Wanting a puppy

• It is important for you and the puppy that you choose right, especially the right breed and the right breeder. Any puppy should be part of your home for the next 10-15+ years, so always think your decision thoroughly through. 

 

 

• There are a couple of different ways to find breeders of your chosen breed; The Kennel club site with their find a puppy service and their assured breeder list, the 'Champdogs' website that also keep breeder information, contacting the breed clubs, Google can be used to search for breeders and one of the best ways is to attend a breed show.
  Even when finding a breeder via these it is still best to do your research on them. There are four Samoyed breed clubs and they each have at least two shows a year, so hopefully plenty of opportunity for you to meet some beautiful Samoyeds and their breeders.

 

 

• Before for completely dismissing the idea of getting a puppy from a show breeder either because you think you don't want a show dog, so don't need a show breeder or because they as they are show breeders their dogs will be very expensive, this is not always that case.
  The thing to understand about show dogs is that they are bred to the standard of that breed; the look, the temperament and should be up to date on the health tests needed for that breed (health tests are very different to vet checks). Breeders like this try to keep the breed true to a Samoyed, I am not saying that there are the best breeders, just don't dismiss someone that also shows.

 

 

• There are benefits to getting a Kennel Club (KC) registered puppy. In the UK there is only one KC registration and any other registration is not the same thing, i.e. pets lovers registered. This is not the same as the KC, with something like pet lovers, the pedigree is not official or checked, the owner can register the dog as anything with no proof or knowledge that it is 100% that breed, I could If I wanted register one of my dogs as a Pomeranian as there is no need for any proof, whereas I have the proof with the KC that they are Samoyeds and can trace their pedigrees back. So be weary that there are these types out there, also that the KC have an activity register, this is used to enter your dogs at KC agility type events when you have no pedigree on your dog, this is different from normal KC registration as any dog can be registered, again there is no official pedigree paperwork to back this registration. If both of the parents are KC registered but the puppy's aren't there is a good reason and you should be weary as there are few reason the KC won't let puppies be registered, these are all to protect the mother and the breeding of her. To the side are some photos of the registration paperwork that you should leave with, these are what you would use to register the puppy with, these are official KC papers, and beware of counterfeits.  

 

• Purchasing your puppy from a reliable breeder is better for you and your puppy. By choosing a reliable breeder, the pup's parents should be health tested, with Samoyed there are two basic tests that they should be done; their hips scored and their eyes checked. If the breeder hasn't done these tests you should ask them why, these two tests are to check that your pups parents are free from any hereditary eye diseases and that there is a lesser chance of your puppy having hereditary hip dysplasia. The score for both parents should be low, on the right are two photos of what hip score and eye test paperwork should look like, there might be a slight variation in these but it will have the name of the dog at the top, so it is unique. You should be able to get copies of these from the breeder if you ask.

 

 

• Your breeder should give you a couple of different sheets of paper to take home with you, feeding advice, grooming advice, all good breeders should be at the of the phone or email for you to answer any questions or problems you may have through out the life of your puppy. Your breeder should also be happy to give you copies of any relevant paperwork from the parents and try to check that they are official.
  
   

         

• When it comes to meeting breeders, do expect them to ask you lots of questions. They will want to know what sort of family and home their puppy is going to live with, they will ask you as many questions as you will ask them; what time you can offer, what your house and garden are like, who will be living with the puppy, what your plans and dreams for the puppy are, they may want to meet everyone who will live with the puppy, this is all normal. They may come across a little harsh when asking these questions and may even ask some questions you might not think are right or are too personal, but its because they want their puppies to go to forever homes and both of you and the puppy to be the right match. You may have your own questions and a good breeder should be happy to answer them as best as they can. Try to write a list before you visit, but don't worry if many things will come to you on the visit and after. A good breeder will be happy for you to call after and ask.

