YASHBANS®
THE YASHBANS GUIDE TO BUYING THE RIGHT DOG
I have been asked so often by my friends and well wishers to write an article , with particular reference to buying the right puppy, considering the personal experience and knowledge I have acquired over 30 years, of breeding pedigreed dogs, rearing and showing them, and eventually establishing myself as the top notch of being one of India”s most reputed and leading kennels. A passion to rear animals that started many, many years ago as a child, later turned to a hobby, and today, is a very admirable and enviable profession. .I quite often tell people, “I simply get paid for something I love doing. Isn”t that amazing?” Yashbans is not only a top breeding kennel today, but has now also diversified into running highly professional Boarding Kennels and Cattery, Grooming Parlour for pets and a Petshop.
There are many basic and important aspects that a person should look into, before venturing to get his or her first, second or the third puppy.
The first and foremost of all, is to ask yourself whether you are a genuine animal lover with tons of patience and understanding, and that you are not getting the puppy because of a sudden whim or fancy, or to pamper your ego, or, as competition to your neighbour, or, because of the demands of an irresponsible family member.
The next step would be to analyse what type of a breed of dog is best suited to your temperament, your lifestyle, your family and your surroundings.
Please make sure that you have all the necessary qualities to be a good dog owner. Remember, whatever type of dog you decide to own, it is a commitment from your side to give him lots of love, affection, care and time that he would need. Not just to start with, but for his entire lifetime.
You should then prepare yourself to attend to the pup personally, make him feel you are his only family, be patient with him, handle him with care and affection and talk to him as often as you can. This way he will quickly understand you and what you require of him and then life with your pet would become one very enjoyable, fascinating experience. He is like your baby. He needs love, affection, time and some amount of training to reciprocate his affection and devotion to you.
Once you have made up your mind that you want to own a dog, then decide whether you would prefer to have a lovable, adorable, intelligent, non pedigreed mongrel who could be just as loving and an affectionate companion as any of his pedigreed counterparts can be. This was the way I started with my first dogs and I still own eight of them. And I make sure that any homeless little puppy that strays into my farm is given a warm welcome. It has been a great process of learning and I have gained vast experience about puppy behaviour, maintenance, upkeep, whelping, care and maintenance from these adorable dogs. They have to a very large extent, played an extremely important role in the evolution of Yashbans Kennels, and to the professional Dog Breeder / Animal Behaviourist / Veterinary Assistant / Animal groomer / Trainer that I am today.
Yashbans Farm is an open, welcome place for lots of abandoned, ill treated mongrels, and it gives me immense joy and pleasure to place one of these animals with many of the people who have initially come wanting to buy a pedigreed dog. When you just need to love a pet and have a companion, or a guard dog,these mongrels make an excellent choice. I also make sure I give advice, round the clock assistance, and quote very, very low boarding fees for these dogs when their owners go on vacation, as a means of encouragement for people to adopt these loving mongrels.
*****************************************
You can also contact Animal Shelters or Organisations like the SPCA,PETA,BLUE CROSS etc. in your area, from where you could adopt a puppy or dog and give him a life he so aptly deserves. And then, watch what he has in store for you. Believe me, there is no better joy or happiness (other than your kids, of course)like having a pet at home. You will end up eventually having more than just one. And once you have had a dog, you will never be without one during your lifetime.
A dog can bring you such immense happiness. You can laugh your stress out with his antics, your pressure levels subside by just petting him. His coat is a magical marvel under your touch. You can have a great listener to your woes, a loyal companion for your walks. All this, besides his devoted, unquestioning love. You can even train him to do small chores for you, which he will oblige most willingly. Though God has given him such a short lifetime, he makes such an impact on you. Trust me, the entire experience of having a dog, makes you in turn, one extremely, good, caring and responsible human being.
However, if you still wish to own a pedigreed dog, then beware!!! You are now in the gambling den and have to be really, really careful.
You can loose your money in no time to many of the unscrupulous self-styled Breeders and worst of all, land yourself up with a pet you would not know to what breed he would resemble at maturity, and for no fault of his, would be subject to your dislike and your friends’ criticisms. Imagine how the dog would feel to grow up in an environment feeling like an unwanted child, with no love, no care or no praise and the sheer desperation that he cannot meet up to his owner”s expectations of having a top class, pedigreed dog.
I would again like to stress on the fact that once you have decided to own a pedigreed dog, it is not a easy job rearing him to his fullest potential. It takes a lot of time, money, effort, patience and hardwork to own the perfect specimen. I believe in the saying ‘SUPER DOGS ARE MADE AND ARE NOT BORN.” Hence, you as the owner, are going to play a pivotal role in making your pup the Champion you want him to be.
