When we see a puppy, most of us cannot resist the urge to cuddle it and speak to it in baby language, no matter what the breed. Many people come home from an innocent trip to a mall with a cute little (for now) puppy that can grow and grow and grow some more. Cross bred dogs seem to have unusually high cuteness ratings and even though a puppy can look like a poodle and schnauzer cross, it just might have some great dane in it. No guessing in the world can guarantee the future size of these puppies. Many purebred dogs are listed in breed encyclopedias, giving you an idea not only of size, but also of temperament. But even among breeds, there can be large differences. So it is a good idea to meet the parents if possible.

Cross bred dogs can also be wonderful pets, but it is important to be prepared for some size and temperament surprises. My own dog Bella is a Lab cross German Shepherd, but her size is smaller than either labs or shepherds. She got the best of both breed's temperament. Temperament selection is the most important part of your decision to get a puppy. Did you know that the leading reason for unwanted pets is behaviour problems? Many of these problems can be addressed by getting the right kind of dog into your family.

This depends on what you are looking for. Remember that the following are guidelines only; the principles are what's important. At the risk of losing my friends in the pet store business, I would say that, in general, the worst place to get a pet is at a pet store. Often, these puppies are from "puppy mills", which are very creative in making all kinds of cross breeds like lhasa-schnues, spoodles, cock-a-poos or even cock-a-spoodle-doos and many other combinations that are guaranteed to look cute in puppy form.

 

If you do find a "pure bred with papers", be cautious. Most good breeders will not sell to pet stores. Others may only sell those pups that were the rejects of the litter. If you want a pure bred or a dog that looks like a pure bred, the best place is a good breeder. This is one who has done their homework when it comes to selecting a stud dog and one who has done their best to screen their breeding dogs for genetic problems. By the way as a note of caution - registered pure bred dogs should always come with papers at no additional cost. Beware of breeders or pet stores who offer to provide papers at additional cost. They are probably a puppy mill and not reporting their litters properly with the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) the only official registrar for dogs in Canada.

 

Other important factors are regular treatments against worms and other parasites, as well as early vaccination to protect against viruses such as the dreaded parvovirus. Most good breeders will also allow you to have your potential puppy "vetted" - that is, to have it checked over by your veterinarian who can detect some early warnings of problems. In order to find a breeder, you can scan the web by visiting the Dogs in Canada website at www.dogs-in-canada.com, or most libraries and veterinary clinics will have a directory you can borrow.

 

Most people have seen signs on country roads "Pups for Sale" or even "Puppies - Free to a Good Home". Although these puppies may appear perfectly healthy, many are raised in relative isolation from the nasty diseases that can strike your puppy. Many farmers are only concerned about the rabies vaccines and once these farm dogs are exposed to the distemper virus or parvovirus, they have no protection. Again, this is a generalization. Some people (like Bella''s family) will get vaccines for the pups while they are still drinking milk from their mother and will have very healthy puppies available.

 

However, one of the best places to get a cross bred dog is from a shelter for animals. This year, the Ontario Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelters began a spay and neuter program that adopts out animals that have already had their first vaccines, as well as their sterilization surgery. These pets, even though they come from uncertain backgrounds, can be excellent pets. Harsh as it sounds, usually the "unfit" ones don't survive the rigors of life at the shelter. Again, getting your new pet "vetted" is a great preventive step and should be done as soon as possible.

Believe it or not, there are health insurance programs for pets. These programs are great for animal lovers who are on a budget. You can get coverage for emergencies only, or the deluxe plan that even covers preventive procedures like vaccines and teeth cleaning. The cost of such protection is not inexpensive, but it does prevent having to make compromising medical decisions because of cost factors.

As an alternative, a savings account for the pet is a good idea. Usually, the interest will make the amount grow throughout the life of the pet. The hardest part is making up your mind as to how much you are willing to spend. Many of us who grew up with a "farm dog" have to make a transition in our thinking when our furry family member gets sick. In the past, many dogs and cats were left to live or die on their own, but now many pets are getting the best that medicine can offer. Even though the annual vaccines and other preventive measures can add up, resist the temptation to dip into this emergency fund. Once you have a pet, ask your vet for input about how large your emergency fund should be, considering the pet's age and breed.

Preventive medicine works. Many times, the illnesses or injuries I am faced with are as a result of either the above selection criteria not being achieved or some failure in a preventive program. Well trained dogs usually don't get hit by cars; thin dogs usually have less arthritis; vaccines really do prevent diseases; screening blood, urine and fecal tests do provide us with early warning to detect numerous diseases. Just this week, early diagnostic testing allowed us to diagnose a tumor before it had a chance to cause any signs of illness. Still, occasional problems will occur. Perhaps some of the food supplements now available will help in preventing some of these problems too. At least if all the prevention programs are followed, your pet will be in the best possible health to fight off the unforeseen