Last Week’s Winner

Congratulations to Christa L. from Buffalo, NY - she won last week’s challenge for correctly identifying this location as Deadwood, SD. We hope you enjoy your “Travels with Ty and Buster” calendar, Christa!

This Week’s Photo Challenge

Now it’s your turn to win! If you know where the photo below was taken, submit your answer in the entry form. If you’re stumped try using “Plan B”! You can also check some of our older posts – there’s a good chance the photo appeared previously on the blog.

For the winner …

Each week we randomly select one winner from the correct entries to receive a “Travels with Ty and Buster” 18-month wall calendar.

Use Your Friends …

Really, what are friends for if you don’t use them?  We have no rule against working together, so click those little buttons on the left and ask your friends, relatives, neighbors, and high school classmates for some help on Twitter and Facebook.

And the photo is …

Ty and Buster met a bear named Franz. Do you know where we were?

Franz the Bear

Contest Entry

The Fine Print

This week’s contest closes on Wednesday, January 8th at 11:59 pm EST. This contest is open to US and Canadian residents over the age of 18, except were prohibited. All correct submissions will be assigned a number and the winner will be selected using www.randomizer.org. Winners will be notified by email, announced on our Facebook page, and mentioned in next week’s Friday Photo Challenge. The decision of the judges is final. The winner has 3 days to claim the prize. If the prize is not claimed by the winner within 3 days, an alternate winner will be chosen from the pool of correct entries. The winner of the prize is responsible for any and all applicable taxes on the prize. Employees and relatives of GoPetFriendly.com are not eligible to win.

Planning a pet friendly trip of your own? We’ll make it easy:
Pet Friendly Hotels | Pet Friendly Destinations | Pet Friendly Activities

I assumed he was afraid, felt trapped by the limits of the leash, and was barking in hopes the other dog would choose to stay away. Turns out, I was completely wrong.

To prepare for Something Wagging’s Train Your Dog Challenge, I scheduled an appointment with a local dog trainer to evaluate Buster’s behavior and give us some tips to help him. Much to my surprise, she told us that Buster is not afraid – he’s frustrated. We spent about ninety minutes walking Buster, taking him to the off-leash park, and testing him on-leash with her dogs. The conclusion was that he wants to go meet the other dogs, and he’s barking because he knows he can’t reach them.

Once she said it, it dawned on me – this frustration has been showing up in some of Buster’s other less-than-desirable behaviors. Like the “hurry up” barking he’s started when he knows I’m getting ready to take him for a walk. And the way he barrels into the Winnebago every time he comes in, like someone lit a firecracker under his butt.

The good news is that, I’m finding self-control is much easier to train than courage, and we’re already having some success.

The first thing we did was to stop adding to the frustration. For now, when Buster wants to do something and there’s no reason he shouldn’t, we let him do it. So, when we’re on walks and Buster want to stop and sniff – we stop and wait until he’s done. It’s easy, and if we can lower his overall level of frustration, we’ll have more luck eliminating the things that are truly annoying.

The second thing we’re doing is taking Buster to the off-leash area every day (weather permitting) to run and play with the other dogs. This both reduces his frustration and has become the perfect opportunity to practice our new command, “relax.” A bit away from the other dogs, we’re teaching Buster to either sit or lay down and behave in a calm way. I watch for the tension to release from his muscles, his eyes to get soft-looking, and his mouth to open into that sweet German Shepherd grin – then I unclip the leash and he’s free to go.

The third thing I’ve done is to equate Buster’s barking outbursts to a 2-year-old’s screaming fit over a candy bar in a grocery store. I always swore if I had kids, I’d never give into that behavior. Sometimes the universe has a twisted sense of humor – because that’s exactly what I’ve been doing! But, no more – tantrums get you nothing. If Buster starts barking while I’m putting on my shoes and gathering up the leashes, I put everything down and jump back on the computer for a few minutes. (Heaven knows, Facebook is always waiting to beguile me.) When he “relaxes” – meaning he either sits or lays down and behaves calmly, I get up and try again. Right now, it’s taking three or four attempts for us to get out the door, but I’m sure that will get better soon.

