If you are concerned about what your dog is eating then you may want to consider making your pet’s food yourself. Homemade dog food is not a new concept, consider the fact that dogs have been around for thousands of years while dog food companies have only been around for about a hundred years.

So how were dogs being fed before IAMS and Purina came along? Their owners were creating delicious meals for them from the very same food that they themselves were enjoying. Plain and simple, the only way for you to know exactly what your pup is eating is for you to take the extra moment or two and make your own homemade dog food.

Naturally you’re going to find people that will tell you this is the best thing you can do for your dog and you are going to find those that are going to tell you this is the worst thing you can do, I say, give it a try. Introduce the homemade dog food slowly so that you dog can adjust to the dietary change you are making. Talk to your vet to make sure that you are meeting your dog’s nutritional requirements.

There foods you should avoid giving your dog because we know that it is harmful. Avoid giving your dog any type of bone, cooked or uncooked. This is due to the fact that bone fragments can get stuck in the digestive track. I know, you are thinking that dogs thousands of years ago ate bones… wild dogs eat bones and survive. They do, I agree, but they are also eating hide and hair which pads those bone fragments so they pass through the digestive track easier.

You are also going to want to avoid foods such as chocolate, mushrooms, avocados, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, garlic and onions.

I have no doubt that you are just as concerned as I am about what your dog is eating. I would also bet that you’ve taken the time to read labels and pick what you consider to be the safest and healthiest dog food available. But if you were to be completely honest with your self, you would have to admit that you don’t really know what really goes into commercial dog food. The majority of this dog food contains harmful chemicals. This isn’t just my opinion; this is a fact that has been supported through independent research by doctors and veterinarians.

Wondering where you can find healthy recipes for your four legged family member. You can search the internet; there are a number of sites that offer recipes. Read the recipe; make sure that it is a healthy recipe. Take the same considerations you would for your family. You are also going to want to try different recipes to see what your dog likes best. To give you a head start, I am including a healthy recipe for a dog treat. Give it a try and enjoy the fact that you are giving your pup a natural, holistic dog food treat.

Apple Crunch Pup Cakes

Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups water
• 1/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup dried apple chips
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 egg, beaten slightly
• 4 tablespoons honey

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray muffin tin with cooling spray. Mix all wet ingredients thoroughly. Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl. Add wet to dry slowly , scraping well to make sure no dry mixture is left. Pour into muffin tins. Bake for 1 1/4 hours or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out dry. Store in a sealed container. Makes around 12-14 pupcakes.

To learn more about how to make homemade dog food that your dog will love visit The Pooch Place

If you’ve read part one of my story, you’ll be able to pick right up here. If not, I’ll bring you up to date. I was a Hurricane Katrina refugee, dumped by my family. Luckily, I wound up in the Katrina shelter where I was cared for until a nice lady brought me to her house to foster me. I had my puppies at her house, and she made sure that all of them found loving homes (she even adopted one). Now, the battle of the heartworms begins…

Right after Christmas, I had to start my heartworm treatment. The vet told my foster mom that the treatment would most likely be really hard on me because I had such a bad case of heartworms, and my body was still recovering from pregnancy and nursing.

My foster mom took me to the nice vet lady, and she gave me a shot. It hurt really, really bad. She told foster mom that I had to be kept really still and that I should not allow my heart rate to get too high – no running, jumping, playing or anything like that, and only slow walks to go potty.

Now, I’m a high energy girl, so this was pretty hard. Foster mom kept me crated (in a big crate so I wasn’t too cramped) and I had a nice soft bed to lay on. The day after my first shot, I was in pain and wouldn’t eat. Mom fed me chicken and cheese (my favorites) and gave me some pain medicine. I felt a little better. After a few days, I guess those nasty adult heartworms started dying off and getting into my blood stream. I started coughing a lot. I would cough so much that I would throw up. I was miserable!

