So you’ve decided to get a dog. That’s one decision out of the way. The next is what type of dog? Should it be a pedigree or cross breed or ‘multi pedigree’ as I like to think of them? Puppy or older rescue dog? Dog or bitch?
All these questions need to be considered before you go and look at any live dogs. the decision is not yours alone, the rest of the family must have some input too. Really think this through, your family structure, lifestyle, working hours, house size and garden size are all relevant to your final decision as to whether you can look after a dog and if so what size you can comfortably introduce into your household.
There have been several good tv documentaries lately about breeders and show dogs which have been horrific but were well worth watching because knowledge is power. I have been making my living with dogs for 30+ years and yet did not know until seeing one of these programmes that the distinctive ridge on the Rhodesian Ridgeback is an indicator of Spina Bifida. The dogs born without the ridge are the healthy ones. Knowing that you would think that the sensible and caring breeder would go for the ridgeless variety wouldn’t you? In fact the policy of the breeders is to ‘cull’ all ridgeless puppies. ‘Cull’ is a term used to make the killing of perfectly healthy puppies sound a little less brutal and let’s face it, stupid.
Eugenics it’s called. It went down very big with Nazi Germany in the 1930s in their quest to build a master race. They at least, were logical about it and placed fit young men with fit young women with the idea of producing strong babies. Even in prewar Germany they wouldn’t have thought it a good idea to kill all the strong healthy children and nurture those who would be a burden on the state for the rest of their probably short and painful lives.
If you are going to get a thoroughbred dog make sure you attend the kennels or breeders home and see the litter on their home turf together with the parents. Don’t be confused or dazzled by pedigree papers they’re often not worth the paper they’re printed on. If you’re going for a breed that is classified as ‘working’ such as Labrador, German Shepherd or Spaniels then I strongly advise that you go to a breeder that breeds working stock. In many breeds, the German Shepherd is a good example, the working and show dogs are almost separate breeds with the show variety having an exaggerated sloping back end and, in many cases, is almost unable to walk. Have a look at a Police Dog or Guide Dog for the Blind, they have a good straight back and stand there looking comfortable because they are as nature intended. I’m not really sure what show dogs are about, would you make Jordan Prime Minister on the grounds that she’s got a big chest?
Another type of dog to steer clear of is fashionable ‘must have’ breeds which come and go out of fashion as quickly as skirt lengths change. I’ve read recently that the ‘must have’ in a certain social circle of women is the Pug. This is a breed that comes ready equipped with a whole range of health problems as a matter of course. When you add a sudden demand then unscrupulous dealers will churn them out regardless of quality. Another area of risk is when a dog appears in a film or on tv. Remember 102 Dalmatians? Ask any rescue centre how they were inundated 6 – 12 months after the films release when all those cute puppies grew up. How long before the R.S.P.C.A are swamped with Pugs because they’re ‘so last year’.