Basically, our goal is to teach Buster to control his emotions, and we’ll have to keep in mind that Buster understands relativity. A big fuss will be in order when he behaves nicely on-leash around other dogs and doesn’t get to meet the other dog for whatever reason. In Buster’s mind, what he’s getting has to match what he’s giving up – a treat jackpot, scratching, sing-your-praises party is the only thing that compares to the enjoyment he’d have gotten from meeting the other dog. Otherwise … the balance is off and the frustration is back.

Games of self-control like “leave it” and “drop it” will help us build his skills and then we’ll work on expanding the length of time he’s able to comply with our requests. We have a long way to make it to our goal, but I’m grateful we took this challenge and are now on the right track.

Travels with Casey

What can we learn about America through our relationship to our dogs? On Feb. 10, Benoit Denizet-Lewis will be embarking on a 15-week RV trip around the country with his 8-year-old lab-mix, Casey, to answer that question. Benoit plans to visit 30 states and hundreds of dogs, including sled dogs, show dogs, homeless dogs, therapy dogs, war dogs, hunting dogs, celebrity dogs, sad dogs, funny dogs, and family dogs whose only “job” is loving their two-legged humans. Speaking of humans, he’ll be spending time with plenty of them, too—including animal rescuers, pet psychics, dog personality researchers, dog-loving monks, and his former middle-school English teacher who is now a “pet masseuse” in San Francisco.

Dog Walk Across America

The Seyal family – Kait, John, and their dogs, Grace and Max, are leaving in March to walk across the country. YES, you read that correctly … they’re going to walk! Starting in Lewes, DE and ending in San Francisco, CA, their goal is to raise awareness about pet therapy and animal rescue. Both Max and Grace were adopted as adults from their local rescue and have become experienced therapy dogs – so the group will be taking their show on the road at hospitals, schools, and nursing homes, along the way.

Kait and John are hoping to teach people about the amazing potential of rescue animals – pets that many consider undesirable, simply because they were unfortunate enough to have lost their home. John says, “Rescuing Max has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life, and we will spend the rest of our time together spreading our love to as many people as we can.”

Are you in need of puppy kisses? Kait and John are looking for people to walk with them, host them for a night, and coordinate therapy visits along their route. You can follow their blog to track their progress or keep in touch on their Facebook page or on Twitter at @dogblogusa.

Hike for Heroes

We have also confirmed the rumor that our pals Troy Yocum, his wife, Mareike, and their dogs Emmie, Harley, and Charity will be taking off on March 1st to continue their fundraising efforts for military families who are struggling financially. Last year the group hiked 7,000 miles across America and raised nearly half a million dollars for their cause – but they say there’s still more to be done.

Right now they’re taking part in a challenge – if they can get to 200,000 “likes” on their Facebook page, they’ll receive a $25,000 social media grant to help military families. They have about 3,500 “likes” to go, and less than 40 hours to do it. Please click over and help them out!

Last Week’s Winner

Congratulations to Veronica S. from Pearland, TX - she won last week’s challenge for correctly identifying this location as The Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. We hope you enjoy your “Travels with Ty and Buster” calendar, Veronica!

This Week’s Photo Challenge

Now it’s your turn to win! If you know where the photo below was taken, submit your answer in the entry form. If you’re stumped try using “Plan B”! You can also check some of our older posts – there’s a good chance the photo appeared previously on the blog.

For the winner …

Each week we randomly select one winner from the correct entries to receive a “Travels with Ty and Buster” 18-month wall calendar.

Use Your Friends …

Really, what are friends for if you don’t use them?  We have no rule against working together, so click those little buttons on the left and ask your friends, relatives, neighbors, and high school classmates for some help on Twitter and Facebook.

And the photo is …

Ty and Buster to to hang with Wild Bill Hickock. Do you know where we were?

