The Australian National Kennel Council ( http://ankc.org.au ), the peak body for responsible and ethical breeders in Australia, has launched a public and breeder education movement to complement the RSPCA and Australian Veterinary Association’s joint initiative, Love is Blind, to raise awareness of the animal welfare problems caused by exaggerated physical features and how these problems can be prevented.
For more information about the ANKC and affiliated Member Bodies, visit http://www.ankc.org.au .
For updates on ANKC canine health screening initiatives, follow ANKC Ltd Canine Health & Wellbeing Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ANKC-Ltd-Canine-Health-Wellbeing-465260200219301/
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When buying your puppy, some say love is blind, but it doesn’t have to be! Do your homework before choosing a puppy.
Before buying your puppy, research your chosen breed. Short-faced breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs & Frenchies have special needs – as appealing as they are, they’re not suitable for everyone. Your lifestyle should play a major role in your decision – whilst healthy short-faced dogs enjoy moderate exercise, they won’t be great jogging buddies!
“A lot of people lately have gone for the shortner-nosed breeds, or Brachycephalic breeds. Not all short-nosed breeds have airway problems, not all dogs require corrective surgery, in fact probably about 10% generally speaking may require corrective surgery. This can be largely avoided if you avoid breeding affected parents together. Look into the breed, look into the inherited conditions they may have, and look into the testing methods that can be done by the breeders to ensure the puppy is as healthy as possible.” – Dr Karen Hedberg BVsc, ANKC Canine Health & Wellbeing Committee (Chair).
Experienced ANKC registered breeders have in-depth knowledge about health, temperament and lifestyle suitability, and can explain what diseases they screen for and what the test results mean.
Dedicated ANKC registered breeders strive to preserve and improve the health and quality of their dogs. They understand their breed and any relevant health issues, and apply new and improved methods of health testing to help prevent inheritable diseases from being passed on to puppies.
“When you’re buying a puppy, you’ve got to remember this is a lifetime investment. This puppy might be with your family for 10 or 12 years so you want to make sure it starts off as a healthy puppy. Now this is where you’ve got to be really careful in choosing your breeder. It’s really important that you don’t buy off the internet because you won’t get any chance to see the pup’s mum, and you won’t get a chance to see the conditions in which it was bred. If you go to an ANKC registered breeder you can see the mother, you can see the pups, and you can see all the surroundings.” – Hugh Gent OAM, ANKC President.
ANKC registered breeders will provide ongoing support and advice to new puppy owners. Don’t take a risk by buying from an unregulated breeder – it could cost you much more in the long run.
To make sure you get the healthiest dog you can, the number one thing to remember is don’t impulse buy. Don’t buy from online classifieds or social media sites, and beware of breeders who constantly have puppies for sale – be prepared to wait for a healthy puppy from a registered breeder. Make sure you can go along and meet the puppy before you buy.
Listen to the advice of vets, breed clubs and experienced knowledgeable breeders. You can contact ANKC breed clubs for help, advice and recommendations, and the ANKC website has lots of helpful information.
Going to an ANKC registered breeder gives you the best chance of finding a healthy, happy puppy. So let’s work together for the sake of these remarkable and loveable dogs.
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