Looking for the best?

Question

People on YA Dogs ask these questions all the time ... What is the best dog food? What are the best training methods? Where can I find the best vet? What are the best dog supplies? (Etc etc etc)
Everybody wants the best for their dog. However (in my experiences), many of these folks have very poor quality dogs! Many of these dogs have temperament issues, health issues and are very bad examples of their breeds. Regardless of where a person gets a dog (shelter, breeder, rescue, et al), what advice would you offer a person who wants to obtain a dog of exceptional quality? What are some steps a person can take to avoid bringing home a poorly bred dog?

Wyldfire - papers do not indicate quality in a dog. Temperament, health and conformation indicate quality.

Kimmy - temperament can be bred into (or out of) a dog - doesn't matter how you raise it.

There are many good quality mixed breed dogs as well as pure breed dogs available to anyone wishing to house them. However, there's a lot of bad quality garbage out there too. How could a person make a wise choice?

Tyed - good answer! But I must point out that I know (and own) Champion dogs, and dogs with multiple titles that have health and temperament issues. Such issues are not always evident in the show ring.

Shanna - Your answer could also apply to animal shelters.

Golden Gal - There have been several times I wished friends of mine asked me to go with them to pick out their new puppy.

I find it interesting that some of the responders here took a defensive stance to my query. I don't know you, or your dog, so how could I know whether or not your dog is decent quality?
I also find it interesting that Dipanker and Bossoli got thumbs up from folks, yet they failed to answer the question.

Answer 1

Everyone has talked about how to get from a good breeder, so I am going to mention how to go about getting a good dog from rescue.
Working in rescue, we see just as many quality dogs with great temperaments pass through as we do the bad ones. A good rescue is going to help you get just what you want.
In our rescue, we interview each applicant and find out what they are looking for and try to match them to the dog best for them. Some people couldn't care less about looks and just want a dog with a great temperament, others want both. Some are very concerned with possible health issues, some are very sympathetic and are willing to deal with a dog with possible health concerns. Also, some people are willing to take a dog that needs a little rehabilitation in the behavior department and some others can't handle a dog that isn't already perfectly behaved.
A good rescue will do all this and thoroughly evaluate the dog to make sure it goes to the right home. The trick is to find a good rescue. Ask to talk to previous adopters, ask what their adoption criteria is and also ask how they determine the right dog for a certain adopter. Do they make an attempt to get you what you really want in a do or do they just give you a list of what's available and ask you to pick? Last but not least, a good rescue will put down any dog whose temperament makes them unadoptable. If they are constantly having dogs returned for being unsuitable or aggressive, or if they are trying to adopt out dogs with big issues, run the other way. Many resuces want to save the dog's life regardless of the cost, but most good resuces realize that if the dog's temperament is unstable, it shouldn't be adopted out.
A good rescue will make an attempt to figure out exactly what you want and give you a list of dogs that match that criteria and from there allow you to choose. Never adopt from a rescue that isn't totally upfront about a dog's past or doesn't know certain things about a dog. They should always tell you where they came from even if that means they were a stray, what their current health is like, food aggression issues, how the dog gets along with kids, dogs, cats, etc., they should be able to answer all your questions to your satisfaction or don't adopt from them.

Answer 2

in terms of buying a purebred dog, the best way to bring home a quality animal would be to do your homework on the breed and really investigate the breeder. Make sure that you can see the dog's parents and that all the neccessary physical exams and certifications have been taken care of.

If you are adopting a dog, then it is a different matter altogether. All you need to do is make sure that the dog is healthy and has a good temperament. Make sure that he does not posses any of the prominent genetical defects for the breed. Find a veterinarian to evaluate the dog for things like bone structure. As far as evaluating temperament, often the people fostering the dog will know just about everything there is to know about the dog you are interested in. Ask as many questions as you can think of, to make sure it is a good match for you. It really is that simple.
Rescue dogs are completely different from dogs obtained from a breeder. A person is not supporting a bad breeder or poor breeding techniques by adopting a dog. Therefore, it really does matter where you get the dog, because a purebred, registered stray and a poorly bred stray will both have no papers, no parent dogs to look at, and no history whatsoever.