And then comes the question, do you want the dog to be a super show dog, an obedience Champion, an excellent breeding dog, or a pampered pet. At all times, remember, your dog is going to reflect your personality, your temperament, and your behaviour. Unless you are perfect, do not expect your dog to be perfect too.
If a top class pedigreed dog is what you want, then, do not compromise on the quality. Make sure you buy the very best.
If you are buying a dog to start a career as an exhibitor and a professional Breeder, let me advise you very sincerely, that your love for the dog must be very genuine.as this reflects in his behaviour, temperament and breeding abilities. Especially, the part of his breeding abilities. A happy dog breeds sound healthy puppies. You, as the dog owner, must be a good, affectionate human being first. You cannot be ridden with jealousies, hatred, dislikes, ego problems etc as then definitely would not be much of a success as a Breeder. This is one field where your success depends entirely on your nature and not necessarily on your degrees. You must be prepared to accept your disappointments of not winning in show rings in a sportive manner and not take this out on your poor dog. Make every failure a stepping stone towards success. Perseverance and patience eventually pays.
After you have analysed yourself and feel you are an ideal person to own a pedigreed dog to either start your hobby or career in the show ring or in the breeding arena of pedigreed dogs, then you must make sure of the following :
You must buy your dog from a reputed, established Breeder. Always visit his or her place and make sure that the kennel you are buying your puppy from is a hygienic, clean place and that all the dogs are well cared for and loved. Never, ever buy a pup from anyone who says that they will bring the pup over to your place or meet you around the corner with the puppy. Then, you would never know what type of a kennel the puppy has come from, or from what known or unknown diseases. It is heartbreaking to hear stories from people who have bought dogs from such people and have lost them in no time at all.
Enquire from a Dog Club, fellow dog lovers about whom they would recommend as a genuine and honest breeder. Word of mouth is the best means to find the right breeder.
Once you have come across such a Breeder, learn to trust him or her implicity and take their advice. A top Breeder will not sell you something that can mar his or her reputation and the years of experience, knowledge,time , effort and money he or she has put in. Such Breeders value their reputation above anything else.. To these Breeders, breeding is both an art as well as a Science and they find immense pleasure in creating a beautiful specimen.It is like a baby that they have given birth to.
Talk to the Breeder frankly and tell him or her of your requirements. Whether you need the pup for Show / breeding or just a companion. They will guide you correctly and give you a puppy that is best suited to you.
However, remember when you want a pup from a reputed Kennel and an established Breeder, make sure that you willing the price they demand. Quality pups do not come cheaply. Top Breeders cannot match the price brackets that Brokers and middlemen and puppy mills offer their pups for.
From your side, make sure you ask the following questions.Be totally convinced before you make a commitment.
- a reputed Breeder would have definitely registered the pups with the Kennel Club of India. This is the only recognized Kennel Club worldwide. There are many kennel Clubs in India but they are not recognized by any other country. The Kennel Club of India is striving very hard to maintain the quality of pedigreed dogs in India, and you can to some extent be sure that when they are pups registered with the Kennel Club of India, they would definitely be of some quality. However, above all, make sure the pup conforms to the breed standards and looks healthy and active.
Make sure that the Breeder you are buying the puppy from, is totally committed to breeding top, pedigreed dogs and not just as a part time profession. What are his or her credentials as a Breeder ?
- Never, ever buy a puppy just because the Breeders says that the parents of the puppy are champions, etc. This is not a necessary criteria at all, for your puppy to become a Champion as well. Instead make sure that the parents, (the Dam and the Sire) of the puppy are healthy dogs, conforming to the breed standards, with no visible defects or deformities. Make sure that the puppies that are shown to you are definitely the offsprings of the Dam and the Sire being shown to you as parents. I have come across instances where just one pair of good looking dogs are always shown as parents for each and every litter or puppy sold by them
- Always buy the puppy by seeing the puppy or by the reputation of the Breeder and not by seeing its pedigree. If the pup is healthy, conforming to the breed standards, then definitely it must be having a good lineage. You don’t have to worry about the pedigree at all. However, if you are buying a puppy by looking at its pedigree alone, then you are in trouble. An awesome pedigree need not necessarily mean that the puppy is a top quality one. A pedigree just gives us an idea of the pups’ lineage. In my years of breeding, especially that of German Shepherds,I have come across many pups with unimaginable genetic problems and defects like bad bites, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia,splayed feet, week pasterns and hocks, having bred them from top VA dogs and with highly impressive pedigrees. I have suffered such emotional turmoil and nightmares at the outcome of such breeding. Unfortunately, there are Breeders who will try rattling off pedigrees to impress you on the quality of the puppy, without half of them understanding what all the dogs in the pedigrees where known to produce or what were the defects that they could possibly throw and what other bloodlines that they could possibly complement
- Will the Breeder furnish you a feeding and a Vaccination Chart.
