Page 11 - EAKC 26th Newsletter MAY

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26 ISSUE; EAST AFRICA KENNEL CLUB NEWSLETTER, APRIL 2018 8
myself hate the idea of this. But, and this is a big but, may even end up being a cross breed, due to lack
what I hate more is when an owner is in tears after of vigilance on the breeders side. This is not an
their new purchase from the pet shop dies at the unusual occurrence; it is one I come across on a
vet due to distemper or some other, almost totally regular basis. A miniature ends up being anything
preventable disease, or I am called in to deal with but a miniature; a so-called pure bred GSD can
hereditary reactive/fear behaviour and the like. end up looking like a cross between a GSD and
Pups purchased from anywhere other than a another breed etc. As the owner has already fallen
reputable breeder, such as the above and those in love with their purchase, nothing further is done
practising irresponsible breeding, very often about it although, unlike a reputable breeder who
have diseases – both infectious and hereditary would replace the dog, the irresponsible breeder is
so not only is the life of the pup at risk, you are unlikely to even offer this.
putting the rest of your canine family at risk and
opening yourself to both heartbreak and possible What about the pups, often in bad condition and
unnecessary financial outlay to your vet. as I have personally seen, with a wire around their
necks as a collar (for show!) found being sold on
A further factor to take into consideration is that the side of the road by unscrupulous people? Yes,
dogs purchased from places other than reputable you may be saving one of these pups from going to
breeders are often kept together in cages. A dog a Shelter, but, on the other hand all you are doing
is a naturally clean animal and will not eliminate is causing this situation to happen again, and again
where it sleeps – unfortunately there is seldom a and again – drive past! Unfortunately, with the
separate toilet areas supplied for these pups, which current constitution, selling pups in this manner is
often leads to difficulty in toilet training. not even illegal!

Another point to consider is that pups purchased Statistics of Dogs and Cats Euthanized by
from irresponsible breeders are normally taken Shelter
away from their mother at about 5-6 weeks of age I have been unable to access statistics for the
(I have worked with pup that were sold as 7 weeks amount of animals that are euthanized in Rescue
of age and the vet has said more in the region of 4 Centres in South Africa, but as of Dec 2010,
weeks!). This is one of the most critical periods of a the HSUS (Humane Society of United States)
pup’s life. It is the time of critical social development estimates that animal shelters care for 6-8 million
– pup learns about itself, develops its relationship dogs and cats annually in the United States, of
with the other pups, learns how to play and bite whom approximately 3-4 million are euthanized.
inhibition. This is the age that the mother will start As terrible as this is and as powerless you may feel
to discipline and teach her pups basic manners. So to help put an end to so many unnecessary deaths,
many of the dogs I work with that have behaviour by buying your pup from a reputable breeder,
problems, especially fear and reactive behaviour, you will be helping to lower these figures. All you
have been purchased from places supplied by have to do is your homework before getting a pup,
irresponsible breeders. The period from 8 – 16 socializing your pup etc, buy your pup from a
weeks is one of the most important times in your reputable breeder, then you too can help to make
pup’s life, it is called ‘the window of opportunity’, a a difference and help to lower the unacceptable
time when your pup can meet and assimilate new numbers of dogs being euthanized.
experiences into its life with little trouble. After
the 16 weeks (approximate, dependant on breed), Pure Bred Dogs
the ‘curtain comes down’ and socializing and new There are two types of people breeding pure breeds
experiences become more difficult to accept. – those breeders wherein their particular breed is
their passion and they breed for the improvement
An additional concern to take into account is of the breed, and the other – those doing it to
that pups not purchased from reputable breeders
HOW TO CHOOSE A REPUTABLE BREEDER