One day, Foster Mom came home from work to find that I had been coughing up blood and fluid from my lungs. I was a sick, sick doggy. She rushed me to the vet (her regular vet, not the same shelter vet) and the nice vet man gave me some more medicine. He put his arm around my foster mom and said, “It doesn’t look good, but we’ll do all we can.” He said my heart sounded weak and my lungs were full of fluid.

Foster mom was in tears! She took me home and nursed me through this illness. She kept petting me and telling me, “Fight, Goldie-girl, fight. I’m not leaving you, we’ll get through this.” A couple weeks later, I was feeling much, much better.

On February 1, I got another painful shot, then the very next day I had to get another one! My poor little body was in such pain. Foster mom could tell by looking in my eyes. I wouldn’t eat or drink for a couple days. Mom gave me water through a syringe (with the needle removed of course) so I didn’t dehydrate. She even cooked for me!

We ended up going through the same routine as last time – coughing up blood, etc. Another trip to the vet, another hug from the vet saying this time he really wasn’t sure if I’d make it. More tears for foster mom. Foster mom nursed me through all the sickness and took really good care of me.

In early March, I had one last shot. This one wasn’t near as bad as the others, because it was aimed at killing the baby heartworms, where the last three were aimed at the adult heartworms. I had to stay quiet for a couple more weeks. I was so ready for this long ordeal to be over!!! I was tired of being sick.

Finally, at the end of March, Foster mom took me back to her nice vet man. Everyone in the office was soooooo happy, because my heartworm test came back negative!!!! I was HEARTWORM FREE!!!!!!!!!!! Mom and I celebrated!

The best news I’ve ever had in my life – even better than being heartworm free – came on April 11, 2006. At first I was a little worried. Foster mom came home from a meeting and told me that she would no longer be my foster mom. I was sad. After all the love and care she gave me, helping me through my pregnancy, caring for the pups and that awful heartworm treatment, I had grown to love her more than anyone in the world. I didn’t want to leave her.

Then, she told me the great news! She was my Forever Mom! She had adopted me, and I would stay with her forever and ever! April 11, 2006 turned out to be the best day of my life!

Here I am, happy, healthy and heartworm free!

I wish for all pups to have forever homes where they are cared for like I am. I guess you could call that Goldie’s Dream (and Mom’s too)!

Find out more about Goldie please visit The Pooch Place. There you will find information on variety of topics between natural dog food and heartworm treatment .

We have all seen those commercials with the adorable dogs begging and drooling for those dog treats that look and smell like people food, promising to offer even better dog food nutrition. You love your dog and you want to be able to give them a special treat every now and then, after all… how can you resist that lovely little head tilt, and those pleading eyes and possible even a cute little “come on… don’cha love me” whimper.

Naturally this makes you want to cave and give the lovable little pup the treat he deserves. If you aren’t giving him a homemade dog treat then you could be doing more harm then good. The better thing to do is to pet him in the head and tell him how you love him before you reach for one of those doggie treats.

From purely a digestive stand point, your dog does not need any extra snacks to get him through the day. Giving your pup those extra treats is actually contributing to the growing problem of pet obesity. Obesity can cause a number of health problems including diabetes, GI problems, cardiovascular problems, even immune and respiratory problems just to name a few. Think about it this way, you wouldn’t give your youngster treats every time they looked at you with a cute face, don’t give into your four legged little one either.

I know how tempting it can be to give your dog people food as well. I understand the thought process of, “It’s safe for us to eat,” the fact is that it could potentially make your dog very sick and possible kill them. Items such as baby food, many of which contain onion powder can be toxic to dogs.

Fish, poultry and other meat bones can actually cause obstructions in the digestive system, even cause lacerations. Have another little four legged feline friend, it isn’t okay to have them share the cat food either. Cat food is usually too high in fats and proteins for dogs. The infamous fat trimmings from the juicy steak you enjoyed can actually cause pancreatitis in your dog.

