By Joe Spoo DVM

People often think of spring as the time for new beginnings, and for those of us with a love for the outdoors, it also signals the time to start a new puppy. It’s difficult for just about anyone to say no to an energetic, furry bundle…add in puppy breath, and the cards are stacked against making a rational decision.

It is for this reason that it is important to do all of your homework and research before you ever lay your eyes on a potential new hunting partner. Each situation is different, so we won’t discuss making the decision whether to get a puppy or not. However, it is important to take all of the time and financial commitments involved with puppies into account before taking the leap.

So let’s assume you’ve decided the time is right to add a new hunting partner, and let’s also assume you’ve decided on the breed that is right for your hunting needs. With the rest of this article we’ll look at the important points to evaluate when selecting your puppy.

First and foremost, you will want to select a breeder that is knowledgeable of the breed and breeding for the right reason. I always tell people there are a million reasons not to breed dogs and only one or two to actually breed. While it is possible to get a good dog from a backyard breeding or from an amateur breeder, it is also possible to win the Powerball. I like something that is a little more of a sure thing, though.

Breeders often have devoted their lives to the breed of dogs they admire and, as such, have an intimate relationship with the type of pups they produce and a vested interest in producing healthy, good dogs. Reputable breeders will also have some type of health guarantee, which will cover things from hips and elbows to eyes and ears. Although there are no true guarantees when dealing with living creatures, this is the best method we have to try to produce healthy dogs.

One of the most common health clearances is going to be some type of hip certification for the parents. These will be through either OFA or PennHip, organizations that evaluate hip x-rays and grade dogs’ hips. Even with these clearances, there are no guarantees your pup will not develop hip dysplasia, but it is the best way to ensure your breeder is doing everything possible to produce dogs free of hip problems.

Each breeding dog should also have an eye clearance, often abbreviated CERF. This is a yearly exam performed by a veterinary ophthalmologist who looks for problems with cataracts and other eye maladies. After the hips and the eyes, there may be more health clearances, depending on the breed, but these are two that every good breeder will be familiar with and should have readily available for you to evaluate.

Although most hunters will never enter their dog in a field trial or hunt test, these events are still very important as measures of a dog’s ability. Here again, while having a field trial champion in front of a dog’s name does not guarantee the dog will produce top-notch pups, it is another way to put the odds in your favor that you’re getting a pup that was bred for the task you’ll be asking it to perform. These titles and achievements become more important when buying a pup from a breeder whose dogs you won’t be able to evaluate first hand.

As far as selecting the actual pup from the litter, there are probably as many techniques as there are stars in the sky. The method that has worked best for me with my two current dogs was communicating with the breeder what I was looking for and letting them select the pup. This took away any second-guessing or confusion; when I arrived at the breeder’s kennel I already knew which pup I’d be taking home.

When it comes down to it, every pup is a gamble when trying to determine how it will turn out, but thankfully, there are ways to improve your chances of picking a winner. Make sure you select a breeder with a proven reputation, one concerned with the health of the breed and one that is producing the type of dog you need for your hunting situation. Hopefully, this is going to be your hunting companion for the next decade, so it pays unlimited dividends to make a wise initial investment.