Passions have run high on both sides. Supporting the bill is Texas Humane Legislation Network. Opposing it is the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance.  Our aim here is to present both sides as fairly as possible.

It is undeniable that something needs to be done to curb the problem of puppy mills in Texas. We here at DogBoy’s have seen the tragic health and temperament consequences of puppy mill dogs, as well as the heroic efforts of customers who have helped rescue these dogs to give them the best and most dignified life possible. It is a wonderful thing to rescue a dog in need of a home from a good shelter or rescue group, but responsible breeders produce good pets as well. Unfortunately, not enough people investigate where they are buying their puppies from, or simply may not know what separates a good breeder from a disreputable one.  We covered this in part in a previous blog entry, “Getting A New Dog.”

Opponents  of HB 1451, led by the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance, say that the aim of the bill is to eliminate commercial pet breeding altogether, in service of a radical agenda that seeks to eliminate meat eating and pet ownership.  Additionally, RPOA says that the bill would be the first step down a a path which would prohibit livestock farming; hunting, trapping and fishing; zoos, rodeos and circuses. There have also been claims that the bill would dictate training methods, especially for hunting dogs.  In light of that, it is worth noting that State Rep.  David Simpson of Longview, a leading opponent of the bill in the legislature, received approximately $500 from the NRA and another $300 from the Texas Deer Association in the period covering the 2010 campaign (view Rep. Simpson’s filings online at the Texas Ethics Commission’s website). Furthermore, opponents of HB 1451 say that existing state and federal standards and anti-cruelty laws are more than adequate to police puppy mills.

On the other side, supporters of HB 1451—led by the Texas Humane Legislation Network argue that criticism of the bill is overblown or outright false. In their FAQ section covering HB 1451, THLN asserts the following: that only commercial breeders with 11 or more intact female animals which ALSO sell the offspring of those females will be subject to the bill’s licensing requirements and standards, and subject to inspection. Boarding facilities like DogBoy’s would not be affected; trainers would not be affected; so-called “hobby breeders” who may only have one or two litters in a year would not be affected. THLN also argues that the inspection and standards give the state the leverage to seize animals before they die from neglect, instead of charging the people responsible for animal cruelty after it’s too late.

As with many bills the Legislature considers, the good intentions behind the puppy mill bill have been lost in a system that seems to value controversy over sober analysis. Hopefully we were able to shed some light on this subject, and we’ll be sure to follow up on HB 1451 if anything new develops.

Getting a new dog takes research and time.

The internet was recently abuzz with the news that Tibetan Mastiffs are the “it” dog in China.  Between the rarity of the breed and a great increase of Chinese consumers with money to burn, some dogs are going for as much as $600,000. While that sounds extreme (and it is extreme), here in the States we’re not immune to crazes for suddenly-trendy dog breeds.  In the wake of hit movies like 101 Dalmatians and Beverly Hills Chihuahua, shelters across the country were flooded with those breeds, surrendered by people who either tired of the dogs or were unprepared for the challenges of raising breeds of dog that, in both cases, are not often known for being laid-back and easy-going.

I personally am not militant on the subject of buying a dog from a breeder versus adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue group. My corgi, Graham, was purchased from a breeder; my husky mix, Hoosier, was rescued from Town Lake Animal Center. They have both been wonderful dogs for my household and have both presented their own unique rewards and challenges.

When getting a pure-bred dog, you always want to research the breed carefully. What are its characteristics? While it’s important to remember that dogs are individuals with their own personalities, most dog breeds were created with a particular purpose in mind.  Tibetan mastiffs, for example, were bred to be guard dogs in a cold, harsh climate.  That means they are thick-coated and shed a lot, are particularly intelligent, and tend to be quite independent (per the American Tibetan Mastiff Association), so you need to be prepared to handle these and other typical behaviors if you want to adopt this particular breed.  Rebecca Cohen, whose Tibetan mastiffs are regular DogBoy’s boarders, says “If socialized properly they [Tibetan mastiffs] get along with other dogs (although mastiff play is pretty physical…), and get to know extended family and friends well enough to welcome them into the house.”  But you have to be willing to work with them to overcome their guard-dog instincts.

Corgis, being herding dogs, are prone to alert-barking at unfamiliar people and things, so my wife and I had to be prepared for that.  If you don’t want a barker, you probably shouldn’t adopt a corgi!  And if you are adding a second (or third) dog to your household, you have to make sure a particular breed will do well in a multiple dog household, and be aware of any breed-specific issues when it comes to multiple dogs. For instance, adult male corgis do not tend to do well together in the same house.  Of course, you will probably want to do a meet and greet to make sure your potential new dog gets along with any dogs or other animals you may already have.

If you are purchasing a pure-bred dog, you MUST (it cannot be emphasized enough) make sure you are dealing with a reputable breeder.  You never want to purchase a dog from a pet store. Not only do many pet store dogs come from so-called “puppy mills,” where dogs are bred repeatedly in inhumane conditions without regard to health or personality characteristics, but the puppy may not be terribly well-socialized and months in a cage may also make house training more difficult.

A reputable breeder will let you visit their facility, and let you meet the parents of your future puppy so you can see their personality for yourself and be assured that conditions are clean and humane.  A good breeder will also be happy to answer questions and will ask you questions in return; they may want to meet your other dog or dogs before agreeing to sell you one of their puppies.  Finally, a good breeder will screen potential sires and dams for diseases and conditions the particular breed may be prone to, to avoid perpetuating them, and they will only breed their dogs a limited number of times—many breeders will only allow a female to have two, or at most three, litters.