There are many very good dog foods available that will offer your dog all the nutrition they need. You can also look at holistic dog food that can be bought from your vet or you may even consider homemade dog food and homemade dog treats. There are a number of sites on the internet that provide free dog food recipes .

Really let them know you love them by making sure you are thinking of their long term health and not just instant gratification.

Find out more about the best way to take care of you dog, whether your looking for homemade dog food recipes or puppy training tips, check out The Pooch Place . Join other pet owners who share and learn from each other the best ways to take care of their babies.

Hi. My name is Goldie. I live in a nice, cozy house with a family who adores me. I have three other dogs to play with, good food to eat, and the vet care I need to stay healthy. Life wasn’t always this good for me, in fact, it was pretty bad before I met my hu-mom. Here’s my story:

I was one of the thousands of pets affected by Hurricane Katrina. I fled the storm with my first family. When they had trouble finding accommodations for themselves that would also take me, they did what lots of other people did. They abandoned me – just dropped me off in a Wal-Mart parking lot. I was alone and scared. I was also confused. See, I thought my family loved me, but I guess I was just too much trouble. I really tried to be a good girl for them. I guess I just wasn’t good enough.

Lucky for me, some people, who were also fleeing the storms with their pets, saw my family dump me out of the car and drive off. They caught up with my family and told them about a pet shelter where I could stay for free until they could come back for me. My family wasn’t interested. I chased after the car for a little bit, but stopped when I figured out they weren’t coming back. The nice people who saw me being dumped picked me up and took me to the pet shelter.

The shelter was a scary place. There were so many dogs in cages lined up along a concrete floor. I got a towel to lay on, a bowl of food and some water. I was too scared and upset to eat. The next day, people came in and took us for a walk so we could relieve ourselves. I didn’t want to go with the lady, but they made me. Afterwards, I was put back in my cage and the people all left. That afternoon, more people came in and walked all of us again. This is when I met my new mom for the first time. She walked in and our eyes met. Wow! There was something special there. I loved her the moment I saw her, and I knew she loved me too! Everyone was calling me “Little Wal-Mart” because that’s where I was dumped. This lady said I deserved a better name than that and started calling me Goldie. I liked that. I gladly went for a walk with her and even ate the food she gave me. This was the first time in the shelter that I wasn’t afraid. I was sad, though when she left that night.

The nice lady came and went over the course of several days. The vets came and gave us shots and drew our blood. I remember when the vet told the nice lady that I was a heavy positive for heartworms. She cried. A few days later, the nice lady took me for our usual walk, and sat down outside. I climbed up into her lap. She told me that she loved me and that she was going to find a way to get me out of there. I knew she would, too. I trusted her.

It wasn’t long before the shelter folks realized I was pregnant. Whoa! What a surprise that was! They couldn’t treat my heartworms until after my pups were born and weaned. I really didn’t want my pups born in a prison, but it looked like I had no choice. About a month after I came to the shelter, I got some good news. The nice lady was going to be my foster mom! I would live with her until I had the pups and was well enough to be adopted!

Less than two weeks after I moved in with my foster mom, I had my six beautiful pups. Unfortunately, one little girl didn’t make it, but I had three beautiful, healthy girls and two handsome, healthy boys. My foster mom took good care of all of us. My pups all went to good homes, especially one boy, Boudreaux. He was adopted by my foster mom!

I was so happy that my pups found loving homes, but I still had a long road ahead of me. I was a very sick girl…

Don’t miss part II of my story, coming soon!

Find out more about Goldie please visit The Pooch Place. There you will find information on variety of topics between holistic dog food and heated dog beds .

Why does my dog need his own “doggie bed”?

The average adult dog will sleep 14 – 16 hours a day. If you slept that much, wouldn’t you want to do it in comfort? Having a washable dog bed of his own gives your dog his own space where he can feel secure. A dog bed can also save your furniture and help you get a good night sleep by allowing you to have your bed back! Many older or arthritic dogs need a cushiony, firm, supportive bed to relieve pressure on their aching joints. All in all, having his own dog bed will improve the quality of life for your dog. (Of course, he may still enjoy an occasional nap with his person on their bed or couch….)

