How much is that doggy in the window? DERRIK J. LANG examines three different ways to find Fido.
Pick me! Pick me! Pick me! (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
"I do not want to go back in there." (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Every dog has its day. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Sometimes puppy love can be blind.
Although the majority of dog owners acquire their pet from friends and family, there are options for adding a four-legged family member if no one in your social circle has a canine to collar. But for first-timers, attempting to spot Spot can leave more questions than answers in the dog-eat-dog world of pet ownership.
How much should you pay for a pet? What are the signs of a bad breeder? What's the difference between a humane society and a shelter? How do you choose a particular breed? And just what do you have to do to get a rescue group to give you a dog!?
asap sniffed out some ways to get your hands on a hound -- and to avoid barking up the wrong tree.
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PET STORES
Nowadays, it's much more difficult to ask, "How much is that doggy in the window?" That's because indie pet stores are on the decline, and behemoth pet outlets such as Petco and PetsMart have partnered with adoption groups to provide pooches on the premises, instead of caging puppy inventory themselves.
"There's nothing good about (buying a dog from) your typical pet store," says Betsy Saul, co-founder of Petfinder.com, the oldest and largest directory of adoptable pets on the Web. "Unless you know for a fact they're getting puppies from a reputable local breeder, the likelihood is that they've gotten their pets from a broker who got their pets from an irresponsible breeder or puppy mill."
However, reputable pet stores can often be a good starting point to sniff out a potential pet, says Saul. Many have lists of breeders and pet adoption groups or post flyers of available dogs.
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SHELTERS
Just like doggies, shelters come in all shapes and sizes -- open-access shelters, foster groups, humane societies, rescue groups. (Listen to the audio clips for an explanation of each type.)
When searching a shelter for a pooch, it's most important to adopt a dog that fits your lifestyle, says Saul. Don't get a greyhound if you don't like to jog or a border collie if you're not into primping.
"If you're interested in coming home at the end of the day and not having to do a lot of big activity because you're beat, but you want to have someone you can share your life with, then a couch potato pet is what you want," says Saul.
So how much is adopting a puppy gonna cost you? Saul says typical adoption fees average $75, which usually includes the first vet examination, vaccines, spaying or neutering and, in some cases, basic training.
It's also a good idea to paws -- ahem, pause -- before making a decision.
"You shouldn't just accept what you see when the pet is in the kennel," says Saul. "He may be overstimulated because of all the other dogs barking or he may not have gotten out and gotten a lot of exercise recently. You need to get the pet out of the shelter situation for a walk or in a get-to-know-you room so he can chill out a bit so you can ascertain if he's a right fit for your family."
It's often the opposite with purebred rescue groups, who sometimes require humans be the right fit for the canine. Some conditions include: a particular veterinary treatment, certain physical specifications for your home, prior experience with the breed, no children or a specific income.
The stringent adoption process can turn off potential first-time owners.
"I think it's important for people to realize when people have rescued a pet -- whether it's a shelter or a rescue group -- they've made a promise to that pet," Saul says. "The point at which you pluck that pet off the street and look into its eyes, you make a silent promise. You promise that pet it won't be hurt, abandoned, neglected, hungry, thirsty or whatever it is again."
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BREEDERS
For a haute canine, potential puppy parents can seek out a hobby breeder for a specific type of dog -- although Saul emphasizes shelters are actually populated 25 percent by purebred dogs.
Not sure which of the 154 American Kennel Club registered breeds is for you? Daisy Okas, assistant vice president of communications for the AKC, says not to just rely on books, television shows and the Web.
Go to a local dog show and interact in-person with different breeds to make an informed decision. The AKC Web site lists all local and national shows. Once you've decided, you should seek out breeders -- online, at the dog show, in the classifieds -- that have a love for the breed. Then meet the breeder snout-to-snout.
"If you look on a Web site, put a dog in your shopping cart and check out the same way you would buy a toaster oven, does that make sense?" says Okas. "I think most people would realize it doesn't when you're talking about an animal. You need to have an understanding about where you're getting this animal from. It's not like buying a microwave. It's a living, breathing being. It has a pedigree, a background, a history."
Okas says when you visit, before you buy, you should make sure the puppy's kennel is clean. The dog should appear healthy, lively and friendly. Check out the puppy's mommy if possible. And you should definitely be wary if the breeder is more concerned about whether your check will clear rather than if you'll make a fit owner for the puppy.
Don't be afraid to ask for a contract from the breeder. Many insist on it.
"If you can see the premises up close, you'll have a better idea if you want to proceed and get your dog from this person," warns Okas.
And bring your wallet. Buying a dog directly from a breeder will cost anywhere from $300 to $3,000. The bigger the city, the more expensive the dog. The rarer the breed, the more expensive the dog. The better the breeder, the more expensive the dog.
"People should consider the fact that if they spend more money upfront on a responsible breeder, you're very likely to spend less money down the line on vet bills," Okas advises. "Don't think that something that looks like a bargain now will be a bargain tomorrow. A dog is a lifetime commitment."
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FURTHER READING: Tailing Lassie, Teaching a city dog country tricks and Sand, surf and shitzus
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asap reporter Derrik J. Lang recently became the owner of a cuuute Welsh corgi named Root Beer. (Yes, that's him with the ears in the photo.)
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