The following was
contributed by Stuart F. Eckmann, Co-Chair of the Health Committee of the
Tibetan Terrier Club of America, club liaison to the AKC/CHF, and developer of
the Tibetan Terrier DNA Bank & Registry.
Remember when you got your first puppy, and how
you thought it was so soft and cuddly, and just perfect? Well, we realize now
that there is no such thing as the perfect dog. Responsible breeders work
diligently to reduce the incidence of health problems. They monitor their dogs’
health through hip evaluations, eye exams, and other phenotypic, or outwardly
observable, expressions of genetic conditions. When actual genetic tests have
become available, these breeders use them as an integral part of their breeding
programs.
But which breeds are disposed to what? And
which breeders have used available exams and tests to try to improve their
breeds’ health and temperament? Fortunately, there are a number of online
resources which can help you determine the right breed for you, identify
responsible breeders within that breed, and also point you toward good resources
to help you train and care for your puppy. If you’re trying to decide which
breed is right for you, check out the American Kennel Club’s website at
http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm . You’ll find information on size,
temperament, coat care, and general care requirements for 150 different breeds.
More importantly, though, you’ll find out what kind of adult that cute puppy
you’re considering will turn into, and what type of commitment you’ll need to
make.
The AKC’s website provides links to the
national breed club for each of these breeds. Many of the breeds’ websites
include a breeder referral list and a code of ethics for responsible breeders.
It may state, for example, that breeders will breed only mature bitches over the
age of two, will skip a cycle between breedings, will have completed certain
health checks prior to breeding, and will submit the results of these tests to
certain registries.
For many breeds, these include submissions to
the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF)
http://www.vet.purdue.edu/~yshen/
registry, and hip evaluations by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
http://www.offa.org/ . The OFA is now also
registering the results of other exams, such as hearing tests, and has also
become the universally-recognized database for registration of the results of
genetic marker tests.
Some of the more progressive breeds are
participating in a database called the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC)
http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/
. A joint effort of OFA and the AKC Canine Health Foundation
http://akcchf.org/ , CHIC requires each
participating breed to designate at least three mandatory tests for
participation. CHIC is now the gold standard for online databases for
dogs.
You can go online to CERF, OFA, or CHIC and see
if the sire and dam of the puppies you are interested in are listed; all you
need to do is submit their registered names. You can even search the kennel
name of the breeder you’re considering to see which of their dogs they’ve
registered for these exams and genetic tests.
Remember that the dam – the mom – is only half
of the equation. The other half of the genetics that goes into your puppy will
come from the sire. When you search these registries, check out the background
of the sire. If the sire comes from another breeder, you can also use these
online databases to check out that breeder. A good way to ensure that both sire
and dam come from breeders with a commitment to the ethical standards of the
breed club is to make sure that the breeders of both are members of the national
breed club. Another good way is to print off the code of ethics from the
national breed club’s website and go over it, point by point, when you visit a
breeder, to ensure to your satisfaction that they are adhering to acceptable
standards.
Many of the genetic tests have been developed
through the dedication and generosity of breeders whose contributions have
helped fund genetic marker studies supported by the AKC Canine Health
Foundation. The AKC/CHF has acknowledged the generosity of these breeders on
their website, and a search of the breeder’s name on
http://www.akcchf.org/search.htm
identifies those whose support has made this genetic research possible.
After you’ve identified a breeder with a focus
on health, how do you determine which one of their dogs is right for you? Some
breeders have gone beyond the concept of a waiting list to matching each of
their dogs to the most appropriate home. Temperament testing helps a breeder to
match the dog’s temperament to the new family’s lifestyle.
Your new puppy should be seen immediately by a
veterinarian, who will examine it and work out a schedule for vaccinations,
microchipping, routine medications, and regular well puppy visits. For
unforeseen and unexpected health emergencies, the American Red Cross offers
excellent Pet First Aid classes throughout the country. The course description
and list of locations is on their website at
http://www.redcross.org/news/hs/firstaid/010801petfirstaid.html .
Instruction includes CPR and rescue breathing, choking, and fractures.
Once a breeder has placed a puppy with you,
it’s your responsibility to start socializing that puppy, both within your home
and outside. One of the best ways to do this is to do this is through puppy
“kindergarten” obedience/socialization classes. The Association of Pet Dog
Trainers provides a listing of members offering such classes at
http://www.apdt.com/cgi/trainer-search . Their site also identifies those
trainers whose levels of knowledge and experience have qualified them to be
designated as a Certified Pet Dog Trainer.
Using these websites when you’re looking for a
puppy should help you become an informed consumer. It should also help frame
the questions you’ll want to ask breeders. It’s a short investment in time that
will yield immediate returns. And once you’ve chosen a breed and brought your
puppy home, consider contributing to that breed’s welfare through the AKC Canine
Health Foundation at
http://www.akcchf.org/donations/make.htm . This is an investment that will
return dividends throughout the life of your dog.
For questions and comments, email Eckmann@ix.netcom.com.