LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE: DON’T GET BIT
Everything You Should Know About Buying The Perfect Purebred Pooch
Seems everywhere you turn these days, there are dogs. Tearing around parks, lazing under tables at outdoor coffeehouses, hanging out the window of every passing Ford Explorer. The canine has become de rigueur. And not just any old mutt, mind you. We’re talking purebreds. After all, for a lot of folks, what you walk says as much about you as what you wear or what you drive.
But man’s best power friend is a living, barking being who demands a lot more attention than a car phone. And he or she is going to be with you a decade or more, long after Rottweilers become passé and chocolate Labs are yesterday’s fashion statement. So before you go paying big bucks for the first trendy purebred with sad-sack eyes just sit and stay. The following guidelines will help you determine whether a dog is the pet for you and, if so, how to choose the right breed and breeder. There are more purebreds reared in Southern California than anywhere else in the country, so with some patience, you should be able to find the right match.
First, realize that owning any dog—purebred or mutt—will cost you some bucks. According to Suzanne Lustig, manager of public relations at the American Kennel Club, a dog that lives to be 11 will cost, all told, between $11,000 and $13,000 for food, toys, routine veterinary expenses, training, grooming and flea treatments. And that doesn’t include the cost for the dog itself, which, for a pet-quality purebred, usually runs from $300 to $800, depending on the breed. A potential show dog—meaning one that meets the standards established by the AKC for size, color, markings and temperament-can range from $500 to $1,000.
Then there’s the investment of time. How much of it are you willing to share with a dog? If you work 12 hours a day and like to get away on weekends, you’re better off with a Chia Pet. A dog wants a relationship, and that means hours spent bonding—training, playing and exercising, especially if you don’t have a yard where Fido can burn energy on his own. A pent-up pooch with a good set of choppers and a lot of free time on its paws can do astonishing things to your designer home.
Once you’re sure you want a dog, the next step is to determine the type that’s right for you. If you think a purebred is the way to go, learn as much as you can beforehand about breeds you like. There are a number of good all-breed reference books available. The AKC’s Complete Dog Book outlines the histories, health tendencies and temperaments of 134 breeds, with photos. Simon & Schuster’s Illustrated Guide to Dogs and The Right Dog for You by Daniel Tortora are also informative sources.
After narrowing down your choice, visit one or two all-breed dog shows with some questions in mind: How is a given breed with kids? How much exercise and grooming will it require? How will it fit into your lifestyle? If you’re determined to have that longhaired Lhasa apso.