Contest Entry

The Fine Print

This week’s contest closes on Wednesday, February 1st at 11:59 pm EST. This contest is open to US and Canadian residents over the age of 18, except were prohibited. All correct submissions will be assigned a number and the winner will be selected using www.randomizer.org. Winners will be notified by email, announced on our Facebook page, and mentioned in next week’s Friday Photo Challenge. The decision of the judges is final. The winner has 3 days to claim the prize. If the prize is not claimed by the winner within 3 days, an alternate winner will be chosen from the pool of correct entries. The winner of the prize is responsible for any and all applicable taxes on the prize. Employees and relatives of GoPetFriendly.com are not eligible to win.

The suggestions poured in, extolling the virtues of each recommendation, and I spent the next several days visiting websites and reading about features I’d never dreamed of. I was floored by all the options … how was I going to make a decision? I wanted to try them all! And then it came to me …

The Love ‘em & Leash ‘em Challenge

I contacted all the leash companies my friends had recommended and invited them to participate in a leash challenge. They’d send us a leash to try with Buster and Ty, we’d post pictures of the dogs using each leash on Facebook,  and at the end we’d announce which was our favorite. Nine companies stepped up to the challenge. Buster and Ty have had a great time perfecting their modeling skills, and now it’s time for the results!

The Leash Contestants

First, let me introduce you to each of the contestants. In alphabetical order, they are:

Chuckle Pup

This one-piece martingale collar and leash combo is fully fleece-lined and extremely comfortable – for Ty and for me! The leash is machine washable inside a pillowcase and should be line-dried. The warranty is great, with repairs due to normal wear and tear (including towing your car with it) done for free and damage from chewing fixed at a minimal cost.

These leash/collar combos cost $30, and for an additional $10 you can customize the colors. We also noticed that they sometimes offer clearance items on the Chuckle Pup Facebook page. One thing I’d change: I’d prefer a clip so I can use it with the dogs’ harnesses.

Dog-e-Glow

Leashes and collars are sold separately for between $23 and $30 depending on size. Buster’s modeling the green camouflage, but they offer a great variety of fashion designs and college logos. The Dog-e-Glow Facebook page has a lot of fun photos to peruse. One thing I’d change: The leash is stiff and not very comfortable to hold.

earthdog

These leashes run between $22 and $30, depending on length. You’ll find them, along with collars, beds, toys and more products made from hemp on the company’s website. One think I’d change: A secondary handle to keep the dog close would be great.

Krebs Recycle

Washing them is as simple as throwing them in the machine, and if anything goes wrong with the leash, Krebs will replace it. Their leashes cost around $15, and based on the chatter on the Krebs Recycle Facebook page, I’m not the only one in love with them. One thing I’d change: Switching from the standard spring-loaded clasp to a safety clasp.

Kurgo

The fleece handle makes this leash comfortable to hold, and the carabiner adjustment means you can tether your pup to your chair at a pet friendly cafe, without removing his leash. The Quantum Leash costs $20 and comes with a lifetime warranty. If you’re interested in more photos of what this leash can do, check out the Kurgo Facebook page. One thing I’d change: In the shortest position the leash is basically doubled up and it’s like having an extra leash flopping around.

Lupine

Lupine leashes cost around $18, and you can throw them in the washing machine (warm water) when they get dirty. Just don’t put them in the dryer … or you may end up with a shriveled leash. If you have one of their products, you should know that they love seeing pictures of your pets on the Lupine Facebook page. One thing I’d change: Buster and Ty would appreciate some more masculine designs to choose from.

Ruffwear

The Flat Out leash should be hand washed and line dried. It costs $30, and comes in several colors. Ruffwear guarantees their products against manufacturing defects, but not chewing or normal wear and tear. If you’re ever looking for inspiration, the Ruffwear Facebook page has tons of photos of adventure dogs having fun in their gear. One thing I’d change: It would be great if the leash were offered in different lengths.

RUN-Devue

This leash costs $30, and is made of tough nylon that is machine washable and should be line dried. They have some very enthusiastic fans – many of whom are using these leads for agility competitions – and you can meet them on the RUN-Devue Facebook page. One thing I’d change: I would have trained my dogs on this leash as puppies so they’d be accustomed to it now.

