We'd rather improve: look VERY carefully. As many as 14 questions are included in the ordinary questionnaire for each person in Great Britain who decides to shoulder the load of responsibility for the dog. "Is there any body who can all the time look after the dog (a short visit in a dinner-time is not enough)?", "Are the dimensions of the house enough to keep a dog?", "Are you ready to walk with the dog for long time?", "Can you afford the probable veterinary service expenses?", "Do you realize that dogs like people grow old and may need special expenses?", etc.
Recently we've used to compare our lifestyle with that of people in other countries. And if one to count charges for equipment, facilities for grooming, drugs, vitamins, shampoos, numerous canned and natural kinds of dog food, he will conclude that 1 to 2 per cents of our owners wouldn't be able to bear the budget of any European dog today. So we must consider: we are lucky people since we still have an opportunity to keep a dog.
In a "civilized" world the procedure of acquiring a puppy is itself a display of readiness to take a responsibility for the animal's fate. In our country, free of strict rules, the things are much easier: scratch your head, get filled with a wish and - buy a pup. That's all. A habit to live beyond future prospect, beyond the custom to look ahead can spoil the owner's life and maim the dog.
Somewhere else we've talked about the main criteria for choosing a puppy, but here we'll give them a brief review. 1. Consider the opinion of other members of the family: perhaps everybody will have to clean the house and walk with the dog. 2. House dimensions: an animal should not fill like it is in a cage. 3. Your own physical and mental condition: a weak-willed person in a company of Black Terrier, Rottweiler or Dobermann (let alone, fighting dogs) is nonsense. On the other hand, a strong-willed man with a tough hand can break even such a "gentle" dog as Collie.
One more detail which is typically national: fashion. When one year in winter all Moscow puts on Chinese down coats and begins to resemble one of districts in Peking it just says against style. Quite another matter is when on the mass media quick advice the rating of fighting dogs sky-rockets and anyone, who feel like that, takes these extremely specific dogs into his house.
The final question: why? For what purpose you buy the dog? Who do you need? A watchdog? A hunter? A family friend? A toy?
In practice the propaganda of cynologists, who never get tired to explain to public the details of relationship between a man and a dog of this or that breed, who call for the sense of responsibility and ask to stay away from being in a hurry while choosing, very often goes in vain. People acquire dogs and the further it goes the more they purchase. And you only have to take this fact as it is. It's a sin to reject the desire of a person, who is crocked to the blues by the troubles of the present-day life, to have a friend nearby.
In a word, the decision is done. Some money is borrowed till the day of salary, some stuff is pawned and surcharged, and here you come to get a pup and let the things go there own way.
WHERE TO GET?
Specialist would probably say unpleasant words that concern our newspaper too: pet market, they would say, is not a good place for this cause. Partly they are right: market is market and everything is possible - a breeding defect, fake pedigree certificate and the same of that sort of monkey business. God forbid to take pokes at ourselves: it's a question of time to see the market as a place of civilized dog trade.
Another possibility is to find a puppy by means of newspaper ads. This is the better way: you come to a house and make a reasonable choice without a hurry, study the papers, make a long-term contact with the breeder. Nevertheless, don't be carried away by the abundance of titles and awards. The "honor" doesn't at all mean quality. Take such a simple fact, for instance, that very many clubs and cynology associations exist today and each of them arranges competitions and each of them give awards.
The third way is the most foolproof: ask a cynologist to help. He can advice a proper club and a good puppy.
A VISION OF SOMEBODY
If you go to realize your intension in a company of a cynologist, don't fray your nerves, and rely on the professional status and taste. If you are alone, check up the puppy if he has no pronounced defects. Determine if he doesn't have rupture. This is very simple: if he has, there is a typical swell in the area of navel. Rupture is not lethal, but nonetheless unpleasant. Make sure the bite is correct. It should be scissors-like: the upper incisors get tightly to the lower ones.
With some breeds (e.g., poodles), in the period of milk teeth an undershot or an overshot is possible, but later on it settles into shape. Sometimes such puppies get the mark "breeding defect", however, if the bite will change you will be able to change the pedigree certificate after the second examination. One more detail. There is a notion that the best puppy is the most go-ahead, nimble and quickest baby. Remember that not every nimble puppy grows in to the best adult.
WHICH ONE TO GET?
Most likely that the act of choice itself has purely psychological origin, it is something that substantially presets further relationship between the man and the dog. This is the man's heart that decides. Listen to its' voice. And take the one it points at.
A PUDDLE ON CLEAN PARQUET
You went for a puppy, but it'd be good that you leave the house ready for the new lodger. The first important thing is PLACE. You should remember that this will be the place for long years. It should not be situated on the way or be draughty. Of course, you want to settle a touching nice creature with maximum of comfort: in cozy warm corner. Don't fall for this plain weakness, don't make the dog's house near the radiator and the like heat sources, otherwise you risk to raise a feeble animal. But this could be worse: when an animal lives close to heat source its coat structure becomes destroyed. This is not a good idea to shove the dog out to kitchen: what a torment to always be among tasty odors of cooking. What is more, think about hygiene. You would scarcely be glad see a bunch of hairs on your plate. A place is, first of all, cozy bedding, which is easy to clean.
You should beforehand take care of dishes for your pet: one bowl for water, another - for food. The best table is that raises and lowers. You can purchase one at a pet market. The height of tabletop should be adjusted so that the dog can stand freely while eating, doesn't have to bend or crook its back.
For a long-coated pet you should have at least a primary barber tool kit: a brush of middle harshness. Begin combing as early as the puppy is one month old. Don't bother for the fact that "there is nothing to comb there": let the dog get used to movements of your hand and a touch of brush or comb.
by Viktor Malnev & Vasily Viktorov, "Pet Market", Translated by Tatiana Karpova (Moscow)
(MSU, Biology faculture, Dep. zoology and ecology).