Here are some links for Boston Terrier rescues:The best thing to do is check out the above links and do a google search for shelters in your area. There are so many puppies and dogs of all breeds available to adopt.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Rescue a Boston
I thought it was really important to talk about Boston Terrier rescues on my blog. There are a lot of Boston Terrier rescue groups in Canada and the U.S. that have many up for adoption. There are many animal shelters that put down dogs everyday and they aren't putting them down because they are sick or injured. These dogs are being put down because they can't find a home for them and the shelters are full.
Here are some links for Boston Terrier rescues:
The best thing to do is check out the above links and do a google search for shelters in your area. There are so many puppies and dogs of all breeds available to adopt.
Here are some links for Boston Terrier rescues:The best thing to do is check out the above links and do a google search for shelters in your area. There are so many puppies and dogs of all breeds available to adopt.
Boston Terrier Links
Through my research I have found some excellent websites, forums, and books that really helped me choose the BT breed, prepare for a puppy, and receive support. I thought I'd share all the resources I've found. Even if you aren't looking at the Boston Terrier breed these resources can give you an idea of what could be out there on the Internet for other dog breeds and gives you a place to start your research.
Once my boyfriend and I were thinking about a Boston Terrier I wanted to make sure that this breed would fit in with our lifestyle so I purchased two books: Boston Terriers for Dummies and Boston Terrier: Your Happy Healthy Pet.
Once my boyfriend and I were thinking about a Boston Terrier I wanted to make sure that this breed would fit in with our lifestyle so I purchased two books: Boston Terriers for Dummies and Boston Terrier: Your Happy Healthy Pet.
These books were great!! I would definitely recommend the Boston Terriers for Dummies book. I found that I probably only needed to buy one book. I read the Dummies book first and then found it had basically everything I needed to know. This book includes information on the breed, history, personality of the BT, your compatibility with the breed, bringing home your puppy, supplies to purchase, toys, crate training, food, grooming, house training, socializing, body language, basic command training, travelling with your Boston, health and well-being, breed specific ailments, and first aid. I don't know what I would have done without this book! This is a MUST for anybody considering purchasing a puppy of any breed; there are Dummy books on a lot of different dog breeds.
Now here are some great websites to check out:
Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) - http://www.ckc.ca/en/
This website has information on dog breeds, how to find a responsible breeder, and there are even breeders listed in each Canadian province.
American Kennel Club (AKC) - http://www.akc.org/
This website is great!! Find out what the AKC is and does, look up breed information, find breeders in the United States, discover why dogs are registered, etc. There is a tab on the top of the website for future owners that contains information on buying a puppy, buyer bewares, and lots more.
Boston Terrier: Canada's Guide to Dogs - http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/boston.htm
This website has a lot of health information and contains many links to other websites.
Boston Terrier Forums & Discussion Groups:
Woof! A Boston Terrier Board - http://www.woofboard.com/forum/
This forum is the best one I have found online! I have asked questions I've had and many people offered me great advice. It is great to have a place where you can ask more experienced dog owners or Boston Terrier parents for advice. It is also a great place to find other Boston owners in your area. You can also do a search for a certain topic you would like information on and it will pull up all previous discussions on the topic.
Boston Terrier Forums - http://www.bostonterrierforums.com/forum/
This forum is also a good place to go for information. I find that people are not as active on this forum as on the Woof! Board. But it is definitely a good place to search posts to find what you are looking for.
Visits with Simon
On Monday I was able to visit Simon. It was such a great visit! I had just been to see him a week before that and it was amazing how much he has grown in a week. Last time I saw him he was still in the sleep, eat, and sleep puppy stage. All he wanted to do was sleep! He wasn't very playful and instead just wanted to curl up and go to sleep. On Monday he was wide awake and so playful! As soon as I entered the room he was jumping up wanting attention. It was great to see him so active. I was worried he might be a shy dog but his amazing personality is now coming out! My friend came and took some awesome pictures of him. I can't wait to bring him home. This wait is killing me! We bring him home in 2 and a half weeks. I'm really excited but at the same time I'm feeling anxious. I want everything to be perfect for him.
Here are the latest pictures of Simon. He is about 6 weeks old in these pictures.
Here are the latest pictures of Simon. He is about 6 weeks old in these pictures.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Pet shops, Puppy Mills & Backyard Breeders
When I started our puppy search I did a lot of research on how to pick a responsible breeder. Until I started this research I had no idea how hard it was to find a good breeder that was not just a backyard breeder trying to make as much money as possible with no regard for the health of their dogs.
I wanted to write about this on my blog because I have noticed through my research, message boards, and groups on facebook that puppy mills and backyard breeders are very common and many people unfortunately purchase puppies from these sources without knowing.
The following is a definition of puppy mills by the CKC:
The Canadian Kennel Club Policy Statement – Definition of a Puppy Mill
(Effective March 2002)
"The term “Puppy Mill” generally refers to a high-volume,
sub-standard dog-breeding operation, which sells purebred or mixed breed dogs,
directly or indirectly to unsuspecting buyers. Some of the characteristics
common to puppy mills are:
(a) Sub-standard health and/or environmental issues;
(b) Sub-standard animal care, treatment and/or socialization;
(c) Sub-standard breeding practices which lead to genetic defects or hereditary disorders;
(d) Erroneous or falsified certificates of registration, pedigrees and/or genetic background.
