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The Gift of Hope

Selecting a Pet

Acquiring a puppy should be a long and thoughtful decision. People should approach acquiring a dog with the same thought and thoroughness as buying a car. We hope even more carefully. If you make the right decision you will have a great companion for many, many years.

Owning a dog is a lifestyle choice that needs thorough study with an eye toward care, obligation and responsibility entailed for the life of the dog.

We always urge people to visit their county shelters first to see which dogs are available. Our own Buncombe County shelter takes in over 10,000 animals each year. If you don't have a specific breed in mind, we ask you to visit the shelter to carefully consider adopting a dog from the humane society. If you have a specific breed in mind, and the shelter does not currently have one, visit the AKC website and find the rescue site for the breed you are interrested in.

Responsible breeders take care of their own. Every purebred breed has at least one rescue group for that breed. Purebred rescue groups take in dogs for whatever reason their owners can no longer keep them. The dogs taken into rescue are evaluated for health and temperament and placed in foster homes until a suitable home comes along. We urge you to consider these options for obtaining a dog.

Purebred vs. Mixed Breeds

If you decide on a mixed breed, be very mindful of the combination. Every mixed breed dog, irregardless of its appearance, traces back to purebred dogs. Be aware in selecting a mixed breed, particularly puppies, the size and temperament it will grow into, to fit your lifestyle.

Purebred dogs have been bred for hundreds of years to work in some capacity to serve man. They have been bred for very specific purposes from lap dogs to herding dogs to guard dogs to hunting dogs. It is very important to study the breed's purpose to make sure it will fit into your lifestyle; even though it may have been several generations back, these traits determine its temperament.

As an example, Border Collies are great dogs, however they are bred to be very capable herding dogs. They have high energy and only do well in families that are prepared to give them a lot to keep them occupied. Border Collies frequently get turned into animal shelters because people acquire them when they are cute and fluffy puppies without taking into account that they are bred to do work and without a job they become unhappy and destructive.

Before you buy any puppy, be sure you fully understand what the future holds in store.  Make sure if acquiring a large dog that you have the facilities, time and mindset to be able to care for it and exercise it properly.  If you acquire a dog that needs regular professional grooming ask yourself if you are you able to financially maintain it.

Finding the Right Breeder

Once you have decided on a breed it is very important to seek out reputable breeders and then spend considerable time visiting and making sure that this is indeed the right breed for you.  Good breeders will be honest with you and they will ask many questions of you, as their concern is the welfare of the puppy.  Seek out breeders at the AKC website and visit dog shows.  Don't be in a hurry, and don't get a dog just because you feel sorry for it. 

Puppies from reputable breeders will be bright, alert and very cherished.  Do not buy a dog from a pet shop or a retailer who purchased the animal from a wholesaler. When visiting the breeders ask to see the parents, siblings, uncles, aunts and/or grandparents of the puppy in which you are interested.  Look for clean, healthy, happy dogs raised in a clean home or kennel.  Don't be in a rush to get a dog, and don't get a dog from someone who is trying to push a puppy on you.  Reputable breeders will demand a lot of you. 

Reputable breeders will serve as a support system to you for the life of your dog.  A good breeder will always be prepared to take the dog back from you, irregardless of age, if you can no longer keep it. 

Your puppy should be fully weaned and appear healthy and alert.  Do not select a puppy that does not seem full of vim and vigor.  Do not select one that is slinking or cringing or shy.  Pups like this are sadly always going to be a temperament problem. 

A Special Word About Adult Dogs

More often than not in the breed you have selected there are probably some wonderful adult dogs available through breed rescue.  Every breed has a national rescue that takes in wonderful dogs that are already trained, but for a myriad of reasons the owner had to relinquish.  These dogs make great pets and are much easier to bring into a household than a young, untrained puppy.  The rescue numbers for every breed are listed on the AKC website with the national breed clubs listing.

In Conclusion

We hope that this information has been helpful.  For more individual counseling on selecting a pet, please contact us .

A dog can bring a lifetime of joy and happiness to any home when care and thought is given to its needs and requirements.  The time and money spent will be returned many times over in the form of companionship, devotion and unquestioning love.

The keys to a successful companion are thoughtful selection, spaying or neutering and training to at least the level of A Canine Good Citizen (for more information on Canine Good Citizens , see the AKC website ). If you do this you will have a best friend for life.