What size and type of bed do I need for my dog?

To decide what type, shape or size of bed to get for your dog, you first need to pay attention and figure out how he prefers to sleep. Does he like to curl up in a ball? Does he prefer to stretch out in both directions? Does he spend about half of his snooze time stretched out and the other half curled up?

A dog that enjoys napping all curled up would probably prefer a round or oval shaped bed that has lots of cushion. There are several types of beds that are perfect for these “snugglers”! A bolster bed is a bed that has cushion around at least three sides of the bed, providing a more contained environment for your dog. He may feel more secure in this type of bed. There are also snuggle or cuddle beds which resemble a bean bag. These beds allow your dog to “nest” and feel surrounded in cuddly comfort. Some beds even have a tent-like cover on them that allows the dog to burrow inside and be completely covered!

If your dog curls up to sleep, measure him in that position at the longest point, then add 7 inches to each measurement. When shopping, make sure that the dimensions of the bed come close to this number.

If your dog prefers to sleep all stretched out, you may want to think about getting him a rectangular, mattress type bed or pad. These type of large dog beds come in many varieties as well, ranging from a thin foam pad a couple inches thick to a deluxe people-like mattress up to 7 inches thick!

If your dog stretches out to sleep, measure him in the stretched-out position and add 12 inches to that number to ensure the bed is big enough to be comfortable for him.

If your dog likes to sleep both ways, an oval or rectangular pad or mattress type bed may do the trick and allow him to sleep comfortably either way. In this case, measure him as you would a dog who prefers to sleep stretched out!

Other things to consider when choosing the type of dog bed are issues such as the age and health of your dog. If you have an older or arthritic dog, you want to make sure that the bed you choose is easy for him to use or possible heated dog beds. Older and arthritic pets may have trouble getting on and off of a fluffy, snuggly type bed. The firm, supportive mattress-type bed would be more appropriate in these cases. There are many specialty beds available for orthopedic support. These beds are made of a firmer mattress, baffles stuffed with poly-fil for support, or even memory foam. The idea is to not only give your companion a comfortable place to sleep, but also an easy bed to get on or off of.

Can I get a dog bed to match my décor?

You can find a dog bed to match just about any décor. There are many fabrics, styles and colors to choose from. You can even get a dog bed that looks like a little human bed! If your dog prefers to sleep in a crate, there are many types of crate beds and pads that are designed to fit the most common crate sizes. Most places offer personalization for your dog’s bed as well. There’s almost no limit to the choices available.

What other factors do I need to consider?

Most people want a dog bed that is durable, yet easy to clean and care for. If ease of cleaning is especially important, opt for a dog bed that has a removable washable cover. This will allow you to keep your best friend’s bed clean and smelling fresh. Some beds also have an inner lining that can be removed and washed.

If your dog is a chewer, you will want to make sure that the bed can withstand the most aggressive chewer. There are cot-like beds made out of aluminum or pvc pipe that are extremely durable. These beds have a nylon or canvas cot pad that is also durable.

If you are looking for a bed to use outdoors, make sure that the manufacturer has labeled the bed for outdoor use. There are fabrics and fillers that are more appropriate and durable for outdoor use.

Be careful of dog beds that have vinyl covers. Vinyl contains chemicals that are toxic chemicals that are not good for you or your dog! If it has a strong “vinyl” smell, it contains a large amount of phthalates, which are chemicals used to soften the vinyl. In Europe the use of some of these phthalates has been banned in children’s toys. While easy to clean, using vinyl in your dog’s bed may not be worth the possible health risk.

Where should I put my dog’s bed?

If your dog could answer this question, he would most likely say, “In your bedroom, so I can smell you when I’m not with you.” Your dog adores you and wants to be near you. If you decide to provide your pal with more than one bed, you could put another in the family area or outside on the back porch where he likes to lay in the sun.

