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SHOULD I SPAY OR NEUTER MY DOG?
Many veterinarians and serious dog breeders receive calls from pet owners who
wish to breed their pet animals. These owners may feel that their dog has a
fine temperament, is a healthy specimen of its breed, and has AKC
registration papers.
We at the Key City Kennel Club feel that breeding should be approached as
both a science and an art. We believe dogs should be bred for one
reason and for one reason only: TO GET BETTER DOGS AS DEFINED BY THE BREED
STANDARD. Both the bitch and stud should come from lineage that has, to
the greatest possible extent, been cleared of hereditary diseases (hip
dysplasia, congenital cataract, progressive retinal atrophy, hemophilia or
other blood disorders, etc.) present in that breed. All breedings
should be planned by those who can recognize the good points and faults of
each member of the breeding pair. This insures that breeding animals
are chosen who compliment each other.
Dogs should not be bred because:
- She's healthy and it's
o.k. to breed her.
- A litter will make her
more mellow.
- She should be bred
once before being spayed.
- It's good education
for the kids.
- We need the money.
- We paid a lot for her
and want to get some of our investment back.
- Puppies will be so
much fun!
Dog owners should realize that too many dogs are being
bred and that some, or most, of their planned litter may have to be
euthanized. The neighbor or friend who wants a puppy with that same
wonderful personality as their dog, often changes his/her mind, leaving the
potential breeder with a houseful of unwanted puppies. Thousands upon
thousands of dogs are euthanized in Minnesota
every year - a large percentage of them being purebred.
There are just not enough humans for every animal.
Dog owners should be discouraged from breeding mixed breeds (peek-a-poos,
schnoodle, cock-a-poo, etc.) on the premise that mixed breeds are healthier
animals. The truth is that just as many, if not more, dogs with
"high strung temperaments" and genetic disorders can come from
cross breeding as from poorly mated purebreds.
Dog owners interested in breeding should be encouraged to study their
breed. By taking the effort to learn what constitutes a good specimen
of their breed, they will, along the way, have joined the ranks of the
responsible breeder. They will then pass on the knowledge that the sole
goal of breeding should be to produce better animals as defined by their
breed standard.
Breeding, when done properly, is hard work and is certainly not the road to
wealth. Each potential litter must be well thought out, with a sincere
desire on the part of the owner to breed better dogs. Quality, not
quantity, is the hallmark of the knowledgeable breeder.
YOUR DOG IS SPECIAL TO YOU AND BECAUSE IT IS A SPECIAL PET,
WE URGE YOU TO HAVE IT SPAYED OR NEUTERED.
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A RESPONSIBLE, REPUTABLE
BREEDER...
- Educates prospective
buyers about the breed including the negative aspects as well as the positive
ones.
- Chooses to cull any
puppy that is not physically or mentally sound, never selling them at a
cut rate.
- Divides a litter into
"pet" and "show potential," and does not infer that
every puppy, simply because it is eligible for AKC registration, is
going to be a "champion."
- Does not charge more
for females than for males because they can be breed to make money.
- Will always try to
help you pick the puppy that will fit best in your household.
Simply having the money in hand does not mean that someone will get a
puppy. (An overactive, dominant puppy should not be sold to someone who
will not be able to have the time or energy to train and control the
animal. The shy, submissive puppy should not be sold to the active,
on-the-go family with young children.)
- Will spend maximum
time with the litter, socializing each and every puppy getting to know
each puppy as an individual, not looking at them as pieces of
merchandise.
- Will be more concerned
with getting a good and loving home for their puppies than with making a
profit.
- Will be available for
help and referral for the life of the dog or puppy they are selling.
- Will provide the buyer
with the opportunity to see the puppy's parent(s) and relatives.
- Will provide a
pedigree, a written sales contract including guarantees, and a health
record with vaccinations up-to-date for the age of the dog/puppy.
- Will be willing to
take the dog/puppy back if it doesn't work out - for whatever reason.
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SOCIALIZING YOUR PUPPY
PUPPIES CAN BE FUN: Everyone loves a little puppy. The trick is
to have everyone love them when they are no longer puppies. How do you
do this?
HAVING A WELL SOCIALIZED PET is the beginning of a great relationship between
you, your dog and your community. If you bought your pet from a
reputable breeder you are half way there.