-Will they be there to give you tips on handling your new puppy or whenever you require it., Or are they waiting to wash their hands off, once you have collected the puppy.
-Are there any health guarantees.
-Are the pups microchipped or tattooed as a means of recognition that it is bred by that particular Breeder.
Make sure that the Breeder gives you the name and address of his or her Veterinarian. Also enquire from them if there is any reputable Veterinarian in and around your area .It is again of utmost importance that you go to a Vet with experience and who has the time to attend and treat your dog personally. Make sure he is an animal lover too.
The puppy would have had his initial puppy vaccination at the Breeders place, in all probability. Find out about his deworming schedule and his vaccination schedule. A puppy would have had his first dose of deworming when he is around 21 days of age, followed by a repeat dose after 15 days. He would have his initial puppy vaccination at 6 – 8 weeks of age. Make sure he has his booster dose of vaccination after two weeks of his first vaccine, and again followed by a third dose, after a two week interval.
He must be immunized against rabies when he is about six months of age. Make sure he has his yearly shots to give him complete immunization against various diseases.
You must also make sure that you buy your pet’s requirements of food, toys etc from a reputed Pet Shop. They will be able to adivise you correctly and not sell you expired or sub standard products. They will ensure that all pet products are puppy safe.
Once you have analysed yourself as a capable dog downer, then just go ahead and bring home the new puppy. Make sure you live up to your commitment, not just as the puppy’s new owner, but as a responsible, loving human being. Make sure your puppy feels proud of you. AND THAT YOU HAVE RISEN ABOVE MANY, AS A CARING, LOVING, HUMAN BEING AND THAT YOU ARE THE CHOSEN ONE.
I have been asked so often by my friends and well wishers to write an article , with particular reference to buying the right puppy, considering the personal experience and knowledge I have acquired over 30 years, of breeding pedigreed dogs, rearing and showing them, and eventually establishing myself as the top notch of being one of India”s most reputed and leading kennels. A passion to rear animals that started many, many years ago as a child, later turned to a hobby, and today, is a very admirable and enviable profession. .I quite often tell people, “I simply get paid for something I love doing. Isn”t that amazing?” Yashbans is not only a top breeding kennel today, but has now also diversified into running highly professional Boarding Kennels and Cattery, Grooming Parlour for pets and a Petshop.
There are many basic and important aspects that a person should look into, before venturing to get his or her first, second or the third puppy.
The first and foremost of all, is to ask yourself whether you are a genuine animal lover with tons of patience and understanding, and that you are not getting the puppy because of a sudden whim or fancy, or to pamper your ego, or, as competition to your neighbour, or, because of the demands of an irresponsible family member.
The next step would be to analyse what type of a breed of dog is best suited to your temperament, your lifestyle, your family and your surroundings.
Please make sure that you have all the necessary qualities to be a good dog owner. Remember, whatever type of dog you decide to own, it is a commitment from your side to give him lots of love, affection, care and time that he would need. Not just to start with, but for his entire lifetime.
You should then prepare yourself to attend to the pup personally, make him feel you are his only family, be patient with him, handle him with care and affection and talk to him as often as you can. This way he will quickly understand you and what you require of him and then life with your pet would become one very enjoyable, fascinating experience. He is like your baby. He needs love, affection, time and some amount of training to reciprocate his affection and devotion to you.
Once you have made up your mind that you want to own a dog, then decide whether you would prefer to have a lovable, adorable, intelligent, non pedigreed mongrel who could be just as loving and an affectionate companion as any of his pedigreed counterparts can be. This was the way I started with my first dogs and I still own eight of them. And I make sure that any homeless little puppy that strays into my farm is given a warm welcome. It has been a great process of learning and I have gained vast experience about puppy behaviour, maintenance, upkeep, whelping, care and maintenance from these adorable dogs. They have to a very large extent, played an extremely important role in the evolution of Yashbans Kennels, and to the professional Dog Breeder / Animal Behaviourist / Veterinary Assistant / Animal groomer / Trainer that I am today.
