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Flat Coated Retriever
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Buying a Puppy
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Puppies need a lot of attention and must be constantly supervised.
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A puppy/dog is a responsibility 365 days a year. This includes vacations, holidays, etc.
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A dog is a long-term commitment (10 to 15 years on the average).
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A puppy should be a permanent part of your family.
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A puppy is not a toy, it is a living being. It is not something to be put in the backyard to be played with only when you feel like it.
Puppies and children are not always a good combinations. Bringing a dog into a family that has children should be done only after a lot of thought and planning. Small children should never be left unsupervised with a dog or puppy. Children are rough on animals and even the best children can be abusive by hitting the dog or teasing it. Do not buy a pet for a child until the child is old enough to understand how to care for the animal and be gentle with it. It is not fair to put an animal in a situation and then punish it for defending itself when it is being hurt.
A puppy is an expense. Like anything else, don't buy one if you can't afford to properly care for it (i.e. spay/neuter, vet care, quality food, training). If you do not feel you have the time for a puppy, consider adopting a rescue dog.
Do not buy a puppy for the following reasons:
- You saw the puppy in a pet store and felt sorry for it.
- Christmas present.
- You want your child to have a dog - puppies and children are so cute together.
- You saw one (on T.V., at the park, at your neighbors house) and you fell in love with it.
- Someone had a litter of puppies and you just had to take one home with you.
Flat Coated Retriever
Dog Rescue
Every year the RSPCA re-homes around 70,000 animals - many of these are dogs - often these dogs are unwanted pets that have been callously dumped or victims of cruelty. In many cases dog and puppies were removed from their homes and taken to RSPCA animal centres to be looked after until they were well enough to be re-homed. The Society is constantly amazed at the lack of love and respect some owners have for their dogs.
Finding an animal to re-home
Unfortunately, they are not currently able to give details of all the dogss in need of new homes online.
If you are interested in re-homing a dog or puppy, pay a visit to your local RSPCA animal centre - or you can view animals at RSPCA Block Fen or Gonsal Farm Animal Centres online.
At any one time, the RSPCA has hundreds of dogs and puppies across the UK looking for new homes.
Flat Coated Retriever
Dog Breed Books
Breed Rescue: How to Start and Run a Successful Breed Rescue Program
Explains
the business of forming and operating a dog breed rescue program.
Avoid legal problems, deal with the paperwork, train and manage volunteers, raise funds, and get valuable publicity by following Boneham's advice.
Sample forms, important contacts, guidelines for health, sanitation and more.
PUBLISHER’S COMMENTS A first of its kind! Now you have all the information you need to start a breed rescue program. Learn how to: get organized; find, train and manage volunteers; gain financial support; network with shelters and other rescue groups; find the dogs; screen dogs for medical problems; determine the dog’s temperament and behavior; place rescued dogs; and publicize your program. Plus, important contacts and addresses, and sample documents that will help your organization and keep you organized.