ALLOW YOUR PET TO BECOME ACQUAINTED with his new family, home and environment
by setting aside certain times of the day to play with him, feed him and work
on a housebreaking schedule. After he has settled into his new surroundings,
be certain he has all of the required vaccinations. Then start taking
him for leisurely walks to introduce him to the sights, smells and sounds of
the neighborhood, BUT always on a leash so you are in control. Talk to
your puppy reassuring him with the sound of your voice.
IF THERE ARE NO CHILDREN IN YOUR FAMILY, invite a neighborhood child in to
play with the puppy, under supervision, so that the puppy becomes familiar
with children in his home. When you have company keep the puppy in his
crate until your guests get inside the house and are settled. Then
allow the puppy out of his crate to greet and visit the guests a short time
before returning him to his crate to be quiet and away from the activity.
TAKE YOUR PUPPY FOR SHORT RIDES IN THE CAR whenever you can. Be sure
that he is in a crate or safely secured for his protection. A trip to
the local shopping mall parking lot can be a wonderful time. Weather
permitting place a leash on your puppy and walk him around the lot asking
people, children primarily, to pet your puppy. Your puppy will not only
become relaxed with strangers but will become comfortable with the sounds and
activity around him. Do not permit your puppy to jump or lunge at
people. Be a responsible pet owner and pick up any droppings your puppy
may leave.
EVERY PUPPY DESERVES TO BE TAUGHT HOW TO BE A CANINE GOOD CITIZEN. The
easiest way for you to teach your puppy good manners is to enroll in a puppy
training class and follow that with at least one basic obedience class.
People who own an obedience trained dog know the joys of living with a
well-behaved companion, whether it be for show, hunting, or most importantly,
as your companion. For information on training classes run by Key City
Kennel Club please contact Lynn Davey at 507-344-1159 or ldavey@myclearwave.net.
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THE AKC'S POSITION ON. . .
RESPONSIBLE BREEDING
The AKC understands the need for responsible breeding programs, and
encourages breeding when it is a valid, justifiable improvement of the breed
and when the produce of the breeding can be assured a proper home and care.
The AKC discourages breeding for misguided or fallacious reasons, such as to
improve the temperament of the bitch through motherhood, to expose children
to the reproductive process, or for monetary gain. Prospective breeders
are reminded of their responsibility to provide complete pre- and post-natal
care to the bitch and puppies, and should remember that the expenses of
proper care from the time of breeding until the puppies are placed far
exceeds any proceeds the sale may bring.
SPAYING AND /NEUTERING
To help reduce the number of dogs destroyed each year, the AKC encourages
spaying or neutering as a responsible way to prevent accidental breedings and
unwanted litters. The AKC informs dog owners that both surgical
procedures are safe and do not have an adverse effect on the health or
temperament of the dog.
REGISTRATION
An AKC individual registration form/certificate must accompany each puppy/dog
from a registered litter each time ownership is transferred. The
initial registration of a dog must be made within one year of the date listed
on that registration. It is common for breeders to withhold registration
papers for a period of time and for a specific reason, both of which should
be listed in the written sales contract. The registration papers must
be delivered to the new owner promptly when the terms of the contract have
been met by the new owner (30 day trial period has passed, spaying or
neutering has been accomplished).
LIMITED REGISTRATION OPTION
In 1990, the AKC instituted the Limited Registration option. If the
breeder decides that a certain dog should not be used for breeding, the
breeder can apply to the AKC for a Limited Registration form for that
dog. The Limited Registration form clearly states: Offspring Of
This Dog Not Eligible For Registration. The dog will continue to carry
the Limited Registration regardless of the number of times the ownership of
the dog is transferred. Only the breeder of the dog can request that a
Limited Registration be changed. As with spayed or neutered dogs,
Limited Registration dogs will be ineligible to compete in conformation shows
but will be allowed to participate in performance events such as obedience,
agility, herding, field trials, etc.
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WHEN YOU BUY - ASK THE FOLLOWING
YES___NO___ 1. Can you see one or both of
the puppies parents?
YES___NO___ 2. Will you be given a
pedigree (minimum 3 generations)?
YES___NO___ 3. Is there a return policy
if the puppy does not work out?
YES___NO___ 4. Are you able to see all
the puppies in the litter?
YES___NO___ 5. If the puppy dies within a
couple of weeks, not due to anything you did or didn't do, (veterinarian
certificate required), will they replace the pup?
YES___NO___ 6. Does the breeder
acknowledge that there are hereditary diseases within the breed?
YES___NO___ 7. Does the breeder guarantee
against hereditary diseases?