 

 

• You should never choose your puppy on price, remember you are wanting to spend the next 15 years with this puppy, so choosing a cheaper puppy could lead to the heart break of a shorter life span or many vet bills. If the puppy is going to cost more than you thought, don't worry as most breeders have a waiting list so there will be a wait for the puppy any way, giving you a chance to save the rest of the money and if required, pay a deposit to show your serious about getting a puppy.

 

 

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  There are many expenses when it comes to breeding; the food cost for mum and pup are triple at least, the stud fees, medical costs as mum and pup will have to visit the vets before going home to you, the health tests and many more things. Most breeders don't make any money from their litters, but if there is a chance that they make some money from the litter it normally goes straight back in to future breeding plans and the care of the dogs.

 

 

 

• When it comes choosing your breeder and you really will choose a breeder as well as a breed. Each breeder has a different ethos and reason for breeding meaning they will turn out different puppies, some breed to a more working type, others its all about the coat etc. Each breeder has a different idea that they breed their puppies too and your ideas need to line up with that, once you have found the breeder for you be prepared to wait for a puppy as there is not a magic cupboard with puppies all ready and waiting for you. Puppies are NOT for Christmas or birthdays, they don't come ready for a specific time and you might have to wait a year or more, but it will be well worth the wait. 

 

• Never, ever buy a puppy because you think you are 'saving' it, your not and will just give the breeder an excuse to breed more, if you have any concerns over the welfare of a puppy or it's parents, call your local authority or rescue charity.       

 

 

• When visiting the puppies in their home, they should be clean and happy, outgoing and happy to be handled and to greet you. Mum should be with her pups, she may be slightly defensive over her pups but should still be happy to great you, she should look clean, but she might be coming out of coat, which is fine. Samoyed mums really drop their coat at around 8 weeks after their puppies are born and they do get really naked. If it is possible to see the sire of the puppies, then that is good and he should be clean and well feed and happy to greet you. Not all breeders will have the sire in the house, so you might not be able meet him, but they should have lots of photos for you to see or be able to direct you on were to see photos of him, they should have copy's of his health tests and be able to tell you all about him and why they picked him (if the breeder is only using studs they own on all their bitches/litters they could be cutting corners as not every boy is right for every girl). 

 

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  When it comes to choosing your puppy a good breeder will help to guide you to which puppy is best for you from what you have told them, if you have expressed the desire to have an outgoing puppy then it would be wrong if you picked and got the soft gentle temperament puppy and visa versa, the breeder will know the temperaments of the puppies best and will help pair you, the perfect match will lead to a better life for you both. Don’t rush out to buy a puppy, see them, talk it over with the family, the breeder will want it that way.

 

 

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• Don’t purchase a pet quality bitch with intentions of breeding her later. She was sold as a pet for a valid reason. As most pet homes wont want to breed, they are sold pet quality dogs because they won be bred on. Breeders will only want to see the best from each litter bred, to produce the highest quality puppies further down the line.

 

 

A few tips for when you bring puppy home:

 

• Ask what food the puppy receives and get a supply when you get the puppy or before the pup comes home, so he/she will not have a change of food.

 

 

• Keep your home as quiet as possible the first week of your puppy’s arrival. Your home and family are enough adjustments and company should be asked to wait. Allow him/her plenty of time to sleep. Don’t allow the children to play with him/her unless HE/SHE COMES TO THEM, he/she is a baby and may be too tired.

 

• See that he/she is fed on time, make out a feeding schedule. He/She will housebreak faster and be healthier with this care. Don’t ask a child to take over this responsibility, this is your responsibility, not theirs.

 

• If you are not more than willing to accept this puppy for his/her faults as well as his/her virtues, to keep him/her until death, leave him/her at the kennel. Someone worthy of him/her will soon pass by and he/she will have the home he/she was bred and raised for. He/She becomes devoted to his family, he/she does not adjust well passed from owner to owner and will long for you for years once he/she has become attached. Be certain that you will forever be worthy to be called his/her family.