"A dog of exceptional quality" has a double meaning. Are you looking for a dog with exceptional conformation, or exceptional manners and social skills? A person should know what is most important to them in that aspect when adopting a dog. A dog obtained from a reputable breeder is more likely to have the ability to possess both of those qualities. It is all in how much you research the breed, and the people you get the dog from.

Answer 3

Choose your breed and then subscribe to their AKC association Look at the dogs that are featured, read the articles, check out the breeders in your area. They may not have any puppies at the time but you can get to meet the mature dogs and you will get a sense of what the breeder is breeding for. Looks, personality, soundness should all count equally. They should also be able to refer you to people who own dogs they bred. The pet quality ones not just the show Champions.

With a "pound puppy" you can't be sure what you are getting. Animal shelters will not be quite as honest as you might like about problems an animal has or has had. Not a lie exactly but their purpose is to place those dogs before their time runs out and they have to be euthanized.

If you like a certain breed and are willing to take a chance look for a breed specific shelter. Those folks will have a good knowledge of what the breed is like and what problems are most often encountered and they will take the dog back if the match is not a good one.

Answer 4

I would tell them to find a reputable breeder, one that has done health/genetics tests, one that offers to take the dog back for whatever reason, etc.

However, I don't think there is anything wrong with a poorly bred dog if someone wants to adopt from the shelter. I have a mutt who is seriously lacking in social skills and a pure bred lab who was abused and is frightened of just about everything. While I agree with the ambassador idea...are you suggesting that my dogs are not good enough to be walked through the neighborhood because they are not the best dogs out there? I'm spending quite a bit of my time and money to work with both of these dogs to make them into good ambassadors. But if I went into the shelter looking for the best of the best, I wouldn't have these two sweet, loving companions at my side right now.

Perhaps I am misunderstanding the question. No offense meant, just my thoughts.

Answer 5

First and foremost perfection does not exist! You need to be a smart consumer when it comes to anything. Know the breed your interested in. By this I mean know at least the basics. Write down questions you wish to ask, and it does matter where you get your dog from. There is no such thing as cheap=quality.
AKC means nothing if there is noting behind it. By this I mean no proven quality such as the dog even meeting the standard in all ways. Get to know what the standard is in the first place. If your going to a breeder of any kind then talk to them and they will probably have more questions for you than you have probably even thought of. Look at at many breeders not just one then look at them again. No impulse buying at all. Check out where they stand with AKC if they do at all. Do not take their word for it. They should have everything right there for you to see.
Basic things. Is the pup/dog healthy looking. No eye goo, no cough,no runny stools, not shy,willing to come to you and not shy away, not skinny. Nothing running out of it's nose. Living conditions? If from a breeder do they do temperament testing? If not why not? Health guarantee, how long?
NO pet shop pups at all. Do they do any genetic testing on the dogs? Hip scores, eyes, heart, elbows? How many generations back?
Did they breed this dog just one time so the kids can see the miracle of birth? Run away! Do they breed many differents breeds? Run!
If your not sure what to look for find someone who is and bring them along with you. The more eyes & ears the better. Get references and their vets name and phone number. Call them!

I have gone with several people to look for pups and I have stearded them away for some very questionable people. also when to a few rescues and found the rescue people dont always match people up correctly but they do try.
I could list a bunch more things but I think thats enough for now.

Add: Ginbail I would rater they ask me to go alone than not! I live in a small town and everyone knows me so I often get calls for assistance! :) Not always for Golden's either.