YES___NO___ 8. Does the breeder provide a
written contract stating what the guarantee includes and whether the puppy is
show or pet quality.
YES___NO___ 9. Are the puppies raised in
a home environment?
YES___NO___ 10. Are the surroundings clean?
YES___NO___ 11. Does the breeder provide you with a
record of inoculations, worming, etc.
YES___NO___ 12. Are you satisfied with the
temperament of the puppy, the other puppies in the litter and the parents?
YES___NO___ 13. If you are purchasing a pure-bred
puppy, is the breeder charging you extra for the registration papers?
YES___NO___ 14. Are you able to talk to the breeder
and obtain all the information that you need?
There should be only one NO answer, #13! If you have more than four NO
answers then your next step should be not to purchase a puppy from this
person. Seek out another breeder.
NOTE: Read everything you can find about the breed before you
buy! Find out their height, weight, and faults. You deserve a good
representative of the breed. The difference between a show and pet
puppy will usually be something very minor, not even noticeable to the
average person. Your pet puppy should grow up to be a dog that anyone
would be proud to own. He/she may never grow up to be a champion, but
in the eyes of the public he should look like one.
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CRATE YOUR PET FOR SAFETY AND
ENJOYMENT
Every dog should be "crate trained" and should learn at an early
age that the crate will be his home. Hopefully, the puppy you purchased
has already been introduced to being housed singly in a crate. However,
if it hasn't, the time to begin crate training is the day the puppy comes to
live with you!
Chose a crate that is large enough so when full grown, your pet can stand up,
turn around and lie down. Place a blanket in the bottom of the crate
for comfort.
Start when you bring your puppy home. Put him in a crate with a blanket
when he indicates he is ready to sleep. When he awakens, take him
directly outside to relieve himself. Stay with him and make certain he
does relieve himself. Bring the puppy back inside to play for a short time and then put him back in the crate for
another nap. You may feed your puppy in the crate so that he really
feels this is HIS home. It would be preferable that the water dish be
outside the crate. This method will be very helpful in housebreaking
your puppy as he will not want to soil his living quarters.
To crate train an older puppy or adult dog, start by putting the dog in the
crate with some bedding for 5 – 10 minutes at a time. At first,
stay with the dog and reassure him. After the first few times,
gradually move away when the dog is quiet. Feeding the dog in the crate
will keep him busy for awhile and also prove to him that this is his territory.
Gradually increase the time the dog spends in the crate. Remove the dog
only when it has become quiet and accepting of being in the
crate. Never take the dog out of the crate if he is crying and
protesting. When your dog calmly accepts being in his crate, you may
leave him in the crate when you are away from home.
Using a crate will protect your pet when you are away so that he cannot hang himself on drapery cords, electrocute himself chewing on
wires, or be poisoned by chewing on your houseplants. It also will protect your furniture and other
expensive items. It will keep the garbage safely in the wastebasket!
Using a crate in the car will protect your dog from being thrown around in
the car should a sudden stop occur. It will prevent your dog from
escaping from the car when it is stopped and the door opens—such as at
a busy gas station or a rest stop along the highway.
When your pet comes in the house after a damp or muddy romp, put him in his
crate to dry and protect your clean home.
Your guests will appreciate it if your dog is crated while they are visiting
in your home.
There may be a time when it is necessary to board your pet in a kennel or at
your vet. There crating is a must. How much easier it will be for
both of you if your dog has no fear of being in a crate. Your pet will
appreciate it if you have loved him enough to have given him "crate
training" as part of his everyday living.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE AMERICAN
KENNEL CLUB AND THE KEY
CITY KENNEL CLUB
- Clean up after your
dog whether in your yard or in a public place. People take pride
in a clean community.
- Train your dog to
avoid excessive barking. Barking dogs can become a nuisance to the
neighborhood.
- Keep your dog on a
leash or under verbal control when walking in a public area.
People appreciate well-mannered dogs that are under control.
- Make sure your dog
does not run loose in the neighborhood. It's dangerous for the dog
and the community.
- Teach your dog to
accept friendly strangers such as neighbors and delivery people.
No one likes to be greeted by a noisy, snarling dog.
- Keep your dog clean
and well groomed. People appreciate dogs without fleas.
- Take the necessary
precautions to ensure your dog does no harm to your neighbors' gardens
or property. This will make for a better friendship and save you
money.
- Prevent unwanted
litters by spaying and neutering or confining your dogs.
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