For the potential Pet owner. Evaluating a dog

[gemy]

Here is an article link to some consequences of incorrect bite:

Dog Malocclusions (Underbite or Overbite) and Unstable Jaw

Getting to know your breeder is all well and good, and as I posted should obviously be done.

This doesn't mean that you should not have a discerning eye when going to see the "puppies".

I feel it is a very valid question many folks have asked. Which is "what do I look for" when I visit the breeder and see the pups. And so this is what I think.

I believe wholeheartedly, that the public should expect from a purebred breeder a healthy pup; and that includes structure and temperament.

Quite simply put one buys a purebred dog, as opposed to a mixed breed, with an understanding of what the breed is. How large it will grow, the temperament of the breed, etc. It is the basic rationale and goal of any breeder of pure breds; to breed true to type.

[Nancy1999]

I mean more than just “getting to know”, but actually really believing in their program and be willing to support it by taking any dog that they won’t be showing. It’s just my philosophy on how we can support the Yorkshire Terrier breed. I definitely think if you are going to a “pet breeder” it’s important to understand these things.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I mean more than just “getting to know”, but actually really believing in their program and be willing to support it by taking any dog that they won’t be showing. It’s just my philosophy on how we can support the Yorkshire Terrier breed. I definitely think if you are going to a “pet breeder” it’s important to understand these things.

I'm not too sure I understand the last part of this post. First I don't believe anyone should take any dog a breeder has determined is not for show. Good grief, you can support the breeder in other ways. You can offer to sponsor them in their show pups, you can offer help in other ways. But you don't offer to take a dog that is not a match for your home, your personality, your hopes and dreams for this pup.

I don't understand your last sentence about going to a "pet breeder" and understand these things?

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by gemy

I'm not too sure I understand the last part of this post. First I don't believe anyone should take any dog a breeder has determined is not for show. Good grief, you can support the breeder in other ways. You can offer to sponsor them in their show pups, you can offer help in other ways. But you don't offer to take a dog that is not a match for your home, your personality, your hopes and dreams for this pup.

I don't understand your last sentence about going to a "pet breeder" and understand these things?

A pet breeder is someone who is breeding for financial gain, and they aren't breeding to "improve" the breed, but simply to supply pets to anyone who can afford it.

I certainly didn't want to cause a big argument and said this is my philosophy. What I was trying to say is that I would rather take a dog with a slight overbite or under bite from a breeder like Loraine or Mardelin than a dog with a perfect bite from a pet breeder. Breeders who are breeding to improve the breed sell imperfect dogs to lucky pet owners. I think your ideas are very helpful. I just don’t want pet owners to miss out on a wonderful dog because it has a slight overbite. I also think the most important way we can support good breeders is to give a home to their offspring. I'm not sure if you can determine if an individual puppy is "a match for your home, your personality, your hopes and dreams for this pup" at 12 weeks. More importantly, this isn't for everyone I guess, I would hope that there are some, that are flexable in their personality and dreams.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

A pet breeder is someone who is breeding for financial gain, and they aren't breeding to "improve" the breed, but simply to supply pets to anyone who can afford it.

I certainly didn't want to cause a big argument and said this is my philosophy. What I was trying to say is that I would rather take a dog with a slight overbite or under bite from a breeder like Loraine or Mardelin than a dog with a perfect bite from a pet breeder. Breeders who are breeding to improve the breed sell imperfect dogs to lucky pet owners. I think your ideas are very helpful. I just don’t want pet owners to miss out on a wonderful dog because it has a slight overbite. I also think the most important way we can support good breeders is to give a home to their offspring. I'm not sure if you can determine if an individual puppy is "a match for your home, your personality, your hopes and dreams for this pup" at 12 weeks. More importantly, this isn't for everyone I guess, I would hope that there are some, that are flexable in their personality and dreams.

Thanks Nancy for clarifying your thoughts to me. For sure there are decisions one needs to make, and usually when the dog is just a pup. I would rather they be "informed decisions" than not.

A slight under or overbite, or a slight deviation of alignment, is just that.. minor.

That is and never was what I was talking about. I was talking about things outside of the norm.