WACKYwalk’r

This is the most unusual looking leash of the bunch. Utilizing the flexibility of natural rubber, this leash stretches to twice it’s length and relieves stress on the human and the dog. The colorful exterior covers a reinforcing safety line to keep the leash from stretching to far and to protect against breakage. The extra-large size we received had the talon-type clasp that Ty can’t shake off, and the secondary handle down by the claps provides complete control when needed. We even learned first-hand how easily the leash wipes off, after Buster rubbed it up against seeping creosote on a telephone pole. Oops.

This leash costs between $20 and $30, depending on size, and is covered for one year against manufacturers defects. For those with latex allergies, this leash is not for you – but if you’d like to avoid the jolt the next time your dog lunges after a squirrel, this may be just the thing. You can find out more on the WACKYwalk’r Facebook page. One thing I’d change: The traffic loop should be longer for shorter dogs, so you don’t have to bend over to use it.

The Moment You’ve All Been Waiting For

Comparing the leashes was a lot tougher than we expected! There were things we liked about each of them, and things we wish we could change. Depending on your dog and the activity you’re doing, each one has it’s advantages. Choosing one leash is like only having one pair of shoes … you just can’t do it! And, as much as I’d like to wiggle out of this, I know you won’t stand for it … so, our favorite leash is … the WACKYwalk’r!

Let’s Give ‘em Away!

We’re going to give all these leash contestants to you! To enter, leave a comment below telling us which of the leashes you’d like to win and why.

Contest Rules

The contest runs from 10am EST January 26, 2012 to 11:59 pm EST January 30, 2012. This contest is open only to US and Canadian residents over the age of 18, except where prohibited. All contest entries will be assigned a number. We will randomly select the starting number using www.randomizer.org and move down the list awarding selected leashes. If the leash selected has already been awarded, that entry will be skipped and we will move to the next entry. We will contact the winners no later than Friday, February 3, 2012. The decision of the judges is final. Each winner has 3 days to claim the prize. If the prize is not claimed by the winner within 3 days, an alternate winner will be chosen. The winner of each prize is responsible for any and all applicable taxes on the prize. Employees and relatives of GoPetFriendly.com are ineligible to enter the contest.

Disclosure: We received at least one free leash from each of the companies participating in this challenge. The opinions expressed here are my honest assessment of the products based on my personal experience using them. I will be sending these leashes to the winners of the contest.

I gave you some pet photo tips a few weeks ago, but now we’re taking things further.

What if by changing a few settings on your camera and spending a couple of hours playing with it, you could significantly improve your pictures? You’d be up for it, right? Well, fasten your seat belts, because we’re about to rock your world.

Perpetually On Auto

About a year and a half ago we upgraded from our point-and-shoot camera to a Sony Nex-3. Knowing nothing about photography, I promptly set it to “Intelligent Auto” and dismissed all the other settings. The camera and I were getting along fine … the pictures were turning out better than they had with our old camera, and I didn’t have to decipher any of that complicated technical terminology. Then we landed in Austin, and I signed up for a class in digital photography.

Remove The Training Wheels

Okay, time for some truth-telling! How many of you never take your camera off “Auto.”

Go ahead, raise your hands …

Yep, that’s what I thought. But what I’ve discovered in this class is that “Auto” is so confining! Remember when your bike had training wheels? Sure, they kept you from tipping over, but they also make it more difficult to turn tight corners and go where you wanted. The same is true for the “Auto” setting on your camera. And making a mistake isn’t nearly as painful as it used to be when someone developed your photos … now we can just hit the delete button!

The first step to gaining your photographic freedom is to locate the owner’s manual that came with your camera. It’s likely that the “Quick Start” guide won’t provide enough information, so either load the CD that came in the box, or find the full manual online. You’re looking for the section that tells you how to set your camera to “Manual.” Go ahead, take the plunge. Oh, and turn off your flash, too.

ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed

Once you’ve nailed that, there are just a few basics to cover before you’re off and running. Remember, a photograph is just your camera capturing the reflections of light that enter the shutter. Keeping that in mind makes the rest pretty easy.

