27 February 2010

 Don't turn a deaf ear to the bad points of the breed either and breeders can help you learn the truth here.  All puppies are cute and with proper research you will find the one right for you that will be healthy for many years to come.
 

Steps to Finding a Puppy

Step 1:  Research the breed through on-line websites and books.  Read more than one book on the breed to get a through understanding of the pet you are planning to bring into your family.  Books on ACD's are listed on a page in this website to assist and look at the Breed Characteristics.

Step 2:  Find out the genetic issues arising the breed of your choice.  Many purebreed dogs have known problems.  In the ACD it is PRA, Deafness, and Hip Dysplasia.  See the Health to learn more about these issues and more importantly, what breeders are doing to test the breeding stock and puppies.

Contact the Society Secretary for a reputable breeder in your area.

Step 3:  Write down all the questions you know that need asked of a breeder, questions such as:

1. How long have you owned ACD's?
2. How long have you been breeding?
3. What brought you to the breed?
4. What activities do you engage in with your dogs?
5. What is your favorite trait of the ACD?
6. What is the most common unfavorable trait?
7. Can I visit your Kennels?
8. Are both parents available to see?
9. Give me some information about the parents personalities?
10. What did you expect from the mating of these two dogs?
11. Are the puppies BAER tested?  And what were the results of all the puppies hearing tests?
12. Have the parents been PRA DNA tested and what are the results?
13. What are the puppies PRA status likely to be?
14. Did the parents get hip testing prior to breeding?  What are those results.
15. What type of contract do you require?
16. Are there any health guarantees?

These are just a sampling of the questions.  I know that many breeders will require your home to be looked at by another Society member or themselves depending on where you live.  This is to ensure that the puppies will be going to a home with people that care.  So you should be open to this possibility of someone the breeder trusts coming to check you out.

Be prepared for the breeder to question you about many different aspects of your life to help ensure that the ACD is the right breed for your lifestyle.

A good breeder will make you sell yourself and ask as many questions as you are, if not more.

Step 4:  Visit the kennels checking for cleanliness and see how the puppies are being raised.  You want puppies that are interested in the people around them as this means that the puppies socialization has been begun.  It is extremely important for ACD pups to have a multitude of different interactions.

Step 5:  Make a decision on your new family member.  Congratulations.