Answer 6

Though it is shallow sounding... in the world of dogs nothing can be more true than the saying: You get what you pay for. That does not mean that slapping a huge wad of cash down guarantees that you are going to get a good dog BUT you are never going to get the best at a bargain price.
You are right about papers (AKC, UKC, CKC, etc.), but the pedigree of the animals is a VERY important clue to quality.
Love them or hate them... dog shows are designed to pick and promote the best according to the standard of each breed. So when you are looking for a dog you should always ask to see a pedigree and expect to see champions. Lots of them. And if you can find lines that contain a good number of dogs containing duel championships in both confirmation and working categories you are definitely on the trail of something good.
Next and just as important is health records... LOTS of them. People with the best dogs love to hand over the health certificates of their dogs showing all of the test that their dogs have been given and passed. Hips, Eyes, Heart, Kidneys. Etc.
One more thing. REFERENCES. Get the names of people that have gotten puppies from this breeder in the past and actually call them. Ask what problems, if any, they have had with health temperament etc.
This is pretty watered down and generalized but it can really help you in the quest for a great dog.
~Tyed~
This is of course all geared at the choosing of a pure bred dog. When it comes to a mix... You just have to go on instinct and hope for the best.
And NO I am not putting down the mixed breed... there are tons of really good, exceptionally healthy mutts out there. You just don't have a way of screening the good from the bad like you can with a pure bred.
In answer:True. This is why checking the references is SO important. Nothing guarantees that all issues can be uncovered but these are the guidelines that a novice can follow to stack the deck in their favor.
Sadly there are no 100% gurantees in any facet of life including dogs. But he chances of comming out ahead will be greatly increased this way.

Answer 7

I would probaly first contact the breed club for the breed you're interested in and get a list of quality breeders from them. Also go to some local dog shows and check out the breeds you're considering first hand. Make a point to meet and greet with some of the breeders and handlers and get contact information. You may not be able to get a dog directly from the show breeder because of cost and etc, but perhaps he has sold a good dog that's being bred responsibly. That's the way I'd at least get started anyway.

Answer 8

I agree with Tom...people always want cheap but they want the best too. The best doesn't come cheap...but in the long run, will cost you less money. I rarely take my cockers to the vet for anything but yearly check ups. But, I have found many people with cocker spaniels who are constantly taking thier cockers to the vet for skin, ear and eye problems. And they spend money on trainers for behavior problems. I knew a girl at work several years ago that wanted a cocker spaniel. At the time I had a litter of puppies and she was interested in buying one. Her husband thought my price was too steep...so they found one from a BYB for $150. This girl was constantly complaining to me about the money they were spending on this dog for his health problems. Then, the dog became very mean and started even biting her and her husband. They ended up having the dog put down. I offered to direct her to some reputable breeders but her husband said he would never get a cocker again. Instead they got a shitzu...cheap....and are having problems with that dog as well and making several trips to the vet. I suppose when it's time to get another dog, her husband wont' want another Shitzu.
I think people should do more research on the breed they are interested in. A dog isn't just a dog and they are not all the same...price shouldn't be the main factor when making a decision.

Answer 9

it depends on what you want...i have a Cocker spaniel/Springer spaniel mutt...actually i have two of them...and i got them at the shelter at different times...one is 14 and one is 6...they both are healthy and the six year old is really spry!! i would suggest for a dog that you get a mix at an animal shelter that is clean and the people there are friendly! mutts are known to be much healthier than full breds and i think that they have better attitudes! but also my friend has a full bred rottweiler ...(and i have nothing against that breed or pittbulls or any of the other widely feared dogs) and rottweilers can be nice or mean depending on how you raise them....but hers is mean and they dont train it right and it is a fullbred and only five years old but it is already starting to deteriorate so i think get a mutt from a clean well managed shelter!!!!!

Answer 10

I think the best place to start is the AKC parent club of the breed in question. Like the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America, or the Irish Setter Club of America..... Read the Code of Ethics. Visit the breeders in your area and get references from their vet, puppy buyers, and other breeders that are members of the parent club. You should never buy a dog/puppy from someone that you can't talk freely, and honestly with.