Answer:
To put it quite simply, the Breed Standard for any breed of dog is representative of what the healthiest possible specimen of that breed should be. I don’t think any of us would intentionally go out of our way to bring an unhealthy dog into our home when a little reading and research can put you on the path to finding a healthy dog.

Question:
Why should I hassle with the expense and trouble of micro chipping my dog?

Answer:
Dogs can get out of a gate, or through a door when we least expect them to no matter how careful we think we are. Add to this that some breeds, like Bulldogs, are highly sought after by dog thieves. These thieves then turn around and sell your beloved companion to puppy mills and dog fighting rings. If your dog is recovered by law enforcement, or turned in to a shelter, vet’s office, or rescue group a micro chip is the only way you can positively identify the dog as belonging to you. Collars with tags can be lost or removed within a couple of seconds.

By Ryan Betz

So now you are searching for that special Bulldog puppy to add to your household. There are actually a lot of things to consider besides whether or not you want a Bulldog, or where to buy it from. Have you really taken the time to map out a list of all of the other things you should be thinking of? If not, now might be the best time to do just that. Here are some ideas;

1. Of course you should be considering if this breed is right for you. Do you want a couch potato dog that sometimes may drool, pass gas, and snore? Or are you looking for the athlete? Are you looking for the small dog that uses its voice a lot, or the big lumbering giant? A Bulldog is more active than given credit for, but they are certainly not the athlete a sight hound is, and love to lay on the couch. A Bulldog is not the kind of dog that is small and bouncy that likes to use its voice in a semi-constant or constant manner. No kidding, some people really do like that. Not my idea of what I would want in a dog, but hey, there is a breed of dog suitable to everyone. Although a Bulldog will sometimes lumber along, they certainly are not giants like their mastiff cousins. Just be sure that you are actually looking to get the breed that really does fit you and your lifestyle best. Not the first puppy you see that you think is adorable. All puppies are adorable, even breeds I do not like as mature dogs. Which also brings up another point; don’t fall in love with the puppy if you do not love the dog. Don’t buy a dog or breed of dog as a status symbol either. That is just so wrong in so many ways.

2. Choosing where you buy a dog from is just as important as any other decision when it comes to buying a dog. This can not be stressed enough. Please stay away from the puppy mills, back yard breeders, and pet stores. You are almost always just purchasing heartache when you do buy from them. Please research, research, and do more research. The honest, ethical, and reputable breeders are out there folks, and worth every bit of the effort to find.

3. Do you really have room in your life for a dog right now, AND in the foreseeable future? So many people impulse buy dogs they do not have the room in their lives for, and the dogs eventually end up in shelters or rescue organizations. So many good dogs go unwanted, neglected, and abused. It really makes me sick to think about these poor creatures. For every rescue story with a happy ending there are hundreds, even thousands of unhappy endings. Do you honestly want your future lovable, cuddly puppy to become one of these unhappy endings? If not, and you are honest enough with yourself to realize you do not have room in your life right now for a dog, please wait until you do. Keep a puppy from becoming an unhappy ending. Please?

4. Have you taken the time to learn all about the type of actual care required to provide an outstanding home for one of these dogs? I don’t mean just enough care to keep a dog alive either. I mean the happy, loving, thriving kind of care each and every dog truly does deserve. Proper diet, adequate exercise, proper vaccinations and de-worming, breed specific qualified veterinarians, environment, training, grooming, socialization (more on this later), and love. Yes, dogs need love in order to maintain health.

5. Ok, dog socialization. This is a biggy, and a very specific pet peeve of mine. I talk about socialization in all of our various education material. I talk about socialization in person when I interview potential buyers, I talk about socialization in stories I have written about our kids growing up with our dogs. One whole story is dedicated to just that topic. I talk about socialization in our actual sales contracts. Still I get people all of the time that do not think it is necessary to socialize a dog with other dogs, kids, or people in general. Guess what, if you think that, then I happen to think you do not need to be getting a puppy from me.

Ok…….as you may be able to tell, that one has a tendency to get me a bit fired up.

Please make sure you have the resources available to you to properly socialize a dog. Its ridiculous that the various breeds, and the breeders who love the breeds, be punished in broad strokes because of other people’s problem dogs.

“But I am getting a retired show dog from a breeder. It should already be very well socialized and I do not have to worry about it.”……..No, no, no. Not always the case. A retired show dog can sometimes be the worst type of dog around other breeds, or even dogs of the same breed that are strangers to it.. Show dogs are usually just trained to tolerate other dogs being near them without interacting with the other dogs, and especially the male dogs. Think of a male show dog in the breed ring, who has also been used as a stud dog. Think of the females being shown that are in their heat cycle while at the show. The dog handler will usually keep the male separated from all actual contact with other dogs. This can be a frustrating time for this male show dog that wants to take care of the business mother nature is telling him to, AND he has a bunch of competing males in the vicinity with the same things on their minds.