Many small dogs are prone to floating kneecaps (patellar luxation, in vet-speak); many larger breeds like the Tibetan Mastiff (and its mastiff cousins), Labs and Golden Retrievers can be prone to hip dysplasia. Both conditions can be serious enough to require surgical correction which, needless to say, can be quite expensive. Roughly 10% of all Dalmatians are born deaf, and that was a factor in many Dalmatian surrenders after the 101 Dalmatians craze of the 1990s. Graham’s breeder screened his parents for Von Willenbrand’s disease, an inherited blood-clotting disorder corgis are prone to.

Adopting a dog from a shelter or a rescue group brings its own set of challenges. My dog Hoosier was brought to Town Lake Animal Center as a stray and not much was known about his background previous to his arrival at the shelter.  He was very affectionate with people but turned out to be somewhat reactive on leash and was particularly protective of me.  Since we had no dogs or children at the time we adopted Hoosier, we were able to adjust to his personality quirks and at least start working on his issues, but if this hadn’t been the case Hoosier’s arrival would have been much more difficult and stressful than it was.  One of the big advantages of adopting through a rescue group is that often the dogs have spent time in a foster home and you will have a much better idea of a potential new dog’s personality up front, not to mention any health issues the dog may bring with him.

Many shelter and rescue dogs have stories that pull at your heart strings, but be very careful if sympathy or pity is your primary motivation for choosing a particular dog. “You may come to regret it later or it may be more than you can handle which is incredibly unfair to the dog,” says Rebecca Andrews, CPDT.   And Rebecca knows what she’s talking about.  She and our other trainers here at DogBoy’s have talked to many owners on the verge of re-homing dogs who turned out to be far more challenging than expected.

No matter where you are getting your dog from, bringing one into your household should never be an impulsive decision.  Adopting a puppy or young dog, whether from a breeder, a shelter or a rescue group, is a commitment of a decade or more barring illness or injury. However, the rewards of such a partnership with the right dog bring joys and benefits that are more than worth it—for you and your pooch!

Contributed by Jay Robison

photo by Nicole Mlakar Photography

It’s been a week and I’m just catching my breath to tell you all about our big Open House weekend.  What a wonderful time it was – celebrating with family, friends and staff.  We’re still smiling about it!

We kicked off the weekend with a pre-party, taking time to thank our builder, our bankers, our local vets, and many of the others who made this project possible.  We decided to give the Training & Wellness Center an informal nickname, Chelsea’s Place after our first dog, Chelsea Garbo.  She’s the reason we got into this business, after all!

We also announced some BIG news.  We have made a committment to a formal partnership with the Austin Humane Society!  We are SO excited about giving back to the Austin pet community, and can’t wait to get started.  DogBoy’s will be helping out some of their more active dogs – who really need to get out and run!  We’re giving a free evaluation and day of day care for up to three shelter dogs per week.  In exchange, DogBoy’s will have the honor of a dedicated run at the AHS, and will get to be a big part of their annual Rags to Wags gala.  We just love the work that the AHS does, and we’re so proud to be a partner with them.

I’d like to say a big THANK YOU to Nicole Mlakar-Livingston of Nicole Mlakar Photography for shooting the pre-party and Saturday’s Open House.  For even more of her great pics, you can read her blog.  We’re really looking forward to working with Nicole more in 2010!

I’d also like to send big hugs and thank you’s to my mom, dad & sister for all their help with Friday’s event.  We couldn’t have pulled off such a wonderful evening without their help! 

The Open House on Saturday was loads of fun too.  We had our wonderful trainers doing demos on Agility and Rally Obedience.  So impressive!  Lisa Knaggs, Owner of Bark for Peace gave some great mini-classes on canine massage.  She’s teaching her second class out at the ranch on Friday, 2/12 if you’d like to join us!

Marcella and I did three FULL tours and really enjoyed showing everyone around.  Thanks to everyone who helped out and please come join us at Chelsea’s Place soon!

Four or five years into his life, my best friend was visiting from out of town. She was going through some very troubled times and needed some comfort. She found that comfort in Cedar. She threatened to take my dog home. I told her not to threaten me. I had five dogs and would be fine with only four! As the weekend progressed, I knew what I wanted to do.

I told her to take Cedar home. If things didn’t work out, she could always bring him back. I was sure he’d only be gone a few weeks. But weeks turned into months, and every time I spoke to my friend she told me how happy Cedar made her and how much he was loved by her kiddos. Cedar didn’t have to share any of the resources with any other dogs. Everyone’s love was all for him. It was a match made in Heaven.

Years later, Cedar continues to serve his purpose. He is companion, protector, school crossing guard, exercising buddy, and unconditional lover of his new family. When I get the opportunity to see with him, he’s so happy that I’m just another visitor to him. He loves us, but he has a new forever home. And he’s still making my friend’s life better every day. Cedar the superhero dog strikes again! What a gift he is to all of us.

They are only 9 weeks old. They are the last two from a litter of seven, but Lucky Mutts must have saved the best for last, because these two girls are adorable!! Their foster mom is already teaching them how to sit and they’re catching on fast! If you would like more info on China or Java, just contact Lucky Mutts!

Lucky Mutts

PS. For those of you in the “business” of fostering animals, please take note that DogBoy’s gives a discounted rate for all foster dogs!

Camden might get adopted out soon! This little guy was left here by his owner. He’s an adorable American Bulldog puppy – almost 6 months, with quite the personality.

Luckily, our clients are coming through with interest in him – Thanks to all of you who wrote in! We’ll keep working to find the best possible owner for his new forever home.