Skip Navigation
 

Gino Maltese as a pup

bolognese babies Flyuufy and Bella

Buster at Crufts 09

Dalma and Cilla Princess Havanese

Home

Welcome to Versailles-Kennels

What You Should Know About Selecting A Puppy or Dog.

Choosing The Best Dog Breeders Is very important and one phrase that you will constantly hear is

"Ive been into the breed for 20 years " etc etc

That should not impress you but all too often it will. What you should ask that breeders is

"OK, so what have you done in that time with the breed"

It is important for ALL hopeful new doggy owners to realise that it is not how long someone has been in a breed its what they did when they got there ! We dont have all six bichon breeds but can advise on them due to our involvement with owners worldwide. We only have to watch PDE to realise that many longevity breeders have been less than protective of their breeds no matter what they say !

Why is it significant ?

Dog breeders could be found anywhere. However, buying the best-looking puppy in the pet store does not necessarily guarantee that you bought a pet with a top breed.

WHEN YOU ACQUIRE A PET,

 YOU accept responsibility for the health and welfare of another living thing for all of its life You are also responsible for your pet’s impact on your family, friends, and community. A pet will be part of your life for many years. In some breeds 20 years. Invest the time and effort necessary to make your years together happy ones. When you choose a pet, you are promising to care for it for its entire life. Choose wisely, keep your promise, and enjoy one of life’s most rewarding experiences!  Remember that dogs are highly social creatures, and isolating a dog to the backyard with no interaction is one of the worst things you can do.Any dog can become bored and potentially destructive if left alone all day without an outlet for its exercise, exploratory, and social needs. Therefore, set aside time each day for activities that are fun for you and your dog such as walking, playing, petting, grooming, etc.
 

What choices do you have?

 Dogs have been selectively bred for generations to highlight specific physical and behavioural traits. The amazing diversity of dogs includes varied sizes, hair-coat lengths, colours, temperaments, and activity levels. A dog’s size may affect its lifespan: the lifespan of a large-breed dog tends to be shorter than that of a smaller dog. Registered breeders can offer a happy healthy dog or pup but be careful, not all breeders are what they appear, some hoodwink new owners by buying trophies from markets to make you feel they are more knowledgeable than they are, some will make false health certificates and state they are genuine. Some will tell you how much they know but in reality have had many problems neglecting dogs they own. Do not think that a breeder from a breed club has better bred dogs, invariably they DO NOT. Try to look for re-homing a rescue dog before spending lots of money buying a pure bred doggy. Many of the more reputable breeders will have at some stage a health tested dog whose show career has ended available usually free or with a small fee.

Remember A show dog is not necessarily a healthy dog.

 Does a dog fit into your lifestyle?
 Feeding, grooming, exercise, play and elimination are daily needs that must be considered in caring for a healthy, happy dog. Think about the following factors when deciding if you should get a dog and in determining what breed would be the most appropriate for you and your family:
 

• Do you live in the city, suburbs, or country?

• Do you rent or do you own your home?

• Do you live in an apartment or single-family home?

 Do you live at ground level or on the 21st floor?

• How long is your work day? Do you frequently have

obligations after work?

• Who will care for your dog(s) in your absence?

• Do you have other pets?

• Are there any restrictions on number or types of pets

where you live?

• What future changes might occur in your living situation

that would affect your ability to keep your dog in years

to come?

• Are you prepared to meet the grooming needs of a dog —

whether at home or at a professional grooming facility?

• What are you looking for in a dog (e.g., jogging or hiking

companion, cuddly lap dog, or high energy companion)?

 
What should you look for in a healthy dog?
 

A healthy dog has clear, bright eyes; a clean, shiny hair-coat; and does not appear thin, overly fat, or show signs of illness, such as nasal discharge or diarrhoea. When choosing a dog, pick one that is active, friendly, inquisitive, and not afraid of you. It should smell nice and be free of urine staining and smell clean. The doggy should walk well and feel happy to be with you. The dog should accept gentle handling and not exhibit signs of aggression or fear, if the puppy backs away then it has NOT been socialised correctly by the breeder. The temperament of a puppy’s parents may be an indication of its future behaviour.

 
Should you look for a puppy or an adult dog?
What size of dog should you get?
 

Puppies require additional time for housetraining, socialization, and obedience training, as well as more frequent feeding, exercise, and supervision. Consider the possibility of an adult dog; older pets are often already housetrained, know some basic commands, and usually adapt very well to their new home. Larger dogs require more space than smaller ones, and they may be harder to maintain in an apartment. Whatever the size of your dog, it must be provided with access to the outdoors multiple times a day for elimination and exercise.

 
Can you afford a dog?
 

The purchase price for a dog can vary tremendously by breed and source, and is only the initial expense for a dog. Dogs need high quality food, proper housing, mental stimulation (e.g., toys, play time), and regular visits to a veterinarian for preventive care. Other costs may include emergency medical treatment, grooming, boarding, identification, sterilization (spaying or neutering), training, and accessories. Pet health insurance is available and can help defray unexpected expenses resulting from illness or injury.

 
What must you do to prepare for your dog?
 

Before bringing your new dog home, prepare an appropriate place for it to eat and sleep and have ready the necessary accessories such as a collar and leash, ID tag, food, and water bowls. Be sure to pet-proof your home to prevent injury to your dog or damage to your possessions. For example, make sure that electrical wires and cords are out of the reach of curious mouths. Ask your breeder about other ways to make your home safe for your pet. Schedule a veterinary examination to assess the health of your new companion as soon as possible to ensure it receives the appropriate vaccinations and any needed health care. If you have medical information from your dog’s original owner, including its vaccination and worming history, be sure to take this information with you on your first visit to your veterinarian. Not only is your veterinarian best qualified to evaluate the health of your new companion, but he/she can advise you about proper immunization, parasite control, nutrition, sterilisation, socialisation, training, grooming and other care that may be necessary to protect the health of your new pet.

 
Special Tips for Puppy Owners.
 

Eight  to 10 weeks is considered an ideal age for a puppy to move to a new home.

Spaying or neutering your new pet is an important part of responsible pet ownership.

Talk to your veterinarian about the best time to have your puppy spayed or neutered.

When possible, meet the puppy’s parents—their temperaments are often good indicators of what the puppy’s temperament will be.

If you are getting a puppy as a second pet, remember that some older pets may be less tolerant of a puppy’s behaviour. Ask your veterinarian or dog trainer about introducing your puppy into its new animal family There are many breed clubs we would actively encourage for doing everything within their powers to help their breeds.The Bichon Frise and Bolognese Breed Clubs and Maltese and Lowchen groups do wonderful jobs, as do GSD, Far too many dog websites are all about looking at the wins of the breeder and never about health they are usually CH judges and longevity breeders, who continue to be small minded and arrogant !

 Crate training can be an effective method for training your puppy. Ask your veterinarian or dog trainer for more information.

 

Latest News 2009

Breeders of some of Europes Best Puppies and Dogs.


We ship globally and have dogs on every continent.

PLEASE USE OUR HEALTH FORUM WWW.EUROBICHONS.COM

BUT

WATCH THIS BEFOREHAND:

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-behave-on-an-internet-forum

 

Awarded to quality pet websites. (dogs, puppies, cats, horses)

Type: Dog Site
 

Trinnys Fund

Trinity Saving the lives of many other dogs.

Versailles

Why our name is so very important
 
« go back|print