Dear How Much: As with most consumer products the old adage "You get what you pay for" doesn't always apply to purebred dogs. Your question shouldn't be how much will I pay, but where can I find a good breeder who will sell me an American Ken
Dear How Much: As with most consumer products the old adage âYou get what you pay forâ doesnât always apply to purebred dogs. Your question shouldnât be how much will I pay, but where can I find a good breeder who will sell me an American Kennel Club-registered quality puppy?
In general, there are three types of dog breeders. First and foremost there is the dedicated breeder who breeds for the betterment of their breed and has little concern for profit. These breeders do all the necessary health checks, stand behind their puppies for life and should be available 24/7 to help you out.
Next, you have the backyard breeder, which typically is a family with a purebred pet who decides to breed it either for the novelty or the money. These so-called âbreedersâ and usually get out of the breeding âbusinessâ after one litter because they didnât realize how much time and money having a litter of puppies really requires. They do not have the background to help you out if something goes wrong.
The last type of âbreederâ is the large for-profit-only kennels where quantity is paramount over quality. These fall into two sub-categories, those with large wholesale operations that sell to pet stores and those who have large backyard breeding businesses which market to both retail outlets and the public.
As for prices, for example, you might spend $1,000 at a pet store with no knowledge of the parents of the puppy, what health screenings were done and what, if any, early socialization your puppy received. If you go to a reputable breeder, they may charge $800 or $1,200. Some breeders sell for less to get people away from pet stores while others price their dogs higher because they offer more âvalue addedâ and health guarantees. If you want a quality Bichon puppy visit the Bichon Frise Club of America website at www.bichon.org/bfca.htm for information about a reputable breeder in your area. This is your best bet regardless of price!
Dear Lisa: My 13-year-old male English Cocker Spaniel has just been diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer. Iâm debating whether to put him through chemotherapy or not. Realistically, how long would he live if I did the treatment? â Quality of Long Life
Dear Quality: I get asked this question a lot since Lymphoma is one of the most common forms of cancer in dogs and it usually shows up without warning. Statistically, 50 percent of all dogs over the age of 10 will die of cancer. The average life expectancy of an untreated Lymphoma dog is two months so if you decide to go ahead with treatment it should begin as soon as possible. Lymphoma can be a very treatable cancer using chemotherapy but as time goes on it can consume large resources of time and money.
If you decide on chemotherapy you must find oncologists whom have the latest methods to treat this disease. Be prepared to have your dog tested for how advanced the cancer is and then making numerous trips to the hospital for treatments over several weeks or months. While 90 percent of dogs donât have the same adverse reactions to chemo that humans experience, if your dog falls into the 10 percent that does, be prepared for more vet visits to treat the side effects.
While nearly 75 percent of dogs experience remission of the cancer, there is no definitive lab test to confirm this and the cancer may return. Then the treatment begins all over again. The older the dog and more aggressive the cancer the more difficult it is to treat. On average, you may extend life from six months to one year in an older dog.
It is one of the most difficult decisions to make for a lifelong friend. Any time you engage treatment for cancer it is an uphill battle. There are no easy answers. My own 14½-year-old Norwegian Elkhound bitch succumbed to the disease a few years ago. I opted for no treatment and within 21 days I had her put to sleep before she went further downhill at a rapid pace and suffered. She was old and had lived a full life and I wanted to remember her just like that, full of life!
Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. Send questions to elvemel@aol.com or P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.