(a) Sub-standard health and/or environmental issues;
(b) Sub-standard animal care, treatment and/or socialization;
(c) Sub-standard breeding practices which lead to genetic defects or hereditary disorders;
(d) Erroneous or falsified certificates of registration, pedigrees and/or genetic background.
Note: These conditions may also exist in small volume or
single breed establishments."
LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PUPPY MILLS:
http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/mill.htm
http://shutdownpuppymills.ca/
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/
Then there are backyard breeders. The difference between backyard breeders and puppy mills is that backyard breeders are smaller. Backyard breeders often do not screen buyers and will sell to anyone. They also have no concern or understanding of genetics, pedigree bloodlines or breed improvement. The puppies could be inbred and/or have genetic problems. Backyard breeders often do not have much knowledge on the breed or their known health problems. Dogs/puppies are often living in substandard conditions. Backyard breeders breed for profit and do not practice adequate standards of care. LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BACKYARD BREEDERS:
http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/byb.htm or http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_breedersandpetshops.php
http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/byb_vs_rp.pdf
Please do not buy any pets from pet stores!!! Pet stores often purchase their puppies from puppy mills and backyard breeders. Pet stores do not offer any kind of health guarantee, you cannot meet the parents, and you have no idea if they actually are purebred. I'm not judging anyone who has purchased a puppy from a pet store because you probably didn't know a lot of this information. I was completely overwhelmed when I was searching for a reputable breeder so I want to help other people who are going through what I went through.
Reputable Breeders:
- Do not sell their puppies to or through pet stores
-Allow you to meet the parents of the puppies
-Allow you to see where their dogs and puppies are living
-Do not breed/sell many different breeds of dogs
-Screen people they sell to and ensure the puppy is going to a great home
-Have extensive knowledge on the breed, their history, confirmation, temperament, etc.
-Do genetic and health testing of parents to ensure they are bettering the breed
-Answer all your questions
-Should test for OFA, CERF, BAER etc
-Provide health guarantees
-State in their contract that if you can no longer keep the dog that you will return the dog to them
-Spay/neuter requirement in the purchase contract
-Breed dogs only after they are 2 years of age
-Do not allow puppy to leave it's mother until the puppy is at least 8 weeks but it is often recommended between 10-12 weeks of age
-Provide references
-Allows you to contact their vet to talk to them about the health of the parents etc.
When you contact a breeder make sure to ask the following questions:2) What genetic and health testing do they perform on parents and the puppies?
3) Where are the dogs/puppies kept and can you see where they are kept?
4) Can you meet the parents? Sometimes it is not possible to meet the father because it was a stud but the breeder should have all health and genetic testing information on the father available for you to see.
5) What are the details of the contract?
6) Are the parents and puppies registered?
7) Will the breeder offer you any support after you purchase the puppy? ie. Answer questions if something comes up or you need help with behaviour problems etc. The answer should always be YES!! Most breeders want you to keep in touch so they can hear how the puppy is doing and want you to call if you have any problems.
8) Can the breeder provide references? Will the breeder let you contact their vet?
I asked my breeder all these questions and she was actually very happy that I asked them. It showed her that I was a responsible pet owner who really cared about where I purchased my puppy. She saw that I had done a lot of research. She actually told me that she wished more people were as prepared with questions as I was. When you find a good breeder they will be more than willing to answer all these questions. Our breeder answers all our questions and has told us that she will always be here for support if we have any questions or concerns and that she would love for us to keep in touch with her.
If you are thinking of purchasing a puppy please do research to ensure you purchase from a reputable breeder and that you are prepared for a puppy. Ensure that you have the time, money, and patience to take care of a puppy. They are lots of work and require a lifetime committment. A puppy isn't something you can give away when you get bored with him/her, decide you do not have enough time for them, or can't afford them. Puppies can be VERY expensive so ensure that you can afford it.
Here are some more links that are very helpful and informative!!!
Responsible Breeders - http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/NPMC%20Reputable%20Responsible%20Breeder.pdf
Why you should spay/neuter - http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/sn.htm
What is responsible dog ownership - http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/Responsible.pdf
Puppy Mill - http://www.annarbor.com/pets/pets-dogs-puppy-mills-allegan-michigan-pam-sordyl-how-to-avoid-report/
http://www.globalanimal.org/2012/04/11/300-dogs-rescued-from-kalamazoo-puppy-mill/72078/
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/04/readers_respond_to_plight_of_3.html
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/
http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/Commercial-kennel-facts.html
My First Blog Post! :)
Welcome to my blog about our new family member, Simon. Simon is a purebred
Boston Terrier. He was born on March 6, 2012 and has two sisters and one
brother. He will be coming home to us on March 5th. We are so excited and can't
wait to welcome him into our life.