Yashbans Farm is an open, welcome place for lots of abandoned, ill treated mongrels, and it gives me immense joy and pleasure to place one of these animals with many of the people who have initially come wanting to buy a pedigreed dog. When you just need to love a pet and have a companion, or a guard dog,these mongrels make an excellent choice. I also make sure I give advice, round the clock assistance, and quote very, very low boarding fees for these dogs when their owners go on vacation, as a means of encouragement for people to adopt these loving mongrels.
*****************************************
You can also contact Animal Shelters or Organisations like the SPCA,PETA,BLUE CROSS etc. in your area, from where you could adopt a puppy or dog and give him a life he so aptly deserves. And then, watch what he has in store for you. Believe me, there is no better joy or happiness (other than your kids, of course)like having a pet at home. You will end up eventually having more than just one. And once you have had a dog, you will never be without one during your lifetime.
A dog can bring you such immense happiness. You can laugh your stress out with his antics, your pressure levels subside by just petting him. His coat is a magical marvel under your touch. You can have a great listener to your woes, a loyal companion for your walks. All this, besides his devoted, unquestioning love. You can even train him to do small chores for you, which he will oblige most willingly. Though God has given him such a short lifetime, he makes such an impact on you. Trust me, the entire experience of having a dog, makes you in turn, one extremely, good, caring and responsible human being.
However, if you still wish to own a pedigreed dog, then beware!!! You are now in the gambling den and have to be really, really careful.
You can loose your money in no time to many of the unscrupulous self-styled Breeders and worst of all, land yourself up with a pet you would not know to what breed he would resemble at maturity, and for no fault of his, would be subject to your dislike and your friends’ criticisms. Imagine how the dog would feel to grow up in an environment feeling like an unwanted child, with no love, no care or no praise and the sheer desperation that he cannot meet up to his owner”s expectations of having a top class, pedigreed dog.
I would again like to stress on the fact that once you have decided to own a pedigreed dog, it is not a easy job rearing him to his fullest potential. It takes a lot of time, money, effort, patience and hardwork to own the perfect specimen. I believe in the saying ‘SUPER DOGS ARE MADE AND ARE NOT BORN.” Hence, you as the owner, are going to play a pivotal role in making your pup the Champion you want him to be.
And then comes the question, do you want the dog to be a super show dog, an obedience Champion, an excellent breeding dog, or a pampered pet. At all times, remember, your dog is going to reflect your personality, your temperament, and your behaviour. Unless you are perfect, do not expect your dog to be perfect too.
If a top class pedigreed dog is what you want, then, do not compromise on the quality. Make sure you buy the very best.
If you are buying a dog to start a career as an exhibitor and a professional Breeder, let me advise you very sincerely, that your love for the dog must be very genuine.as this reflects in his behaviour, temperament and breeding abilities. Especially, the part of his breeding abilities. A happy dog breeds sound healthy puppies. You, as the dog owner, must be a good, affectionate human being first. You cannot be ridden with jealousies, hatred, dislikes, ego problems etc as then definitely would not be much of a success as a Breeder. This is one field where your success depends entirely on your nature and not necessarily on your degrees. You must be prepared to accept your disappointments of not winning in show rings in a sportive manner and not take this out on your poor dog. Make every failure a stepping stone towards success. Perseverance and patience eventually pays.
After you have analysed yourself and feel you are an ideal person to own a pedigreed dog to either start your hobby or career in the show ring or in the breeding arena of pedigreed dogs, then you must make sure of the following :
You must buy your dog from a reputed, established Breeder. Always visit his or her place and make sure that the kennel you are buying your puppy from is a hygienic, clean place and that all the dogs are well cared for and loved. Never, ever buy a pup from anyone who says that they will bring the pup over to your place or meet you around the corner with the puppy. Then, you would never know what type of a kennel the puppy has come from, or from what known or unknown diseases. It is heartbreaking to hear stories from people who have bought dogs from such people and have lost them in no time at all.
Enquire from a Dog Club, fellow dog lovers about whom they would recommend as a genuine and honest breeder. Word of mouth is the best means to find the right breeder.
Once you have come across such a Breeder, learn to trust him or her implicity and take their advice. A top Breeder will not sell you something that can mar his or her reputation and the years of experience, knowledge,time , effort and money he or she has put in. Such Breeders value their reputation above anything else.. To these Breeders, breeding is both an art as well as a Science and they find immense pleasure in creating a beautiful specimen.It is like a baby that they have given birth to.