Your dog will benefit from having a comfortable place to call his own. No doubt, you will find him happily snoozing away on his cherished bed. Even if you prefer to share your bed with your dog, he will enjoy having a comfortable dog bed of his own. After all, don’t we all prefer to get away for some relaxation and solitude from time to time?

The Pooch Place is the place to go to find more information on small and large dog beds , heated dog bed, raised dog bed, orthopedic dog bed and much more…Visit The Pooch Place today

First of all, let’s start by saying that not all breeding kennels are puppy mills . There are many responsible breeders out there who take great care in the breeding of their puppies and dogs. These people are not the target of this article. The intention of this article is to help inform the general public about the horrors of puppy mills and to urge people to educate themselves before deciding where to buy a puppy.

What is a puppy mill? A puppy mill is basically a business that mass-produces puppies to sell over the internet, at auctions, flea markets, or to pet stores, brokers, etc. The main objective of a puppy mill is to make money. For this reason, there is little care or concern for the animals involved.

Physical conditions at puppy mills are often enough to make most people sick. The breeding females are often kept in small, cramped cages with very little human contact. Often, the only handling they receive is rough at best and abusive at worst. The breeding stock and the puppies are kept in wire cages which are rarely, if ever cleaned, forcing the dogs and puppies to live in their own excrement. It is not unusual for the living quarters to be exposed to the elements. Many puppy mills that have been investigated have had young puppies in wire cages outside in sub-freezing temperatures with not enough bedding to keep them warm. In the summer, puppies and dogs kept in metal cages with no ventilation can literally cook to death. Are these the kind of conditions you want your future puppy raised in?

The physical health of the animals is not of any more concern to the owners of the puppy mill than the living conditions are. Often, the breeding females are bred from their first heat cycle and every cycle after that until they are no longer able to breed. These poor dogs are literally bred to death. What happens when a female is no longer profitable? They are disposed of. These people are in this for money, so they are not going to feed a dog that is no longer bringing in money. There is rarely proper vet care for these animals – out of date vaccinations, if they are given at all, animals that have tumors or go blind are kept, without medical attention as long as they can produce offspring. There is little if any consideration for the genetic defects that in-breeding or breeding carelessly can cause. This often produces puppies that have many health problems later in life.

Of even less concern to the puppy mill breeder is the mental and emotional health of the animals. Many puppies obtained from a puppy mill are taken away from their mother and littermates too soon, causing behavioral and fear issues. These puppies may be fearful of people or other animals, acting aggressively out of fear to protect themselves. These puppies usually end up in shelters or being euthanized by owners who don’t know what else to do with a dog they cannot control.

What should you do if you think you’ve found a puppy mill with deplorable conditions and sickly animals? First, report it to your local animal control facility, law enforcement agency and humane society. If you do not report it, nothing will change. One of the most important things to remember, and perhaps the hardest rule to abide by, is do not risk compromising the investigation of the puppy mill by providing food, water, bedding, etc. to the animals until the authorities tell you that it is okay to do so. Many puppy millers have escaped prosecution because some well-meaning person has provided these things to the animals before the authorities arrive. By waiting until the proper time to help the animals, you will have a better chance of helping them long-term, rather than just temporarily providing comfort and allowing the puppy miller to continue subjecting them to the terrible conditions day after day.

There are several things you can do to help stop puppy mills. One of the best things you can do is to adopt a puppy from a rescue group or shelter. If you are set on a purebred dog, remember that there are many breed rescue groups that specialize in a certain breed, and purebreds wind up in the local shelter just like mixed breed dogs. If you really want to buy a puppy, do the research and make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder. Never buy from a pet shop that sells animals, the guy in the local supermarket parking lot or flea markets. If you are buying a puppy, you should be able to see at least the mother and you should be able to inspect the living conditions of the animals. As much as you want to rescue a puppy from these conditions, you are creating demand for what the puppy miller is producing, thereby perpetuating the puppy mill problem. When you buy a puppy mill pup, you are supporting the puppy mill business and forcing the adult dogs to a miserable life of being bred over and over again in poor living conditions.