There are three ways to adjust how much light enters the camera: the ISO, the aperture, and the shutter speed.

ISO – If you remember the old days of film cameras, you know that you used to buy different “speeds” of film. The 200 speed was for bright, sunny days, the 400 speed was for taking shots inside, and, if you got really fancy, you might have gotten 800 speed for evening shots. Those numbers measured how sensitive the film was to light, and setting the ISO on our digital cameras does the same thing. The higher the ISO, the more sensitive your camera’s sensor is to the light entering it. So, set it low for outside shots on a sunny day and high for shots where the light is limited.

I took this photo in the evening, as the light was fading in Austin, with the ISO on my camera set as high as it would go – and no flash.

Aperture – Inside your lens are little leaves that open or close to let in more or less light.

Aperture is also called “f-stop” and you can see the different settings most cameras have in the image above. Notice that the higher the aperture, the more the leaves inside your lens close, and the less light comes though the shutter. Keep in mind that aperture also affects the depth of focus in your photo. At the lower settings the focus will be “shallow,” and at the higher settings the focus will be “deeper.”

In this photo of Ty the aperture on my camera is set as low as possible. I’m inside the RV, and with the camera on “Auto” I’d usually need the flash to get a shot with this little light. By opening the aperture I’m able to get a nice shot, but you’ll see that Ty’s nose is in focus and his dog tags are blurry. That’s an example of a low aperture shot – a lot of light coming in, but a shallow depth of field.

Shutter Speed – The last variable in determining the amount of light that comes into your camera is the shutter speed. This measures how long your camera’s shutter stays open when you push the button. The longer the shutter stays open, the more light comes into the camera. The speed of your object will help you determine the best shutter speed. For  still objects, your shutter can go as low as 1/60 of a second with a hand-held camera. For fast action shots – like Buster running on the beach – you need a faster shutter speed, or he’d just be a blur! Try around 1/250 of a second for starters.

Give It A Shot

So, you have three variables to balance to the amount of light entering your camera: the ISO, the aperture, and the shutter speed. I usually set the ISO first, based on where I’m taking pictures … lower in the sunshine, higher inside, and even higher in the evening.

Next, I think about the object of the photo. If I’m taking a picture of the dogs sleeping, I set the aperture next … for more details in the foreground I use a lower aperture, and if I want the background to be clearer, I use a higher aperture. But if I’m at the dog park trying to catch Buster playing, the shutter speed takes priority over the aperture – the faster Buster goes, the faster the camera needs to go.

Finally, I adjust the remaining variable to get the right exposure based on the other two settings.

Give it a try and have a little fun! Switch over to “Manual,” and you might never go back.

Last Week’s Winner

Congratulations to Brittany H. from Carrollton, MO - she won last week’s challenge for correctly identifying this location as Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs, CO. We hope you enjoy your “Travels with Ty and Buster” calendar, Brittany!

This Week’s Photo Challenge

Now it’s your turn to win! If you know where the photo below was taken, submit your answer in the entry form. If you’re stumped try using “Plan B”! You can also check some of our older posts – there’s a good chance the photo appeared previously on the blog.

For the winner …

Each week we randomly select one winner from the correct entries to receive a “Travels with Ty and Buster” 18-month wall calendar.

Use Your Friends …

Really, what are friends for if you don’t use them?  We have no rule against working together, so click those little buttons on the left and ask your friends, relatives, neighbors, and high school classmates for some help on Twitter and Facebook.

And the photo is …

Ty and Buster made a new friend. Do you know where we were?

Contest Entry

The Fine Print

This week’s contest closes on Wednesday, January 25th at 11:59 pm EST. This contest is open to US and Canadian residents over the age of 18, except were prohibited. All correct submissions will be assigned a number and the winner will be selected using www.randomizer.org. Winners will be notified by email, announced on our Facebook page, and mentioned in next week’s Friday Photo Challenge. The decision of the judges is final. The winner has 3 days to claim the prize. If the prize is not claimed by the winner within 3 days, an alternate winner will be chosen from the pool of correct entries. The winner of the prize is responsible for any and all applicable taxes on the prize. Employees and relatives of GoPetFriendly.com are not eligible to win.