[Yorkieville200]

Originally Posted by gemy

EVALUATING A PUPPY FOR THE PET OWNER[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/B][/B][/COLOR][/COLOR][/B]
I often get asked how do I choose a puppy; what do I look for? So the first thing I always say is do your homework first. Check out the breeder, through all the methods available to you. For Yorkies, Yorkie Talk has many breeder reviews, Google the name and business name, search BBB complaints and YELP, and any other internet reporting vehicle.
Next spend some time in determining what “type” in terms of personality of dog would truly fit in with your lifestyle. Do you want an intrepid explorer, a shy and cuddly love bug, a dog that needs high activity to do really well? Do you have an active lifestyle? Want to take your dog on long hikes, camp, boating, want your dog to travel with you. Are you interested in performance sports with your dog? Obedience, rally, agility, earth dog, disc, flyball, to name just a few. Do you have a busy social life that you want your dog to be part of?
This little exercise will help you to hone and refine, what you truly would like in your adult dog. It is something then you can talk clearly about with your breeder.
I would like to say that all “good” breeders do a standard temperament test on their puppies; how-ever for the toy breeds it doesn’t seem to be as common, as in other breeds. That means along with inquiry of the breeder, you might be on your own to evaluate the puppy you might be interested in.
For now let’s assume you have vetted your breeders, and are on a waiting list with one or two of the preferred breeders.
Before the home visit:
1. Ask for lots of pictures of the litter. Most breeders do love to post pics of the puppies. If they have videos all the better.
2. If the breeder says something like I have two males, or two females to choose from. Ask for select pictures of the two.
2B) Here is what you ask for; Of course the standard seated face on shot – all breeders love to show those cute Yorkie faces. How-ever you will ask for a suspended stack photo; where the breeder lifts their dog up, one hand under chin, and one between their rear legs. A photo that shows the side view of the dog; both right and left sides. A photo that shows them front on, and from the rear.
Nb: Many breeders are not used to doing this; so just ask gently and say I want to get to “know” this puppy from all sides before I visit.
3) These are things that are very nice to have prior to the visit; how-ever in this day and age of digital manipulations, can be suspect.
The Home Visit:
Ideally you will have the opportunity to see the whole litter interact with one another; how-ever some may have been sold etc. Still try to see what-ever the remaining pups are, interacting with one another; even if all the pups left are not yours to choose from. And very important you want to observe the “mother” and how she is, and interacts with the pup and you.
Please plan on at least one hour visit with your “breeder”; you don’t want to feel rushed, or to rush the breeder either.
Who is the leader of the “pack’? Which pup comes out to sniff you first? Which pup who may be first, goes away and stays away? Which pup if any decides your feet are a wonderful bed to lie upon? Which pup is always engaged and active, running here n there. Which pup sits back away from the pack and observes? These are all clues to their temperament.
Examination: And you should intelligently hold and at the same time examine the pup
1. There should be no obvious odor from the pup, except a milky smell.
2. All pups should be observably clean upon your arrival, and the house should smell clean as well.
3. Eyes should be bright and clear, no tearing, no encrustation at the corners.
4. Ears should have no smell at all.
5. Teeth: Examine the bite, or ask the breeder to do it for you. You do not want to see an over or an underbite.
6. As you hold the pup, feel their tiny bones and spine. If their legs feel like matchsticks, as opposed to popsicle sticks, that is a sign that this puppy may have “tiney” bones. Bones are the structures that muscles hang off. Tiney boned pups can be more easily injured.
7. The spine with proper placement of front and rear legs, should be straight. No hollows or dips.
8. When you watch the puppies stand (which they might do for 1-2 seconds), you will look for paws pointing relatively straight ahead, a straight spine, an upright tail, the space between the front and rear legs approximately equal.
9. All puppies should move easily. An occasional bunny hopping type of movement is okay, but if it that is the only preferred movement pattern, that is a caution. Puppies should be comfortable moving at a walk, at a trot, or at a run. And ideally over the time of your visit will show you all those movement patterns.
Ideally 8 weeks old is the first time and for almost all breeds the appropriate time to evaluate a puppy. As at this age; it is a good forecaster of how the puppy will mature as an adult. The caveat being baring, accident, injury, illness, or owner insufficiencies. So if you can visit at 8wks old, and then again at 10wks old prior to making your final selection that would be best.
As owners you need to feed the best food for the puppy, give appropriate exercise, training, socialization and vet care as your puppy grows.