You can help stop puppy mills even if you are not ready to bring a new puppy into your life. You can write letters to your state and federal legislators to let them know that you support laws to protect pets and humane regulations. You can write a letter to the editor of your newspaper addressing your concerns and to educate the public about the connection between puppy mills and pet stores. You can remind your friends to use care when selecting a breeder to buy from and help research responsible breeders.

Our dogs give us so much love. They deserve to be treated humanely and to be given love in return. No animal should have to suffer the outrageous atrocities encountered in puppy mills .

For many pet owners, their dog is like one of the family. They love their dog deeply and want only the best for them. Maintaining your dog’s health ensures he will have a long and happy life with you, and a crucial part of this is feeding your dog the right food. Holistic dog food is one of the best choices you can make for your pet.

Other types of dog food may have additives which can be harmful for your pet, but holistic dog food, especially natural organic dog food, mimics the natural diet your dog would eat in the wild. By mimicking its natural diet you are helping your dog to live a more natural and healthier life.

A big advantage of feeding your pet holistic dog food is that it is likely to improve your dog’s immune system, making it healthier. While the meat in commercial food may have antibiotics in it, organic dog food does not, which keeps your dog’s immune system strong, and ready to fight off any infection.

Your dog will also be healthier because holistic dog food is likely to have a better balance of minerals and nutrients, helping to maintain a healthy digestive system, and helping your dog build strong muscles, teeth and bones. This will also help keep your dog healthy into its advanced years.

Do you show your dog? If so natural dog food is still a good choice, because it aids in a glossy coat and bright eyes. Judges at dog shows look for healthy animals, and there is nothing healthier than a natural well balanced diet. Just like with humans, when a dog is healthy it shows in everything they do, from their movements to the way they hold themselves.

But where can you get natural dog food? You can make it yourself, from recipes on the internet. Be careful to source only the best of ingredients and experiment with ratios until you find something which works for you and your pet. If the recipe will freeze properly, considering making a large batch every month to save time.

If you don’t want to make the food yourself, then ask your vet or your dog’s breeder for recommendations of natural dog food manufacturers. Otherwise browse through the selection of foods at your local pet store, being careful to read labels properly to find a good food.

Although it does require some extra effort, and extra cost, holistic dog food is a worthwhile expense. If you care about your pet, then you’ll surely agree that being able to spend more time with your pet, and more time in which your pet is living a happy and healthy life, is worth the time and money.

Do you know what a backyard breeder is? A backyard breeder is anyone who purposely breeds or allows their pet to breed and produce litters of puppies to sell for profit. Ask any animal rescue organization and they will tell you that backyard breeders are one of the largest, if not the largest group of irresponsible, careless people contributing to the overwhelming number of abandoned, homeless, neglected, abused and unwanted pets.

WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL?

In the United States, there are an estimated 6 – 8 million homeless or unwanted dogs entering shelters and rescues. There are already many more pets than available homes. Every litter produced by a backyard breeder adds to this number. While the many rescue workers are active in rescue because they love and have compassion for these animals, I don’t know of any who would not be glad to be put out of work because there were no more homeless animals to place. This will not happen as long as one person breeds one litter in his backyard, basement, garage, etc. One unspayed female dog and her offspring can be responsible for 67,000 puppies in just 6 years. Do you know of 67,000 people who want a puppy? More importantly, do you know of 67,000 people who want to make the investment of time and money to love and properly care for a puppy?

According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), about half of the dogs in shelters are euthanized simply because there is no one to adopt them. This means that when you allow your dog to breed so your children can see the “miracle of life,” then take the puppies to a shelter because you can’t find homes for them, there is a 50% chance that they will be euthanized. Killed. Discarded. Thrown Away. While you are showing your kids the miracle of birth, are you telling them about the death that these pups may be facing? Do you realize that you are teaching your children that animals are disposable items, rather than living, breathing, feeling, loving creatures?

