Dear Free: Unfortunately, this country has more mutt puppies produced each year than we know what to do with. Millions of dogs, including puppies, are put to sleep annually at shelters in all 50 states. There are a variety of reasons why they end up in shelters including from unplanned breedings to unwanted pets.

Even adopting from a shelter will cost you money. There is most likely a fee for adoption and maybe you will be required to pay for the spaying or neutering of the puppy before it leaves the shelter. These days puppies are being fixed as early as eight-weeks-old before they are given up to their new homes.

And then there are the puppy shots, which I spoke about two weeks ago, and which will put you back a few hundred dollars. So even if you got a puppy for “free” and didn’t plunk down anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars for an American Kennel Club purebred, there are hidden costs to owning a dog.

If you truly have your heart set on a free mutt here are some suggestions. You can look to the local papers for puppies that are advertised as “free to a good home.” Most times these litters are the result of owners not spaying a female and the neighborhood Casanova comes along and voila you have puppies 63 days later.

With mixed breed there are no health tests or guarantees for temperament or how the dog will look as it matures. If you happen to know the parents are a Labrador and a Poodle, you can guess it will be large as an adult. However, if the parents are unknown, they you could get a giant dog when you just expected something the size of a Beagle.

Many times people will drop off unwanted puppies at veterinarian clinics or know of clients who have had such litters and can refer you to them.

Members Of The Family

One word of caution, before you adopt a very young puppy, adding a puppy to any family is like having another baby. You will be required to get up in the middle of the night to let her out to go to the bathroom, keep you eye on her all the time so she doesn’t chew up your house during teething and give multiple feedings throughout the day. It can be just like a full-time job raising a young puppy.

Another alternative if you want a “free” dog is look to purebred rescue or to retired breeding stock. Many purebreds end up in rescue groups, but they too may require a fee for adoption. Some breeders however would be willing to place an older retired brood bitch or stud dog with your family in exchange for a good home and loving care for the rest of their lives. 

Since you already have your own “litter” all under age 10, I would seriously recommend you wait until your youngest is at least five years old before you take the puppy plunge. If you must have a dog now, go with the older rescue dog either a mixed breed from a shelter or a purebred from a rescue group (breed groups can be found at www.akc.org). Getting a dog, hopefully, will be a 15-year commitment on your family’s part. Make sure all members are on board before you set sail on the dog ownership journey.

Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. Reach her at ask@lisa-peterson.com  or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470