Now think of the female who is actually in heat and being shown. Surrounded by a bunch of competitive males with two things on their minds. Killing the competition, and breeding the female. Its like a supermodel being thrown on a desert island with two hundred or so convicted felony rapists. Don’t you think the female may be feeling a little insecure? For some females this can become a natural reaction to any dog coming near them, whether at a show or not. Same goes for the males.

Ok, so maybe I am overstating it a bit, but I am trying to make a point. Dog shows are not dog socialization. Instead dog shows are a real life exercise in dog management, and that is not overstating it. One thing that really gets under my skin is people who are showing their pets just for fun (and that is just fine by me as long as the pet is actually representative of the breed and of decent quality according to the Breed Standard), and think that it is okay to let their male dog (who doesn’t have any idea what it means to breed) come up and socialize with my stud dog that I am showing. Not a good scenario, and I do not want to get kicked out of the show because of a dog fight, thank you very much. I also do not want my dog injured in a fight, or be sued because my dog tore the other one to pieces. I also do not want my dog so worked up that he isn’t paying attention to me when I am showing him in the ring. These are some of the reasons that dogs that are not entered in the dog show are not allowed to even be on the premises. These are some of the reasons that if you are new to the sport of dog showing you really need to get a mentor that will show you the ropes and proper dog show etiquette, and in a nice way instead of other show people chewing you out for making mistakes in these areas.

If you are getting a retired show dog, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but be prepared to properly address any socialization issues that may pre-exist with the dog. Plan ahead for such problems. Most all dogs can be retrained if handled properly. Also do not let the breeder charge you the same full price you would pay for a puppy when getting a retired dog. This shows dishonesty. Don’t expect to be given the dog for free either though.

6. You have decided you want to buy a pet, and only pay “pet” price for a dog and
still be allowed to breed the dog. What makes you so special to think you can get away with this from a breeder in the first place? Have you considered the fact that the breeder has put a great deal of effort into breeding his/ her dogs and does not want the bloodline seized by somebody that was not upfront with him/ her when buying the dog? This is why our show contracts for breeding stock animals have become much stiffer than it was when we started out. The price for the actual dog is one thing, and breeding rights to the bloodline are another. Yes, it is possible to get a breeding animal from us, if you play ball by our rules. Too many puppy mills and backyard breeders have tried to get the bloodline we are developing, so we made things a little more difficult to persuade such people to stay away from our dogs. Plus, all pets purchased from us come with a very specific spay/ neuter contract and limited registration, with specific penalties if the contract is broken. We are not against getting somebody new started in the sport and breeding, but because of puppy mills and backyard breeders we are very careful in who we will sell one of our dogs to. We have a lot of time, blood, sweat, tears, and money invested in our dogs and breeding program. Too much to see them end up in a puppy mill or such. Some breeders are still fooled by people and have lax contracts, or none at all. That is the breeder’s fault in my opinion. A lot of people have tried this with us, but so far we have not been fooled (knock on wood). If you seriously want to become a reputable breeder, be totally upfront with your breeder of choice about it, and get educated as to how to do things right. That is how we got our start in the first place.

7. So you think maybe you want to get a show dog and try your hand at the dog shows. Have you taken the time to find a mentor to show you the ropes like I mentioned above, and for various other reasons? Have you taken the time to find a dog of halfway decent quality? Have you taken the time to study the Breed Standard to be able to understand what quality is? (and that also pertains to pet buyers for reasons of health of the dog you are looking to buy!!!!!) Have you planned ahead to devoting time to do training classes for the dog and figured out where to get those training classes? Starting out in showing dogs brings up a lot more issues to be considered than the pet buyer is concerned with. My best advice is for you to get a mentor in the sport. This is often the breeder, but not always. If you seriously want to start showing dogs, please don’t show up with a pet store dog and think you have a show dog. Please take the time to find a decent dog from a good breeder, and come to the shows prepared by a mentor. Introduce yourself to the other competitors, ask questions, and listen to their advice. Most show people will welcome you with open arms. Those that don’t are not usually the type of people you want to be tied to anyways. Yes, some show people can seem very snobbish, and some even are. But remember that show people are a cross section of the same people you meet anywhere else in society, they just have the love of dogs and the sport in common. Try not to stereotype show people until you get to know them in person. In the dog show industry the first impression is usually the wrong impression.

8. This is a hot topic these days; You are considering the purchase of a wonderfully
bred import dog. Really? Should we all be impressed? Usually, almost always, we
will not be, and for very good reasons. Most all imports are from very nefarious
origins. Most of these imports look more like some kind of Boxer/ Bulldog
crossbreed, if they look anything like a Bulldog at all. These dogs are usually
shipped in from foreign soil and immediately sold, causing a great deal of stress
and illness for the dog. These dogs are usually unvaccinated, or not properly
vaccinated to be living in the United States. These dogs are usually not able to be
registered with the AKC, and offspring can not be registered until the fourth
generation or so that has been born in the United States.