Backyard breeders don’t often take into consideration the effect their bad decisions have. It affects the health of the pet they are breeding, the life of the puppies produced, as well as the life of the person at the shelter who may have to kill a perfectly healthy, sweet, adorable puppy or dog simply because there’s no more room at the shelter and no one wants to adopt him or her. Can you imagine being a shelter worker and taking a sweet, trusting dog to the “back room” only to betray that trust by sticking them with a needle and ending their life?

Besides the obvious problem of over-population, a big problem with backyard breeders is that they breed with complete disregard for breed standards and overall health of the animals. If the litter is an “oops” litter, meaning the unspayed female got out and got pregnant, then there may be no way to determine the sire of the litter. If the backyard breeder is breeding for profit, he usually cuts corners and will find the most convenient or least expensive male for his female to mate with. This means that there’s a good chance the puppies will have health problems. If you buy a puppy from a backyard breeder, you may get more than you bargained for. You may get a dog with emotional or health problems from a less-than-ideal upbringing, improper care for the mother during pregnancy, or from being taken away from its mom and littermates too soon. In addition, you will be supporting the cause of so many unwanted pets.

SO, HOW DO I TELL A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER FROM A BACKYARD BREEDER?

There are several ways you can tell that whether you are dealing with a backyard breeder or a responsible breeder. A responsible breeder knows that it takes a large amount of time, effort, care and money to properly breed and raise puppies. They are knowledgeable and do it for the betterment of the breed, not to make a buck.

A responsible breeder will specialize in one or two breeds. If the breeder you are dealing with advertises multiple breeds, they are probably a backyard breeder and you should do some research before buying a puppy from him or her. The breeder should know the history of the breed, the traits, conformation and temperament of the breed, and should be involved in the showing of purebred dogs in some way.

A responsible breeder will grill a potential buyer with many, many questions. In fact, if the breeder doesn’t feel that the breed is a good fit for you and your family, he or she will refuse to sell you a puppy. The responsible breeder’s top priority is the welfare of his or her dogs and will always agree to take the dog back at any point in his or her life if the owners decide they can no longer keep the dog.

A responsible breeder will always have the mother on site and often the father as well. The mother should appear healthy and the area where the mother and pups are kept should be clean. If the breeder will not allow you to see the mother or the area where the dogs are kept, this should send up red flags.

A responsible breeder will not separate the pups from their mother before 8 weeks of age. The puppies should be dewormed and vaccinated. The breeder will be able to supply references of people who have bought puppies from him or her and are now happy pet owners with happy, healthy dogs.

Remember…just because the breeder throws out a bunch of fancy acronyms such as, AKC, UCK, CGC, OFA, CERF, etc. does not mean they are reputable breeders. AKC registration is done primarily by mail and is not a guarantee of a quality, healthy puppy. If the breeder insists that the puppy has been OFA certified, you will know they do not know what they are talking about. A dog cannot be OFA certified until he is two years of age. Most reputable breeders do not advertise, and if they do, they do not use terms like rare, teacup, etc. You will never hear a reputable breeder refer to his or her puppies as “full-blooded.” The proper term would be purebred, and that goes without saying if you are dealing with a good breeder. Also remember you should never have to pay extra to the breeder for registration papers. (You will however, have to pay the registering body a nominal fee to have the dog’s registration transferred to your name.)

THE BOTTOM LINE

The only way to prevent the millions of unwanted pets is to stop producing them! As long as people are willing to buy these puppies, the backyard breeders will continue to produce them. If more people would choose to do the research and buy from a reputable breeder or adopt a homeless pet from a shelter or rescue, it would help solve the problem of overcrowding in shelters and save the lives of many innocent victims.

Think before you get your next dog. Buy from a reputable breeder or adopt. Be part of the solution.