Final week, I posted an replace about getting a 3rd Dachshund on Facebook.
Some individuals voiced their disappointment that I get a pet from a breeder this time round versus rescuing.
I perceive the controversy round breeder vs rescue very nicely, so I used to be not stunned.
In fact, at the very least one particular person tried to disgrace me and implied that I’m killing a shelter canine if I don’t undertake.
It’s a indisputable fact that there are canines in shelters which are being euthanized.
Nonetheless, there are such a lot of causes that canines die in shelters, the least of which is somebody shopping for a pet from a accountable breeder.
The underside line is, no, I’m not dooming a shelter dog because I am buying a puppy.
7 Causes Why Getting a Pet from a Breeder is the Proper Alternative for Me
I’m very assured in my choice to purchase a pet from a accountable breeder and don’t suppose I must make excuses.
Within the curiosity of transparency, I’ll share a bit about why I made this choice although.
Simply consider: I’m not placing this on the market as a result of I’m enthusiastic about arguing about or debating my alternative.
It’s not a call I arrived at frivolously.
1) To probably cut back the danger of again harm
Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD), the first reason for disk ruptures in Dachshunds, is a genetic illness.
It’s mentioned to be “fastened” for the Dachshund breed, that means that the majority Dachshunds have at the very least 1 copy of the gene that causes it.
Nonetheless, another international locations are method forward of the US relating to lowering the danger of disk ruptures inside the breed.
In international locations like Denmark and Finland, breeders usually back screen the spines of the potential Mother and Dad and solely breed collectively a pair with decrease threat.
Whereas nobody believes that is an absolute assure in opposition to again accidents, when carried out for generations in a breeding program, it can cut back the danger of a Dachshund changing into paralyzed or needing costly surgical procedure later in life.
Due to our energetic way of life, it’s essential to scale back the potential for IVDD as a lot as attainable.
2) I at present have the time and am 100% devoted to elevating a pet proper
Elevating a pet is difficult work. Like actually exhausting.
Like so exhausting I requested myself if I ever wished to do it once more throughout these first 6 months with my final pet (which was my first puppy-raising expertise).
The puppy blues are actual!
Do you know that puppies want nearly 24-7 consideration and supervision for the primary 2-3 weeks minimal?
That is essential to supply emotional consolation in order that conduct points might be prevented sooner or later.
It’s additionally essential to make sure correct potty breaks and coaching from the start.
With a standard 9-5 job, meaning one might want to save up all their paid trip for a 12 months and spend it at residence with their new pet.
A partner could even must do the identical and take their two-week trip after your two weeks is up.
As we speak, I work at home working my very own enterprise, so I’ve the last word flexibility to have the ability to deal with a pet’s care, wellbeing, and elevating.
Normally, the well being and care of my Dachshunds is my main goal in life, however proper now I’ve the time to 100% dedicate myself to elevating a wholesome, calm, well-adjusted Dachshund pet.
My state of affairs could change sooner or later, and I’ve no plans to strive elevating a pet whereas punching the clock full-time for another person, so now could be the time to do it for me.
3) To enhance my Dachshund coaching expertise (so sometime I can grow to be a coach)
It’s no secret that I barely educated my first Dachshund. He was so pleased and “chill” that I didn’t must.
Then I adopted Gretel, who was such an anxious mess she was on Prozac. Her reactivity was excessive.
I needed to be taught rather a lot about serving to a really reactive canine by administration, confidence constructing, and desensitization coaching.
Making her really feel extra snug when out on the planet so we may journey was my #1 purpose so I wasn’t capable of put effort into stuff like obedience and tips.
Then I bought my first Dachshund pet – Summit – and I used to be positive I used to be going to be the very best coach and have the very best educated Dachshund.
However then it bought exhausting, complicated, and irritating.
I needed to cut back my imaginative and prescient of how nicely she can be educated, how briskly I used to be going to coach her, and my thought of perfection.
However I realized rather a lot about canine coaching. I used to be lastly capable of put all I had realized about canine conduct and physique language to work.
Someplace through the first 5 years together with her, whereas I repeatedly exclaimed issues like, “I’m not a canine coach” or “I’m not enthusiastic about canine coaching”, I grew to become actually enthusiastic about canine coaching.
It’s humorous how that works.
As we speak, I entertain the considered someday changing into a Dachshund coach so I might help different individuals stay simpler lives with their Dachshunds and so they’re much less more likely to be rehomed.
However I’m nonetheless very a lot a newbie.
I’m able to educating a canine primary expertise and serving to to form their future conduct from a “clean slate” pet stage.
I feel these expertise are a fantastic basis for any canine coach and beginning with “much less of a problem” will assist construct my confidence.
I need one other spherical of “what I did with my final pet however higher” earlier than I transfer onto making an attempt to alter the conduct of older canines, particularly ones with vital behavioral points.
Whereas it’s true {that a} new-to-you older canine will want some coaching, that coaching is normally focused and targeted on “fixing” the issues that aren’t already the best way you need or want them to be.
Elevating a pet is the “massive image” of coaching since you are required to coach all of the issues.
4) Total well being is tied to genetics
This was a minor consider my choice however nonetheless one price mentioning.
Whereas I acknowledge that any canine can have vital well being points regardless of the place they arrive from – rescue, yard breeder, respected breeder, and so forth. – it’s a reality {that a} Dachshund with “good genes” is much less more likely to expertise sure well being points.
For instance, a major consider a Dachshund’s dental well being is genetics.
