Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am buying a miniature dachsund tomorrow & I would like the breeder to sign a health statement b/c I won't be getting "papers". I want it to state that the puppy's parents are healthy & show no signs of any hereditary problems. Are there any forms on the web that are available or could someone help with the correct wording?

Thanks in advance!

Alison in Ottawa

from experience & from other's posts it is really important to meet both the mother & father of your pup, if you haven't already. their temperment will be inherited by your pup. the ethical breeders will have done several tests on the parents & even back on the pedigree. Most involve patellas (knees) & eyes & the heart & are done after age 2. hopefully you have a vet appointment, I personally like to take a pup DIRECTLY to the vet before I even go home. If there are fleas/ear mites fever any heart or respiratory problems or skin/joints, internal parasites, lots that needs to be checked & not just the breeder saying its been de-wormed & had shots. that said, just keep your eyes open for anything that makes you uncomfortable. the ethical breeders will have a contract that you will neuter the pup at approp.age and that they will take the pup back at any time/offer to help with training etc. And saving the most important til last - the pup should be at LEAST 8wks & lots of breeders are waiting longer - if she wants to sell you this pup at 6wks - RUN the other way. the thing about seeing a pup & if its not in a good place you want to save it - but what you do is support an inethical breeder & they keep breeding - but HOPEFULLY I'm wrong & none of this will be an issue. too many sad stories makes us worry. let us hear.

nm

I did! She's adorable but trouble at night! She cries & whines & barks forever until we give in ( I know! we shouldn't give in but last night it was 3 hours!) She had settled last night after 25 mins & I thought she was good, then the neighbour started banging & drilling for about 45 min, then *I* fell asleep & woke up an hour later & she was still barking & crying. My sister got her to sleep in her crate last night, but the crate was on her bed. *sigh*. We put a hot water bottle in the crate,a ticking clock near her & leave a night light in the kitchen. Any other suggestions to keep Belle from crying?? Here she is!

is she longhaired? I had a longhair red sable, Astrid that slept in my arms for 14 yrs. She was a small standard. She is buried right outside the window under a beautiful fragrant tree of pink blooms. We lost her in`1988. You can look forward to a long, wonderful relationship. About the crying, I think the crate in the bed is a good idea. It may just be a matter of time, until she adjusts. She misses her siblings. Make certain she is very warm & also the feeding. Most think, well if I give less food/water late at night, then she's less likely to have to go potty. If she is in the bed,(crated cos you don't want her to fall off) you would probably wake if she cried to go potty? & have papers nearby, just plan on getting up. Cos she will sleep better on a full stomach. A small young pup needs to eat small amounts many times a day, like 4-6, at first. Hopefully a vet will give you good advice about feeding. At 12 wks her schedule of feeding might go to 3 times a day & she should be sleeping better. That is aggravating about the neighbor making noise, hopefully that won't be the norm. Hope this helps. You might check out the new puppy forums & get more info. Give lil Belle (love the name) a kiss from me!

Thanks! She is a sweetie & I love her to bits. She is a miniature long-haired & quite the rascal. She enjoys chewing on my toes (it's ok when she doesn't bite hard...) & running from the kitchen to the living room & back. She's become more adjusted to the house, I think, too. Your daschund sounds sweet & I hope Belle lives at least as long as Astrid!

I believe its the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, well something like that & it lists all the diseases tested & you can actually put in the dog's name/kennel name & get the test results! no excuse now, with new technology, maybe if the public demands quality it will drive out the inferior breeders.