Now a dog, from say England, of proven and carefully bred bloodlines
purchased from a well known and respected breeder is another story. Do you
have any idea of how much money one of these dogs will cost you though? We
are not talking pocket change here. Now maybe we will think about being
impressed, but will hold judgment until we see the dog with our own eyes.

So what does all of this mean? To put all of this in one short sentence; Plan ahead, and go into getting your dog with your eyes wide open…………………

There are always more things one can think of when considering a new dog, but this should give you a great start. Good luck to you in your adventures!

1. Keep a small doggie first aid kit in your vehicle with things such as bandages, eye wash, ear cleaner, and doggie aspirin for a basic start.
   
2. Always pack a small cooler of ice cubes, container of drinking water for the dog, and a water bowl.
   
3. Take along some dog food, even if it is just a quick day trip.
   
4. Of course things such as a leash and doggie waste bags are always mandatory. It is surprising how many people let their dogs run off leash in a strange environment and NEVER pick up after their dogs once they have relieved themselves.
   
5. The best and safest way to transport a dog in a vehicle is to put the dog in a crate. Be sure the dog has plenty of ventilation. You never want to stack luggage around a dog crate and cut off the dog’s air supply. Fix the crate in a way that it doesn’t slide and bang around while you are driving. If the sun is beating in the windows of the vehicle, have a way (such as a light cotton bed sheet) to block the direct sunlight off of the dog. The sun beating down through the window is like sitting in an oven. Park in the shade whenever possible when you stop anywhere.
   
6. Always do the best you can to have the dog sitting directly in the path of an air conditioning vent.
   
7. If your dog gets overheated you can use lemon juice to quickly cut the phlegm build up in the dog’s mouth, helping them to breath easier and cool down faster. You can use 100% lemon juice or cut it with water. We like to put it in a small spray bottle so we can easily squirt the lemon juice into the dog’s mouth. Having a towel or such that you can soak in cold water to have the dog lie on is always a good idea.
   
8. Be sure to stop on a road trip every couple of hours to give the dog a chance to relieve itself. Be mindful not to walk the dog in broken glass or a sticker patch. Always check your dog’s feet for punctures before putting it back in the vehicle.
   
9. Air fresheners are usually a good idea. Especially when traveling with a young dog that is not yet used to it. A long trip gets even longer if the dog gets nervous and passes a lot of gas while driving when you forgot the air freshener.
   
10. Try not to feed the dog junk food whenever you pick up snacks at a drive thru or truck stop. This will quickly give the dog irritable bowel syndrome and make it a miserable trip for everyone. Plan ahead and take along a bag or box of premium dog food biscuits. This will also help keep the dog content. A favorite dog toy helps too.
    
11. Never leave the dog in an enclosed vehicle for any time at all. ALWAYS make sure the dog gets plenty of fresh air and stays cool. No matter how many times people are reminded, somebody always does not listen. These are the people that cook their dogs to death in a car.
    
12. Always remember to be mindful of where your dog is. Be careful not to let your dog jump out of the vehicle when you are opening the door, and always lock your vehicle when you are away from it. Many people who normally are extremely careful of pet security at home lose their dogs on road trips because of one moment of lapse.
    

1. Take a dog crate with you to set up in the hotel room to keep your dog in. Too many people leave their dogs loose and unattended in hotel rooms.
   
2. Take a sheet of plastic or tarp to put under the crate so any spillage of water or food is on this surface, and not on the carpet.
   
3. Do not wash your dog in the bathtub and clog the drains. When the drains get clogged with dog hair the staff gets very unhappy, and very quickly.
   
4. Don’t let your dog bark all of the time and disturb other guests. Leave the television on, and volume low, to keep your dog company when you are not in the room. I can’t remember the exact number of times I have stayed in a hotel and have been kept awake all night long by somebody else’s dog barking nonstop, but it is a lot.
   
5. Take along your own kitchen sized trash bags, or larger, for the inevitable extra garbage you will acquire from dog food cans and such.
   
6. Keep your dog off of the hotel furniture, and don’t allow your dog to chew on the furniture.
   
7. Always, always, always clean up after your dog when you take it out to relieve itself.
   Nobody, not even other dog people, want to step in your dog’s feces! Hotel staff also gets extremely irritated if they have to go around cleaning up after your dog. Small plastic waste bags are not expensive people. Keep some in your car, and keep some in your dog’s travel gear. Then use them, it’s that simple. If you are the type of person that hates to pick up after your own dog, then you probably should not have a dog.
   
8. If you really want to get along with the hotel staff you can go as far as bringing your own air freshener and small portable vacuum. I know of several other dog people that do this besides ourselves.

So treat the hotel staff with courtesy and respect the hotel property and dog people will be welcome again. Unfortunately it only takes one or two bad apples for all of us to be blamed and no longer welcome. If you see another guest with a dog not pick up after their dog, tell them about it. We all need to work together.