Puppy Selections

If you noticed the new photos below I have removed names of the puppies. My intent was originally to identify those puppies that have 1)deposits placed for them and 2)potential families had indicated to me that they were interested in a particular puppy and had provided a possible name for that puppy.

Since none of the pups have actually left and been physically placed in homes they are all still "pending" adoptions. However, there are some situations that have required me to make a decision to place a puppy with a particular family because it is the best fit for the puppy. For example, if there was one that has a dominant personality and is more aggressive than the others, I would simply not consider placing that puppy in a home with small children or perhaps any children at all.

So my work is geared towards making what should be the BEST possible match for the success of a new family member going to a forever home. But that doesn't apply to just one puppy, one family. It is my job to place each puppy in what will be their forever home and family. What is a forever home?

To me, that means that even when there are "accidents" in the house, even when he needs out at 3am, even when he is sick or gets hurt or eats someone's sock or chews up the family favorite DVD...that means he is ALWAYS going to have that family. It means that even if he needs correction or redirection that it is done in a firm but loving way, followed by a lot of love and reassurance. A forever family will set appropriate boundaries, not set their dog up for failure that only leads to bad habits. Bad habits take a lot of time, effort and expense to correct later on and must be done with a lifetime of commitment. You can't just "give up" on your dog.

A dog without behavioral boundaries doesn't stand much of a chance to be a successful and happy family member. If they are not trained, taught with firmness, love and patience, they will not be the well-mannered dogs they have the potential to be. I refuse to place a puppy in a home where I do not feel in my heart they will be able to stay forever. They will instead end up being mistreated, "given away", dropped off at a shelter or even abused.

Here's a real life example of that. I know a really great family with 5 great boys. They had a dog...a beagle. He was cute and sweet and friendly and smart. I'm not sure how they ended up with him but he wasn't a puppy when they got him. So he had to have at least been in one other home prior to coming to them. Recently I heard from one of the boys now almost 17 years old. I asked him about "Doogie". Here's what he told me :
"We lost interest in him a few years ago and gave him to our grandfather. He took him to his landlord so the landlord's kids could have him. Doogie ran away from them and no one has seen him since."

"Lost interest in him"? Here's the thing in this situation. Good family, really good people, good kids. But they are NOT a dog family. They were not willing to be a "forever" family for Doogie. I'm sure they didn't know what they were getting into, the commitment to train with patience, everyone helping take care of him, the walks, the play time, the brushing, the feeding, the cleaning up after him. And then he got bounced to someone else. Why did he run off? Who knows. But these stories happen too often and are sad.

My job- and my FIRST responsibility to these puppies is to do the work to meet with all family members, to see them interact with the puppies, to get a "feel" for them. If it doesn't feel right, I will return a deposit or turn down a request to purchase one of our puppies. For a placement to be the right one, it needs to feel that way to me. This is not a one-sided puppy placement situation. The family or person seeking a puppy is not the only person deciding if or which puppy they will take. A positive placement is agreed upon by both sides as well as the puppy responsiveness.

The process we follow includes multiple visits to see the puppies, to meet the sire and dam, to see how the litter interacts and then in one on one situations with the potential family. Today I saw some distinct behavior from one such interaction. It reconfirmed in my heart and mind that THIS puppy needs to be with THAT family. And that family will provide everything she needs to be a happy, well-adjusted family dog. I trust them enough that if I had to place either of my own dogs for some reason, that family would be at the top of my list outside some of my own extended family members.

Hopefully this isn't coming off sounding harsh or elitist. It is not my intention to offend anyone but those who know me know I am very direct. I am very passionate about doing what is best for these dogs. Since I cannot keep them myself and never had any intention to do so, I have made a commitment to do the very best I can for them. The bar's too high? Maybe but I prefer to err on the side of caution. I owe them that.

I'm just hoping to provide clarification for the process and why my approach is what it has been. For those who "just want a puppy" there are plenty of places that will sell or give a puppy to anyone. Idaho Iron Rod Beagles isn't one of those places.