Talk to the Breeder frankly and tell him or her of your requirements. Whether you need the pup for Show / breeding or just a companion. They will guide you correctly and give you a puppy that is best suited to you.
However, remember when you want a pup from a reputed Kennel and an established Breeder, make sure that you willing the price they demand. Quality pups do not come cheaply. Top Breeders cannot match the price brackets that Brokers and middlemen and puppy mills offer their pups for.
From your side, make sure you ask the following questions.Be totally convinced before you make a commitment.
- a reputed Breeder would have definitely registered the pups with the Kennel Club of India. This is the only recognized Kennel Club worldwide. There are many kennel Clubs in India but they are not recognized by any other country. The Kennel Club of India is striving very hard to maintain the quality of pedigreed dogs in India, and you can to some extent be sure that when they are pups registered with the Kennel Club of India, they would definitely be of some quality. However, above all, make sure the pup conforms to the breed standards and looks healthy and active.
Make sure that the Breeder you are buying the puppy from, is totally committed to breeding top, pedigreed dogs and not just as a part time profession. What are his or her credentials as a Breeder ?
- Never, ever buy a puppy just because the Breeders says that the parents of the puppy are champions, etc. This is not a necessary criteria at all, for your puppy to become a Champion as well. Instead make sure that the parents, (the Dam and the Sire) of the puppy are healthy dogs, conforming to the breed standards, with no visible defects or deformities. Make sure that the puppies that are shown to you are definitely the offsprings of the Dam and the Sire being shown to you as parents. I have come across instances where just one pair of good looking dogs are always shown as parents for each and every litter or puppy sold by them
- Always buy the puppy by seeing the puppy or by the reputation of the Breeder and not by seeing its pedigree. If the pup is healthy, conforming to the breed standards, then definitely it must be having a good lineage. You don’t have to worry about the pedigree at all. However, if you are buying a puppy by looking at its pedigree alone, then you are in trouble. An awesome pedigree need not necessarily mean that the puppy is a top quality one. A pedigree just gives us an idea of the pups’ lineage. In my years of breeding, especially that of German Shepherds,I have come across many pups with unimaginable genetic problems and defects like bad bites, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia,splayed feet, week pasterns and hocks, having bred them from top VA dogs and with highly impressive pedigrees. I have suffered such emotional turmoil and nightmares at the outcome of such breeding. Unfortunately, there are Breeders who will try rattling off pedigrees to impress you on the quality of the puppy, without half of them understanding what all the dogs in the pedigrees where known to produce or what were the defects that they could possibly throw and what other bloodlines that they could possibly complement
- Will the Breeder furnish you a feeding and a Vaccination Chart.
-Will they be there to give you tips on handling your new puppy or whenever you require it., Or are they waiting to wash their hands off, once you have collected the puppy.
-Are there any health guarantees.
-Are the pups microchipped or tattooed as a means of recognition that it is bred by that particular Breeder.
Make sure that the Breeder gives you the name and address of his or her Veterinarian. Also enquire from them if there is any reputable Veterinarian in and around your area .It is again of utmost importance that you go to a Vet with experience and who has the time to attend and treat your dog personally. Make sure he is an animal lover too.
The puppy would have had his initial puppy vaccination at the Breeders place, in all probability. Find out about his deworming schedule and his vaccination schedule. A puppy would have had his first dose of deworming when he is around 21 days of age, followed by a repeat dose after 15 days. He would have his initial puppy vaccination at 6 – 8 weeks of age. Make sure he has his booster dose of vaccination after two weeks of his first vaccine, and again followed by a third dose, after a two week interval.
He must be immunized against rabies when he is about six months of age. Make sure he has his yearly shots to give him complete immunization against various diseases.
You must also make sure that you buy your pet’s requirements of food, toys etc from a reputed Pet Shop. They will be able to adivise you correctly and not sell you expired or sub standard products. They will ensure that all pet products are puppy safe.
Once you have analysed yourself as a capable dog downer, then just go ahead and bring home the new puppy. Make sure you live up to your commitment, not just as the puppy’s new owner, but as a responsible, loving human being. Make sure your puppy feels proud of you. AND THAT YOU HAVE RISEN ABOVE MANY, AS A CARING, LOVING, HUMAN BEING AND THAT YOU ARE THE CHOSEN ONE.
Yashbans Kennels, Kyalasanahalli, Off. Hennur Road, Bangalore: 560 077. India. Phone: +91 98440 58080 / 98863 12691 / 98451 58080
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