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Choosing A Puppy ? Part 1
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These pages are designed to help the new puppy buyer in their search for that perfect new four legged family member. In today’s fast moving world we need to be even more careful about choosing a canine companion, we at Lyngala take your choice very seriously, it is like adopting a child. Just like adopting a child you are adding a new family member that must integrate with your existing family and your way of life. With the introduction of the internet all dog breeders now have a ready made market to sell puppies. Long ago we used to say that a dog has a pedigree as long as your arm, fact is that every pedigree dog has a pedigree even longer than your arm. When doing your pre-puppy purchase research be aware of such advertising catch phrases as 'old Tibetan lines', 'old lines','authentic breeding', 'original lines', 'old style' all these sound great, but are often only there to confuse you, as there are no such things, the great majority of the Lhasa Apsos in Australia originate from and or contain the same breeding blood lines, except those owned by Lyngala, and a very few select others. These catch phrases mean very little to you that is wanting a loving pet / companion. At Lyngala, being a dedicated breeder, the ' Breed Standard' is the only benchmark that we bred to, this gives us the true and correct Lhasa Apso in every way.
As the pet / companion puppy buyer, you are mainly interested in a healthy happy well bred (so you know it will not get sick or have to have expensive operations) puppy that can be your new four legged family member. Strive to seek the genuine breeder whose dogs are well bred, (not inbred, or over bred) from only well selected, tested breeding that has a history you can follow in the show ring, or with other breeders from Australia or overseas. Ask all breeders lots of questions. Do not pay a deposit for a puppy until you see the puppy. Do not be bullied into paying a deposit to hold a puppy before it is born. Taking all this into consideration let us look at various places and ways to acquire a new puppy.
A well bred puppy that looks exactly like his dad.
A Pet Store, Puppy Store etc. What do we get when we go to a pet store ? We usually get an experienced sales person that wants us to buy a puppy so they can make profit and acquire more puppies to sell to impulse buyers. Where do the pet store puppies come from ? Despite what a pet store sales person may tell you, the majority of pet store puppies come from large puppy breeding farms, where the dog population can be as high as 500. The dogs and puppies do not receive individual attention, they are often left alone for days, they are bred with on a very regular basis (every 4 to 6 months), and the puppies are taken away from the mothers very young (5 weeks of age). These puppies are usually poorly bred and certainly the parents are not hand selected for their good breed qualities or temperament. Some pet stores try to convince you they are selling 'Pure Bred' dogs, unless they can supply you with a registered pedigree the dog is not a 'Pure Bred' dog. Due to these pet store puppies being taken from their mother so young, they do not develop into socially well adjusted adults. To think that you may be saving a puppy from a pet store is not correct, if you buy a puppy from a pet store you have just created the space for a new puppy, from that puppy farm that can only be compared to a battery hen barn.
A poorly bred Lhasa Apso, notice his crooked legs, his pink nose. A Backyard Breeder? a pet owner that has a litter for sale. Be very wary of those with multiple different breeds (Or someone who has a few dogs that they constantly breed to each other). What do we get if we go to a Backyard Breeder ? We usually get a very inexperienced person that may own a couple, or more, dogs, pedigree or not, who has decided they wish to make a few extra dollars on the side. Some of them sound great and are loving pet owners, but due to their lack of breed knowledge they are often breeding little time bombs that develop into untypical adults, often causing huge medical bills for buyers of such puppies, (like the dog above). Check with your local Canine Control Council, (the Canine Control Council can also give you a list of how many litters a particular female has had) check with other breeders, in other states, to inquire if they are known or their dogs of the quality they may be advertising. Never be fooled by price.
This is Chico, he looks very cute, his mum bought him from a backyard breeder as a Lhasa Apso, he has a very nice nature and is a good size.There is ONE BIG problem with Chico, his head is permanently on one side, he can not hold his head straight at all. Chico is only 12 months old and has already had many costly vet visits. Chico's life will never be normal. Where do you go ? How do you check out who is a good breeder and who is not ? What if you can not get a puppy of the sex and color you want and when you want it ?
Go to 'Choosing a Puppy ? part 2'
This is Molly, can you see her on the carpet ??
(Lyngala Little Miss Molly)
A perfect puppy bred by Lyngala
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