Buying A Pup

[JTLP]

Howdy all ASF dog lovers =)

I just need some help and opinion in getting a pup. I've always been a dog lover and am in the market for one for some lovely company! I am really interested in getting an Australian Kelpie (maybe cross with a shepard or lab) but what do I need to know about getting one? For example:

-Where?
-How much?
-Better to adopt one/save one?
-Checks I have to go through?

Thanks for all your help! Feel free to add any other insights...

 

[Ruby]

1. Don't buy from a pet shop - they often buy their puppies from puppy farms where dogs are kept in appalling conditions and bitches are forced to produce litter after litter.

2. Buy from a breeder, but if possible go and view their premises - to make sure it is not a puppy farm

3. If you are buying a dog with a pedigree expect to pay upwards of $1,000.

4. Go to www.dogzonline.com.au - don't know much about it, but my son who breeds dogs uses it so thought I would mention it.

5. Word of mouth is good. If you get a recommendation - follow it up.

Good luck.

 

[skc]

Have u consider RSPCA shelters? I read somewhere that they get heaps of good pups after xmas/new year when unwanted gifts are dumped.

 

[Julia]

1. Don't buy from a pet shop - they often buy their puppies from puppy farms where dogs are kept in appalling conditions and bitches are forced to produce litter after litter.

Absolutely agree. They are almost always from puppy farms which would break your heart if you went to see how the dogs are kept in them.
If you ever have any spare money, please donate to RSPCA to enable them to continue trying to wipe these dreadful places out.

2. Buy from a breeder, but if possible go and view their premises - to make sure it is not a puppy farm

Agree again, but not everyone wants a purebred dog. I have always only had German Shepherds and would not consider buying from other than a registered breeder.
If you decide on a purebred dog, you will find (in addition to dogzonline which is very good), results from the breed shows for the last few years. Just Google the breed and "Show Results" until you get it up. This will show you the breeders who have consistently won prizes for best of breed, best puppy etc.

That way you can be sure you will not be buying rubbish or anything from a puppy farm.
If you decide to go for purebred, you should have detailed discussions with the breeder about the temperament of the potential puppies. However, this is no guarantee of getting what you want. A breeder's view of a 'calm and placid nature' may be quite different from yours.

Best, as Ruby has suggested, to go to see both the parents before making a choice. Do not make a choice on the basis of a six or eight week old puppy.
They are all totally gorgeous but that's very little guide to the appearance or personality of the mature dog.

My now 13 month old Shepherd was a quiet, amenable little thing from 8 to 10 weeks, but then she was the puppy from hell until about 10 months.
This despite the breeder assuring me she would be calm and placid!


.[/QUOTE]
Yes, great advice. But still go to see the parents and look around the breeding area. It should be clean and the dogs should have plenty of room to run freely. Do not buy from a breeder where the dogs are caged.
I went to one where all the dogs had been debarked and they were shut in concrete enclosures, climbing the bloody walls in their frustration.

Have u consider RSPCA shelters? I read somewhere that they get heaps of good pups after xmas/new year when unwanted gifts are dumped.

Yes, that's so true. And you can get lovely mixed breed dogs from a shelter.
And they are usually tougher (healthwise) than pure breeds because of less inbreeding. I have two friends with mixed breed dogs that came from a shelter, and - although they're pretty ugly - they both have very sweet and affectionate natures.

If you do this, though, I'd suggest getting a dog six months or so old, rather than a little puppy because when they are a little older you will have more idea of what sort of temperament they will have.

You can always encourage a quiet, reserved young dog and give it confidence. It is way harder to tone down an exuberant, boisterous, stroppy animal. Believe me, I so know this to be true!!!

If you get a puppy, you will need to know how to easily and quickly housetrain it. Happy to help with this via proven method when the time comes. It's really important to get this right from the start, to save anxiety and trauma (and puddles) for both the puppy and the owner.

 

[JTLP]

Thanks for all the responses guys - i've been going through websites having a look - it seems like there are not a lot of Kelpies though

Thoughts on trading post etc? And anything I would need to do with a puppy? (tagging/chipping etc etc).

 

[burglar]

Howdy all ASF dog lovers =)

... I am really interested in getting an Australian Kelpie (maybe cross with a shepard or lab) ...

lab is very docile, good around kids, make great guide dogs for the blind and hearing dogs for the deaf.
Guide dogs and hearing dogs are raised by volunteers. Could be rewarding, but you have to give them up!

Kelpie is a different beast. To generalise I would say boisterous, but depends greatly on the environment you provide!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Kelpie

Got to ask you, how would a Kelpie-Lab-cross behave?


burglar

P.S. Don't get German Shepherd or Doberman, they scare burglar witless

 

[burglar]

If you get one from the pound make sure it is young. (Apology to Julia for apparent contradiction)
Otherwise it may have been abused or learnt bad habits (like escaping from home).

 

[Wysiwyg]

Same here. l' m sure you will find the right one for you.

I had some best friends when I was growing up but not in my adult life because of being on the move and renting. However, am now in a position to care (and be cared ) for one. I like English Bull-terriers (my parents have one) and Blue Heelers so will wait till New Year and give a lucky pup a great life.

Similar to these pictures I looked up on the net.

 

[burglar]

... and Blue Heelers .

Q. Why is a Blue Heeler like a Harley Davidson ?

 

[SM Junkie]

If you are interested in the Kelpie, just be mindful that they are a working dogs and some will certainly not like to be locked up in suburbia. We have had two Kelpies, one a Red Cloud (extremely smart dog, smaller in size, square nose, very high energy) and the Huntsway Kelpies (much larger log with lighter colour around face and chest), will round up anything and again very active. Do you have kids? Kelpies are very loyal to the males of the house.

Definately think about the right bread of dog for your environment.

Best to pay more and go to a registered breader or to the shelters. Any other form of advertising on some internet sites, papers, pet stores, etc and you risk getting a dog from a puppy farm. Shocking inhuman condition..great to see people against this.

 

[Julia]

Great advice from SMJunkie. Do not get a working breed because you like how they look, think they're cute etc.

Your choice should primarily be about the dog's welfare, not your own.
If that sounds ridiculous, think about it. You will only have a happy dog if its needs are met.

And if you choose a working breed and don't constantly challenge it mentally and physically, you will have a troublesome, difficult dog.

German Shepherds are working dogs. They are also highly intelligent. However, I've had them in small townhouse type environments. That's fine as long as you are prepared to walk/run the dog for two to three hours a day, plus give it mental challenges like ever more sophisticated training, agility work etc.

Dogs love nothing more than being set a challenge and receiving your praise when they achieve it. They never stop wanting to learn and be stimulated.

Please do not get a Kelpie unless you can fulfil the above conditions.

I had a neighbour with a Border Collie, lovely dog, but he chased all our cars, tore up everyone's gardens, simply because they didn't understand the nature of the breed, and failed to exercise him or give him any mental exercise.