Picture taken from www.flickr.com
From the desk of Sharda Baker.
Hi and Welcome Everyone!
This is Sharda with another Papillon newsletter!
Let’s start!
If you have made the decision that a Papillon dog or a Papillon puppy is the best choice of a pet for you and your family, your next decision is where to buy a Papillon.
There are a wide range of options to consider when determining where to get your dog or puppy.
Depending on the type of Papillon that you would like (if you want to use the dog for breeding or showing or not), and how long you are willing to wait for a dog or puppy will probably influence which option is best for you.
Rescue Shelters
A rescue shelter is a good option to get an adult Papillon that is going to be a companion animal for you and your family.
Usually the shelter will allow you to spend some time with the dogs that they have for adoption and purchase, and this will give you time to check on their temperament and behaviour.
Often shelters will agree to take the animal back if it does not adjust to your home or family. Many of the adult dogs from the shelter are already trained, and this can be an asset when you do not want to go through the training process.
When getting a Papillon from a shelter be sure to check the following:
- Ask for any information available about the dog.
- Make sure the animal has had a complete check-up and that the vaccinations are up to date.
- Ask if the dog has any behavioural issues or other concerns such as eating or barking.
- Does the dog appear healthy and energetic?
- Will the rescue shelter allow you to spend time with the dog prior to taking it home?
- What is the policy on spaying or neutering the animal?
- Can you return the dog if, for some reason, the adoption does not work out as planned?
Drawback to rescue shelter dogs
There are some drawbacks to getting a Papillon from a shelter:
- The dog may have learned bad or negative behaviours and will have to be re-trained.
- You have limited choice over the breeding, size and gender of the dogs available.
- You have little information on their lineage or medical history.
- Shelters are more likely to have adult Papillons than puppies.
Pet Stores
Pet stores usually offer both purebred and non-purebred puppies. Usually a pet store does not sell full grown dogs as they have limited space.
There are, however, a couple of major concerns when buying a Papillon puppy at a pet store. The first concern is that most reputable breeders will not sell to pet stores, so often the purebred puppies offered are from “puppy mills”.
These puppy mills are kennels that simply breed dogs to produce large quantities of saleable puppies, rather than trying to selectively breed to specifications and positive attributes of the breed.
The second concern is that there may only be one puppy of a breed to choose from.
This limits your ability to compare the puppy with littermates or other puppies of the same breed.
Breeder
While probably the most expensive choice, buying from a Papillon breeder is generally the best option if you want a purebred puppy from a reputable line.
Most breeders offer a guarantee of health, as well as detailed information on the breed.
Most breeders encourage you to come and see the litter several times before choosing the puppy that is right for you.
They will often provide recommendations on food, veterinarians in the area, trainers, problematic issues with the breed, as well as other points of interest.
Before visiting a Papillon breeder, it is important to ask for information on the line of dogs that they are breeding, as well as any relevant health information on the parents.
Getting this information prior to visiting the breeder is essential as it is all too easy to get caught up in the excitement of getting a new puppy.
Make sure that the Kennel Club in your country or location recognizes the Papillon breeder. Ask for information on shows or events that the breeder has participated in and where his/her dogs have been entered.
If the breeder is unable or unwilling to provide this information, it may be wise to consider trying another breeder.
Purchasing a puppy from a Papillon breeder is the option that allows you to know the temperament and lineage of the parent dogs, as well as the medical background of the puppy.
It also insures that you will get a quality animal that can be shown or bred if desired.
That’s it for today.
Hope you learned something.
I’ll be back for more about Papillons.
Until then!
All the best and take care.
Warmly,
Sharda Baker