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Recognizing a Good Breeder
If you pick a good breeder, the dog you choose will have a leg up on
life from the start. After all, it's in the breeder's own best
interests to make sure the dogs he breeds are healthy,
well-socialized and the best of their type.
The breeder's role is an ancient one. It began when an early human
and a wolf or wild pariah dog struck up a friendship. Over time,
humans continued to favor intelligent dogs that enjoyed learning and
being around people.
Without understanding the far-reaching results of what they were
doing, our prehistoric ancestors became the first breeders. They
selected out agreeable dogs that could perform work to help the
family by gathering food, pulling a sleigh or guarding and leading
other domesticated animals. When these dogs mated, they perpetuated
their abilities; thus, we domesticated the dog, just as we did
cattle, goats and sheep. We also differentiated dogs, according to
their roles in human society.
Today, some 10,000 to 14,000 years after the first dog happily
licked a human hand, there are as many as 850 dog breeds worldwide.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes over 150 of them in its
registry.
What the Breeder Does
Breeders strive to achieve physical conformation in their dogs. That
means a dog must meet the standards that make his breed unique –
size, body shape, the way the ears and tail are set, the angle of
the stance. Above all, the dogs must be healthy, with each
generation further minimizing the chance of genetic flaws.
In order to evaluate and choose a breeder, you must understand the
characteristics that would make him top-notch. The majority of
responsible breeders pursue their calling as a hobby; they are just
enamored with a particular type of dog. They know everything there
is to know about a breed's behaviors and potential health problems.
Some also might make a living as professional trainers; they might
show dogs. But they always make a lifetime commitment to each dog
that they breed. They don't tally their rewards in purely financial
gain.
A breeder must know the ancestry of a pup and his parents for at
least several generations back. He needs this information to
understand each pup's personality and health tendencies, as well as
to maintain good standing among fellow breeders and to meet AKC
requirements. A good breeder also looks to the future: He usually
requires buyers to keep him informed about a dog's health throughout
his life; if tragedy strikes, he may even require a cause of death
report.
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