Gemy,

This really should be a "sticky". It is such great advice, and so well written.

Sheila

[Verbena]

I agree it is very informative.

[Yorkiesatwork]

I'm confused... if a show home can't sell it's puppies that aren't destined to become Champions, what are they to do with them? I have a boy from the Prestigeous line who is almost perfect. 'Almost' being the operative word. Prestigeous has produced many, many, Champions, and that's what they strive to do. From what I've read, dog shows are extremely competitive, and the slightest fault will rule a dog out. That fault may not show up right away -- but when it does, cruel as it sounds -- it becomes just one more mouth to feed, and needs to go to a forever home. Max was 15 months old when he came to live with me. He is gorgeous!! He was in full show coat when I got him. But he couldn't make the cut. He has very long legs, and his back legs are slightly longer than his front legs, lending to an unlevel topline. He weighed just 4.5#. Now, as he approaches his 3rd birthday, he is almost 6#; has a short 'puppy cut'; rules the house and my other Yorkie; and generally loves life. So, if show homes aren't supposed to sell their imperfect pups, what are they to do? Kill them? Thank God the Prestigeous people did not consider that an option. I love this little guy like life itself!

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by Yorkiesatwork

I'm confused... if a show home can't sell it's puppies that aren't destined to become Champions, what are they to do with them?

So, if show homes aren't supposed to sell their imperfect pups, what are they to do? Kill them? Thank God the Prestigeous people did not consider that an option. I love this little guy like life itself!

I think you misunderstood Gemy. You might want to re-read her response, and the post to which she responded.

I didn't understand her to say, don't buy an imperfect pup from a show breeder. I understood her to say, don't just buy ANY available imperfet pup from a show breeder as a way to support that show breeder, but rather critically examine the pup and make sure it is the RIGHT dog for you...that it is the right fit for you & your family.

[bchgirl]

Being "imperfect" for the show ring does not make any puppy less desirable as a pet.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

Being "imperfect" for the show ring does not make any puppy less desirable as a pet.

No it doesn't at all!.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

I think you misunderstood Gemy. You might want to re-read her response, and the post to which she responded.

I didn't understand her to say, don't buy an imperfect pup from a show breeder. I understood her to say, don't just buy ANY available imperfet pup from a show breeder as a way to support that show breeder, but rather critically examine the pup and make sure it is the RIGHT dog for you...that it is the right fit for you & your family.

Thank You Kazzy that is exactly what I meant. And let me say this loud and clear... THERE IS and HAS BEEN NO Perfect DOG born. All dogs have imperfections including show dogs.

[jacquelinebabco]

Great information. I wish I could put you in my pocket to help with the decision should I decide to add another pup to my gang!

[gemy]

Originally Posted by jacquelinebabco

Great information. I wish I could put you in my pocket to help with the decision should I decide to add another pup to my gang!

I am here for you jacqueline. Anytime I could be in your pocket

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Yorkiesatwork

I'm confused... if a show home can't sell it's puppies that aren't destined to become Champions, what are they to do with them? I have a boy from the Prestigeous line who is almost perfect. 'Almost' being the operative word. Prestigeous has produced many, many, Champions, and that's what they strive to do. From what I've read, dog shows are extremely competitive, and the slightest fault will rule a dog out. That fault may not show up right away -- but when it does, cruel as it sounds -- it becomes just one more mouth to feed, and needs to go to a forever home. Max was 15 months old when he came to live with me. He is gorgeous!! He was in full show coat when I got him. But he couldn't make the cut. He has very long legs, and his back legs are slightly longer than his front legs, lending to an unlevel topline. He weighed just 4.5#. Now, as he approaches his 3rd birthday, he is almost 6#; has a short 'puppy cut'; rules the house and my other Yorkie; and generally loves life. So, if show homes aren't supposed to sell their imperfect pups, what are they to do? Kill them? Thank God the Prestigeous people did not consider that an option. I love this little guy like life itself!

First as the title of the thread indicated it was for pet owners and evaluation of puppies. In no way was I targeting or delineating show breeders or their pups.


And you are rather over the top to equate a reasoned evaluation with KILLING a pup.

Pet puppies by their very defintion are not show worthy pups, but that does not mean they should not be a very healthy and fine example of the breed!

This is for folks who do want to know what to look for in a healthy structured pup!!