SOME ADVICE ON BUYING A PUPPY.

Before buying a puppy do make sure you’ve given it plenty of thought ; do make sure you’ve made the right choice concerning breed and sex ; do make sure you have plenty of spare time and room etc. Don’t give in to a « love at first sight », a dog is a commitment for 12-15 years !

Our breed is so often a victim of it’s singularity « The Ridge » but it is also a dog bursting with energy, affection and particular needs you must be aware of.

Do contact the RRC. They will give you a maximum of information and direct you to the right breeders with puppies duly registered with the Kennel Club.Contact the breeders in good time, before the puppies are born. Don’t forget that good breeders always have long waiting lists.

Make sure the puppies are registered with the Kennel Club and that you shall are given a birth certificate with the complete origins of the puppy. The breeder must also give you a copy of the official HD Xrays certificate of both parents (only grades A or B are acceptable) and their Show and TAN résults etc.

The puppy must be lively, in good health and well socialized. Human contact is indispensable right from birth as is a loving family environment. The puppy will leave the kennel totally weaned, tattoed, wormed and vaccinated generally not before 9-10 weeks of age. The breeder will give you the vaccination certificate, the identification form(tattoo or micro chip No) advice on feeding, rearing and educating the puppy, the sales contract that must contain the puppy’s precise identity and the Kennel Club birth registration file No.

It is highly advisable to visit the litter as many times as possible but at least once when the pups are approximately 5 weeks old. This enables you to get a good idea about the manner in wich the puppies are reared, their quality and the behaviour of the mother. A bicht with a well balanced character is an excellent model for the pups, an overly shy and anxious bitch transmits her anxiety to her offspring. The father is seldom visible ; most breeders prefer using a stud who has already proved his good genetic qualities or one liable to bring in new blood lines.

Don’t forget to mention « Dermoïd Sinus » and to ask whether the litter was checked by the breeder and his Vet. (explanation on Website).

If you are looking for Show and Breeding quality, do make sure that there are no faults, such as absence of one or both testicles, faulty bite, too much white, poor ridge, no crowns or multiple crowns. It is best to look at the RR Breed Standard (see website) and the points of « non confirmation ».

The purpose of these few recommendations is to enable you to acquire a good and sound puppy. Then it is up to you to raise and educate him properly so that he grows up to be a wonderful companion.

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