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You, and maybe your family, have decided that it is time to get a dog. And the dog you want is an aussie. The following are some questions frequently NOT asked and answered by people thinking about getting their new aussie. Hopefully, by asking these questions, you will be happy with whatever type of puppy or adult dog you decide to bring home. Why do I want a puppy? Puppies are a lot of work. They chew, they go to the bathroom in the house, they whine at 3:00 in the morning before your big meeting, they don't know what "sit", "lie down", or "come" mean, and they constantly need SOMETHING. If you don't have the time to meet the needs of a puppy, why not consider an older dog? While watching a puppy grow up is fun; it is also time consuming. Many breeders, for a variety of reasons, will have older dogs for sale. Rescue also has older dogs available. These dogs will love you. They do bond with you just like a puppy would. And they are a lot less likely to chew, whine, .... Why do I want a dog? We all know the wonderful things that dogs can do for us. They give us unconditional love. They help us to live longer. They remind us of our childhood. However, they are also a life long commitment. Dogs can live up to 17 years or more. They require yearly shots and heartworm medication. They will have accidents, just like people. This all costs money. Dogs also require food, buckets, food dishes, dog beds..... and exercise. They need people to spend time with them playing, training, working, interacting. If you can't afford the time, money, and commitment the dog requires, maybe it's not your time to get a dog. Why should I not get a dog from the pet store? They look so cute and it sure is convenient. Dogs are not a commodity to be bought and sold on a whim. They are living animals and require time, money, and commitment from the whole family, (see previous question). They should not be bought impulsively. In addition to this, pet stores buy their puppies from "breeders" who may or may not keep their dogs in what most people would consider appropriate conditions. The parents often are not screened for genetic defects. So you do not know what problems you are getting and you are perpetuating the abuse of the dogs kept in these puppy mills. No matter how cute the puppies are, DO NOT BUY ONE. OK, so who should I buy a dog from? This is a hard question with no easy answer. Here are some thoughts to guide you in the right direction. Learn about the breed you are thinking about acquiring. Visit shows. Subscribe to the national magazine. Join the local breed club. Talk to people. Listen more than you talk. See whose dogs are well behaved in and out of the ring. See whose dogs appear happy and well cared for. Surfing the web may be one way to make contacts, but it cannot take the place of time and energy put into meeting and observing actual breeders and their dogs. In some areas of the country there will be more people and more dog shows than in other parts. But with time, persistence and a willingness to travel, you will meet people. So what should I ask the breeder of my future puppy/adult dog? In many books there are lists of questions you should ask the breeder of your puppy. I feel these lists are misleading. No set of questions will tell you if a breeder is good or not. The "bad" breeders will have "good" answers to these questions. The "good" breeders will often not have answers to them. One question I have seen in several lists goes something like this: ask the breeder why he/she did this breeding. How is someone who has been actively involved with a breed for 10, 20, or 30 years going to answer that question to a novice? Breeding is a science, but it is also an art. You can study pedigrees all you want, but the best breedings are often done based on years of observation and intuition. How can you explain to someone in ten minutes what you have spent a lifetime learning? However, for a new breeder this could be an easy question, and they will tell you all the reasons the sire's pedigree compliments the dam's. This does not make one breeder better or worse than another. OK, what about a few broad guidelines? Well, both parents should have OFA ratings, of which you should be able to see proof. Also, both parents' eyes should have been certified free of eye defects within the past year by a veterinary ophthalmologist, (not the local vet). You should be able to meet at least one of the parents and feel comfortable with his/her temperament. Please remember that the dam could be feeling a little protective of her puppies if they are young. This is normal. The kennel setup should appear clean and neat. The dogs should appear happy and healthy. I would like to emphasize that the kennel needs to be clean, but the dogs may be dirty if they have been out working, running, or swimming in the local mud hole. Most importantly, you should feel comfortable with the breeder. You should have seen her/him before and have met and talked to people who have bought dogs from him/her and were happy. Please realize that the dog show world can be very political, so just because one person had a bad experience, don't write the breeder off. But if a pattern emerges, then become concerned. So what are the problems with owning an Aussie? An aussie is not a dog for everyone. Hopefully with all your research, you realize that. An aussie needs to have a job. They enjoy being with you and doing activities with you. This means they will require a lot of your time. Aussies must have exercise, although mental stimulation is more important than an overabundance of exercise. Aussies may be good with children, but like all dogs, they require supervision and training so they act properly around the younger family members. Aussies are very reactive to new people, places, and situations. To help them, and yourself, deal with this reactivity management and training are vital. How much should I expect to pay for my Aussie? This depends on what you are looking for in an aussie and where you live. Prices vary from one part of the country to another. Most rescue organizations require a donation of $150-$250 to help off set expenses. Puppies from a reputable breeder will range from around $400-$900 for a puppy that must be spayed or neutered. For a puppy that may be bred expect to pay move and have "strings" attached. A reputable breeder is not going to want their puppy to be bred if it does not grow up to fit the breed standard, and if the owner is not responsible. Therefore, they may wish to co-own the puppy with you until it is mature and/or until you have put some titles on the dog to show your commitment to the dog and the breed. For an adult dog, the amount of training already on the dog and the reason you are buying the dog will greatly affect the price. A stock dog that is already trained can range from $800 or $1000 on up, depending on the amount of training it has. If you will be breeding the dog the price, again, can range form $800 on up. But if the dog is going to be a family pet, many breeders will place a dog with you for a nominal fee, or for a litter back before the bitch is spayed. In these situations the breeder is often looking for a good home for a dog that did not turn out to be exactly what they wanted but there is nothing to prevent the dog from being an excellent family companion. What should I expect from a breeder when I get ready to buy my puppy? All reputable breeders have a contract that they will expect you to sign. These contracts will vary from one person to another but here is a list of things I would expect to find in any contract for a family pet: stipulations on when the puppy should be spayed or neutered, if you ever choose to get rid of the puppy the breeder has the right for first refusal if you sell the dog and that the dog has to go back to the breeder instead of being turned into the pound or a rescue organization, and the puppy will be guaranteed free from hereditary defects. Contracts involving dogs that are not sold on a spay/neuter contracts will typically have more requirements spelled out in them, including breeding privileges and titles you may be required to put on the dog before you own the dog outright. You should also expect that the breeder checks you out as thoroughly as you are checking them out. After all, they want to be sure their puppies are going to a good home. And the breeder should be there for you when you have questions about your new puppy or dog. This is an ongoing relationship, not one that ends with the signing of a check.   Now that I have my Aussie, what should I do? Enroll in a good obedience class, no matter what the age of your dog. It will only help to increase your bond with the dog. For some training advice check out my training section. And have fun with your dog, that is why you bought it after all :)   This page was created by and is copyrighted to Beth MacLehose. If you notice any graphics I have used that are yours and you would prefer I not use them let me know and I will remove them. Also all pictures and text is copyrighted to me or the cited author. Please email the author for permission to use material you find here.