I’ve seen it and several other veterinarians have pointed it out to me over time.
Poorly bred canines might be plagued with dental issues all through their lives regardless of the very best oral hygiene routine.
Conversely, a Dachshund that receives little or no dental care over their lifetime could expertise low plaque buildup or a low incidence of tooth points.
Many cancers are additionally linked to genetics.
Getting a Dachshund from a breeder that is aware of the well being and historical past of their breeding strains might help cut back the potential for expensive – each emotionally and financially – genetic diseases and illnesses.
5) Prices are extra predictable with a pet
I need to name out medical prices individually from the above again points and genetic diseases.
The reason being that I’ve to contemplate there’s a senior canine coming into her “geriactric” stage of life in my residence.
My senior Dachshund, Gretel, has actually began displaying her age this previous 12 months. It’s clear to me that her medical prices will seemingly begin growing.
As well as, I’ve to contemplate my second Dachshund, Summit.
Whereas she is usually very wholesome, she is simply now coming into the “window” when she is extra more likely to endure an IVDD-related again harm.
Remedy for again points can price $3,000-$12,000, relying on what kind of therapy is required and for the way lengthy.
Dachshund back surgery is sort of definitely within the $10,000 vary.
I do know it’s not a assure, however getting a younger, well-bred Dachshund from a high-quality breeder could reduce any “shock” medical prices for at the very least the primary few years.
I’m not saying puppies are low cost to purchase or increase – they’re most definitely not – however the incurred prices are sometimes predictable, probably leaving extra funds obtainable for Gretel’s pressing wants or Summit if she is identified with IVDD.
6) The chance to form an journey canine
We stay a really energetic way of life, which includes quite a lot of journey and going out in public.
Every time I get a brand new canine, I fear that they received’t match into our journey way of life.
Though all canines are born with an inherent persona, they usually can develop behavioral points early on with their siblings and oldsters, it’s much less seemingly.
It’s a lot simpler to appropriate any conduct points when they’re younger earlier than it’s an ingrained behavior.
It’s essential for me to have a predictable canine that I’ve personally formed to suit our way of life by coaching and routine in order that I can take her out into public with out stress or threat to others.
7) A neater senior canine to pet introduction
Whereas my Dachshunds are used to a rotating forged of home mates attributable to my canine sitting aspect gig, they sometimes aren’t that into them.
Gretel is never enthusiastic about enjoying or partaking with them – even the younger ones.
I on no account anticipate it to occur’ however you’ve most likely all heard somebody say, “My senior canine grew to become playful once more after bringing a pet residence”.
Whereas I don’t anticipate this to occur with Gretel, I admit I’m hopeful.
On the very least, whereas not the case on a regular basis, it’s usually simpler to combine a pet right into a family with an aged canine.
Canines inherently know that puppies don’t know their manners but, so if the pet oversteps boundaries, it’s much less more likely to upset or traumatize the older canine.
Who Is My Breeder of Alternative?
I’ve actually regarded everywhere in the world for a very good Dachshund breeder.
The accountable breeder that I shall be shopping for my pet from:
- Breeds with well being, construction, and temperament foremost in her thoughts vs stylish, unhealthy caricatures of the breed.
- Completely well being assessments all her potential mum or dad canines for defects of the backbone (IVDC, block vetebra, hemivertebra, transitional vertebra, spondylosis deformans), eyes (35+ defects), kneecap (patellar luxation), and coronary heart.
- Has examined 5 generations of Dachshunds for these diseases and issues
- Goes over the care of the pet with the brand new house owners and offers a PDF with detailed care data together with the urged vaccination schedule
- Has written a number of books on Dachshund genetics (Wienepedia collection) – one for IVDD and several other on the genetics of colours and patterns.
The half that’s most unusual, and which I’m most enthusiastic about, I is that again screening is a part of her breeding program.
Again screening is one thing primarily carried out in Finland and Denmark as a strategy to, hopefully, cut back the danger of IVDD disk ruptures over generations.
This breeder is spearheading a global examine on environmental components that will affect IVDD (dietary supplements, particularly, from what I perceive).
Whereas I’m not revealing the identify of this breeder right now as a result of it’s not an absolute certainty I’ll get a pet from her this 12 months, I’ll if and after we choose one.
Ultimate Ideas
My hope is that we are going to be welcoming a brand new bundle of pleasure residence by the tip of 2023.
Whereas I made the choice to purchase a pet from a good breeder at this second, I’ve adopted up to now and helped rescue animals.
- I’ve adopted two Dachshunds up to now.
- I’ve donated hours and hours my time and experience to assist rescues with their advertising.
- I’ve donated cash to rescues and nonprofits that assist Dachshunds.
- I’ve helped coach individuals in our Dachshund Membership which may be contemplating surrendering their canine to a rescue (so they’re extra more likely to maintain them) to assist with coaching, behavioral, and well being points.
- Via my weblog (over 100,000 individuals learn my weblog each month), I educate individuals contemplating getting a Dachshund in regards to the challenges of the breed and learn how to take care of them correctly. My hope in doing so is that fewer households will change their thoughts and give up the canine to a shelter/rescue.
- Rising up, my household adopted 5 completely different rescue canines and we owned 10 completely different rescue cats (a few of which we discovered half useless and rehabilitated).
So nobody can say that I haven’t carried out my half for rescue all through my life.
Shopping for a pet from a good breeder right now doesn’t negate what I’ve carried out up to now or imply that I received’t undertake a Dachshund sooner or later.
The truth is, I’m positive that I’ll.