Some of our differences were exposed a while back when I talked about our travel predilections, but it goes even deeper.

I’m the kind of girl that opens a box, throws away the instructions, and starts putting things together. Rod reads the instructions twice, lays out the pieces in the order they’ll be assembled, and then reads the instructions one more time before getting started. I’ve always believed that jumping in and figuring things out as you go is the best method. Rod wants to carefully research all the possibilities and their potential outcomes before he makes a move.

So, is it any surprise we ended up with two dogs that don’t have a single thing in common? For example …

Ty has a little ears and a short, wrinkly face that squishes up when he’s all comfy.

 Buster has huge ears and a long, thin, face that gives him a distinguished air.

Ty would follow anyone home … as long as she had treats in her pocket.

Buster hardly ever takes his eyes off me.

Ty will go to whatever lengths necessary to keep his paws dry.

Buster thinks water is fun!

When we mention exercise, Ty hides in his bed.

Buster, on the other hand, is always ready to go.

Ty’s personality leans towards the snarky. While Buster is always happy-go-lucky.

We may be an unlikely crew … but our differences make us better. Each of us brings good qualities to the table and helps the others appreciate characteristics that aren’t intrinsically within them. Balance, tolerance, and compromise are the ways we show our love for each other. And, while you may not guess that we’d fit perfectly together, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

It’s a motto we believe in firmly. But when you’re looking for just the right car harness for your pet, the choices can be overwhelming. To help you narrow it down, we put two popular harnesses to the test.

Bergan Dog Auto Harness

Buster was hoping that this new harness would distract me from the fact he was on the sofa while we were driving. Nice try, buddy!

The Bergan harnesses are made of high quality, durable materials. We had no problem fitting them to the dogs, but getting the boys to help put them on was more of a challenge. Both front paws must go into the proper place in the harness, which you then lift up to close a clasp at their shoulder blades. Getting both paws in the correct holes worked best when we laid the harnesses on the floor and let the dogs step into them.

Once the clasp is fastened, a piece of fabric folds down and you can then attach the tether (included) to the loops in the back. The other end of the tether attaches to the seat belt strap. The tether itself is made of the same high quality webbing as the harness, has two heavy-duty carabiners that attach to the harness and seat belt strap, and is adjustable to give your dog space to turn and lay down.

Overall, I liked the look and fit of this harness, and the dogs seemed comfortable in them. I also appreciated the fact that Bergan has developed an industry standard for testing the durability of pet restraints, which is available to all manufacturers, and that this harness meets their standards. One problem I encountered was that Ty managed to get out of it twice, without the clasp opening … maybe I wasn’t as successful at fitting it as I thought! Also, the clasps on the leashes we had were too small to attach to the carabiner on the harness for potty breaks during a trip.

Bergan offers a 1 year limited warranty against product defects and retails for between $23-33, depending on size.

Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Harness

Rather than a tether, the Kurgo harnesses come with a seat belt loop. You attach the carabiner to the back of the harness and then pass the seat belt though the loop and click it into the receptacle. Though the seat belt loop is not adjustable, it is made of the same webbing as the harness, and the carabiner is the heavy-duty variety.

I like the look of this harness and how easy it is to use. The durability of the all-metal hardware is great, and it gives the harness a snappy design. I also like that you can attach any leash to the D-ring on the back when you get out of the car to stretch your legs. But I’ve never been a fan of the seat belt loop. Buster and Ty like to stand up, turn a circle or two, and reposition themselves. The seatbelt loop doesn’t allow that range of movement. Kurgo does offer a zip line that would give them more room, but the way it attaches won’t work for us in the Winnebago.

