By Alden & Jennifer Little
Tru-line Retrievers

Twinkling lights, hanging stockings, and dancing sugar plums…all these things help give our Christmas holidays a little magic. So much goes into making that one special day the best that it can be from the meals planned, the decorations displayed, and presents given. But if you are planning to purchase a puppy as a gift for someone this year, starting now with your preparations will definitely pay-off in the long run.

Use this checklist as a guideline to help you find the perfect puppy for you.

• Choose a breed that is suited for your lifestyle as well as the living space available.

• Know your breed of choice. For example, research the genetics and health needs of a particular dog. Do they shed excessively? Will they require frequent grooming? Do they tend to need more vet attention than others?

• Make sure you are budgeted for the extra costs of having a family pet like check-ups, vaccines, grooming, etc.

• Look for reputable breeders through internet listings, vet referrals, and word-of-mouth from other happy owners.

• If using the classifieds, talk to as many of the sellers as you can. Prepare yourself with a list of questions to ask each seller writing down their perspective answers as you go. This will give you something to refer to when narrowing down the list of dogs to inspect.

• When visiting the sellers, pay close attention to cleanliness. Don’t worry about normal puppy messes that occur almost constantly. Be aware of offensive odors or filthy pups. It’s an easy way to determine if the proper care is being given. Furthermore, uncleanliness can lead to disease and disorders.

• Ask to see registration papers and pedigrees on the adult breeding pair.

• Ask about general health guarantee. Usually these guarantees protect you from genetic problems that are prone to the breed. Remember, it is your responsibility to take you pup to a vet within the first couple of days of ownership. In some cases, failure to do so will void your health guarantee altogether.

• If at any time during your pup’s young life, you notice anything that seems unusual or something that could be a genetic fault, consult a vet as soon as possible. If a problem is verified by your vet, and it is something discussed in your health guarantee, notify the seller immediately so that an amicable agreement can be settled upon. Waiting several weeks or months down the road, once you have accumulated a pocket full of vet bills is not the time. It will be much harder to prove your case once significant time has passed without any prior notification of the problem and its incurred costs.

• Prepare your home and/or yard for a new dog. Purchase the necessary kennels and fencing to provide your dog with a safe and healthy environment.

• Don’t give in to high pressure sales. Allow yourself time to think things through before plunking down a lot of money.

• Trust your gut instinct. If it feels right, go with it. If you have doubts, just keep looking.

If we at Tru-Line Retrievers can ever be of any assistance to you in the form of referrals, training, or boarding, please call us at (334) 366-4732 or contact us at Heel2Line@aol.com.
From our family to yours, have a safe and joyous holiday season.