. The correct answer is yes! When you pick up your puppy you will usually get a chance to meet the canine parents of your puppy. The breeder will have a sales agreement for you to sign that outlines all expectations.

Ok, there is a 3^rd way to get a dog that may be the best of both worlds. If you have your heart set on a specific breed, but would love to rescue a dog, do an online search for breed rescue groups. You may have a difficult time finding a puppy, but if you want an adult, this is a great way to find a beautiful pet, and give a dog a second chance. You may or may not get papers, but the price will be less than getting a purebred puppy.

Never buy a purebred puppy from someone who has bred their female dog once or twice for fun or profit, has not done the necessary health clearances, or has no papers on their dog. These people are not true breeders – often referred to as back yard breeders. They may have little knowledge of the breed, and often charge just as much as responsible breeders, so beware of newspaper puppy ads.

Never buy a puppy from a pet shop. Responsible breeders would never sell their beloved puppies to a pet shop. Responsible breeders want all their puppies to go to wonderful loving homes, and carefully screen each potential family. All puppies in a pet shop come from puppy mills, no matter what management tells you. If you purchase a puppy from a pet shop you will often pay 2-3 times as much as a responsible breeder charges, and you will have no information on the health of the parents or conditions of the kennel that the puppy came from. Puppy mills breed for profit – not for the love and betterment of the breed.

And last but not least…if your kids are asking for a kitten for Christmas, ditto…ditto…ditto!

Tina Dodge owns a dog walking and cat sitting business under the name For The Love of Paws. Tina has been breeding and showing pedigreed Maine Coon Cats for over 12 years.

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3. The Cat From Maine
4. Big Cats, Little Cats, Spotted Cats, Naked Cats!
5. Looking For A New Pet? This May Be Your Weekend!