Authored by Brandy Burgess in Dogs
Published on 10-10-2009
Are you interested in finding a small dog to call your own? Well there are numerous ways to find your new pet from professional breeders to local pet stores. Before choosing a new dog, you will want to take a minute to consider all aspects of adopting a small dog. Once you have though about the huge responsibility and time a pet consumes, you will be on your way to finding a small dog to adopt.
Purebred vs. Mixed Breed
Unless you have a specific type of dog in mind, you will need to make a decision of either a purebred or mixed breed. Although both types can make for a great dog, each have their pros and cons. Breeding done with purebred dogs is done very carefully. Breeders are sure to pair dogs that have a clean health record and are usually well taken care of.
Mixed breed dogs commonly carry deficiencies that are passed on to them from one breed or another. They are required to get neutered but proper screening is usually not required. Many people prefer the prestige of purebred dogs and this is the reason that many mixed breeds stay in dog pounds.
Find a Small Dog for Adoption:
Rescue Groups
If you are interested in getting a purebred dog, try to find a local rescue group. Usually each rescue group will focus on a specific breed of dog. These dogs have usually been abandoned or neglected by previous owners. When choosing a dog from a rescue group, you will usually have to pay a fee to cover any medical expenses that the animal received while in the care of the rescue group. You can usually find a great selection of small purebred dogs with this option.
Animal Shelters
If you’re interested in saving a dog, consider looking at your local animal shelter or humane society. These dogs are usually strays and are usually mixed breeds. Volunteers usually work at most animal shelters to help abandoned dogs find good homes. There will be an adoption fee for your small dog that will cover past medical expenses. This fee usually includes neutering and spraying of the dog.
Classifieds
Looking through your local classifieds is a great way to find a small dog. Many people who have dogs that they can no longer care for or those who have puppies to get rid of will put an ad in the paper. For most mixed breeds, you will find people giving away the dog for free. Before going to pick up a dog from a classified ad, it’s important to ask the previous owner about any health problems that the dog may have.
Pet Stores
Although you can find some really friendly dogs in a pet store, I recommend finding another method of adopting a small dog. This is because most pet store puppies come from “puppy mills”. In these puppy mills, dogs are bred in very crowded areas and usually treated as factory production and not living creatures. Pet owners should avoid purchasing puppies from pet stores to discourage this activity from happening.