Kurgo offers a lifetime warranty against manufacturer’s defects on all their products. They will also repair or replace any product that has been damaged during normal wear and tear (including chewing!) for a nominal charge plus shipping and handling – for the life of the product. The Kurgo harness retails for between $23-30 depending on size. I have read reviews that some people found the sizing to run small, but the medium and large worked fine for Ty and Buster, respectively. The measurements from the packaging for each size are:

• Small: Neck size 12-20″ and Chest size 16-22″
• Medium: Neck size 16-25″ and Chest size 18-28″
• Large: Neck size 18-30″ and Chest size 24-34″
• Extra-large: Neck size 24-35″ and Chest size 28-44″

A few days ago a life-long friend emailed me about an Akita puppy she’d found on the Internet, and she was in love. She’s had two Akitas in the past and now, with her youngest daughter starting school, she has the time to commit to a new member of the family.

In my head, the warning bells went off immediately. Puppies purchased on the Internet are often from puppy mills, where the breeding pair is kept in deplorable conditions and the puppies are sick – both physically and emotionally. I didn’t want to break my friend’s heart, but I didn’t want her to make a huge mistake with this new member of the family.

Finding a Reputable Breeder

Puppy millers have gotten very good at disguising themselves. They use the Internet to present the image of a loving breeder with a litter of well-cared-for pups to place in good homes. To uncover them you need to be meticulous, do your research, and listen to your gut.

That can be extremely difficult when you’ve already grown attached to the furry little mug in the photo and the person on the other end of the line wants your deposit before someone else speaks for him. But the decision you make will affect your life – and your pocket book – for more than a decade, so it’s important to keep your wits about you.

When you’re looking for a good breeder, you want someone who’s first priority is the welfare of their dogs. Here are a few characteristics of reputable breeders to help you quickly weed out anyone sketchy:

• They take the dog back at any stage of life if it needs to be re-homed for any reason. A truly reputable breeder would never want one of their dogs to end up in a shelter, and their written contract will include this provision.
• Before breeding, they’ll have both parents tested for any genetic defects that could be passed on to the puppies, like hip dysplasia and eye disease.
• They’ll guarantee the health of the puppy, provide a record of shots and deworming, and encourage you to call them with any questions you have about the puppy’s care.
• They’ll want to get to know you before sending one of their “kids” home with you, to be sure you’ll be able to provide a good home for the puppy.
• They’ll be happy to have you visit them and meet the puppy and it’s mother before making a deposit.

Once you’ve narrowed it down, you can refine your search with other web resources and checklists.

Putting Noses To The Grindstone

At first glance, the website that had stolen my friend’s heart seemed to be on the up-and-up. They guaranteed the puppies’ health for 26 months, posted pictures of their dogs with their kids, and required that you send an email answering some questions about your home, children and other pets.

But when we looked a little deeper …

• Red Flag #1: The father of the litter is too young to be cleared of genetic defects that he may have passed to the puppies. He is pending tests on his hips, elbows, thyroid, and eyes. The mother of the litter was also pending testing on her hips and none of the other tests were mentioned in the information provided about her.
• Red Flag #2: The breeder is announcing to whom the puppies have been sold and where they are going to live. One puppy is being sent to gentleman in Canada. Perhaps the breeder has done her due diligence and knows this person is a good fit for the puppy … and perhaps not.
• Red Flag #3: In a phone conversation, my friend was told she could pick the puppy up once it was 6 weeks old. Most responsible breeders will not let a puppy leave it’s mother until it’s at least 8 weeks, and sometimes 10 or 12, weeks old.
• Red Flag #4: Though their website discusses their success showing their dogs, we searched the AKC website and found that the mother of the puppies isn’t registered with the AKC.
• Red Flag #5: Many responsible breeders enter their dogs in competitions. Most don’t breed their dogs until they’ve achieved “Champion” status because the puppies are worth more if their parents have been shown to meet the breed standard for structure, temperament and health. Neither of this litter’s parents have achieved “Champion” status.

A Tough Decision

It was a tough decision, but the evidence we gathered lead my friend to continue her search for a puppy. It’s possible that this breeder was a very nice person and may be selling healthy puppies, but this decision is too big to take a chance. I know she was disappointed, but I’m sure there’s a happy, healthy puppy in her near future.

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