Being Prepared
Getting a puppy was pretty scary at first. My mind immediately started picturing the accidents in the house, destroyed furniture, and long sleepless nights.
We decided that if we were going to get a puppy we needed to ensure that we were knowledgeable and prepared! No one wants a misbehaving, disobedient puppy with only you to blame for the behaviour! I went online and did hours and hours of research not only on the Boston Terrier breed but also on puppies in general. We wanted to make sure that we decided on a dog breed that fit in with our lifestyle. Too many times I hear about families who purchase a puppy completely unprepared and the poor dog ends up being dropped off at a pound because of bad behaviour, lack of time, and/or loss of interest. My boyfriend, Ken, works out of town a lot so I will be the one always here with our puppy so I wanted to make sure that I was completely prepared to raise a puppy.
Finding a Responsible Breeder
After we decided on the Boston Terrier it was time to begin researching and finding reputable breeders. I had a list of questions to ask breeders to ensure they were breeding for the right reasons, were breeding healthy dogs, and actually care about Boston’s instead of just trying to make money. This search was harder than I had ever imagined!!! I couldn’t believe how many breeders I found that did no health testing, let puppies go before 8 weeks, etc.
We wanted to find a breeder close to where we live so that we could view the puppies, parents, the living conditions of their home and to meet the breeder. After a long search I found a breeder in my area. This breeder is amazing. She does health testing, breeds carefully, and is such a caring breeder. We were able to meet the puppies and spend time with their parents before making our decision. Her property was very clean and all her dogs were well cared for. She answered all our questions, asked us lots of questions, required references from us, made sure we were well informed about her purchasing contract and gave us lots of information about her experiences with breeding, Boston’s, and everything in between. We are so happy with our decision to purchase our puppy through her. I have been able to go and visit my puppy at least once a week. This breeder also has dogs she has rescued from horrible conditions. She is a breeder who loves dogs who ensures she breeds to better the breed and rescues dogs in need. We are thrilled with our decision to purchase through this breeder!
Picking our Puppy
When we went to meet the breeder we were actually going to also meet the parents for the next litter in the summer. Ken and I were originally looking to get a black and white Boston and the current litter were blue. The breeder showed us the litter of blue Boston’s and we immediately felt a strong connection to the little boy. I don’t know what it was but we knew then and there that the colour of our Boston was not important. What is important is their personalities and temperaments of the parents and the puppy. We loved Simon’s parents. His parents were beautiful and had great personalities. We are so happy with Simon. We already love him so much and I can’t wait to bring him home!!!
Here are some pictures of our lil' boy:
Being Prepared
Getting a puppy was pretty scary at first. My mind immediately started picturing the accidents in the house, destroyed furniture, and long sleepless nights.
We decided that if we were going to get a puppy we needed to ensure that we were knowledgeable and prepared! No one wants a misbehaving, disobedient puppy with only you to blame for the behaviour! I went online and did hours and hours of research not only on the Boston Terrier breed but also on puppies in general. We wanted to make sure that we decided on a dog breed that fit in with our lifestyle. Too many times I hear about families who purchase a puppy completely unprepared and the poor dog ends up being dropped off at a pound because of bad behaviour, lack of time, and/or loss of interest. My boyfriend, Ken, works out of town a lot so I will be the one always here with our puppy so I wanted to make sure that I was completely prepared to raise a puppy.
Finding a Responsible Breeder
After we decided on the Boston Terrier it was time to begin researching and finding reputable breeders. I had a list of questions to ask breeders to ensure they were breeding for the right reasons, were breeding healthy dogs, and actually care about Boston’s instead of just trying to make money. This search was harder than I had ever imagined!!! I couldn’t believe how many breeders I found that did no health testing, let puppies go before 8 weeks, etc.
We wanted to find a breeder close to where we live so that we could view the puppies, parents, the living conditions of their home and to meet the breeder. After a long search I found a breeder in my area. This breeder is amazing. She does health testing, breeds carefully, and is such a caring breeder. We were able to meet the puppies and spend time with their parents before making our decision. Her property was very clean and all her dogs were well cared for. She answered all our questions, asked us lots of questions, required references from us, made sure we were well informed about her purchasing contract and gave us lots of information about her experiences with breeding, Boston’s, and everything in between. We are so happy with our decision to purchase our puppy through her. I have been able to go and visit my puppy at least once a week. This breeder also has dogs she has rescued from horrible conditions. She is a breeder who loves dogs who ensures she breeds to better the breed and rescues dogs in need. We are thrilled with our decision to purchase through this breeder!
Picking our Puppy
When we went to meet the breeder we were actually going to also meet the parents for the next litter in the summer. Ken and I were originally looking to get a black and white Boston and the current litter were blue. The breeder showed us the litter of blue Boston’s and we immediately felt a strong connection to the little boy. I don’t know what it was but we knew then and there that the colour of our Boston was not important. What is important is their personalities and temperaments of the parents and the puppy. We loved Simon’s parents. His parents were beautiful and had great personalities. We are so happy with Simon. We already love him so much and I can’t wait to bring him home!!!
Here are some pictures of our lil' boy:
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