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There is nothing cuter and more touching than a basset hound puppy. The long ears that the puppy trips over, the soulful eyes, the cute long body with the big paws. Arizona Basset Hound Rescue does not routinely have puppies available for adoption. The main reason is because many people buy basset hound puppies and then give them up to rescue when they are no longer young; customarily when they are between 1 and 2 years old. Our rescue takes in bassets that are strays, relinquishes, and those who have ended up in shelters for various reasons. We usually have many older bassets - ranging from 2 years old and up. The dogs generally have been in foster care with one of AZBHR's foster homes, and have been evaluated for health and behavior traits. Some of the sweetest and most well-behaved hounds have been 5 years old and up. If you would like to open up your home to a basset hound and would also like to help rescue a dog and give it a second chance, please consider adopting a dog through AZBHR. If you are looking for a basset hound puppy, please do some research. There are only a handful of respectable basset hound breeders in Arizona. Just because a dog is registered by the AKC, the registration paper is not necessarily a guarantee of quality. AZBHR has taken in many AKC registered dogs with inherent genetic physical and behavior problems, as well as AKC bassets that do not even look much like bassets. The AKC is just a registration service and deals mainly with paperwork. Most bassets from pet shops are AKC, but are NOT from reputable breeders. They are generally from puppy mills in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska which exist solely to churn out puppies for consumers. A well-bred pet-quality basset from a reputable breeder should come with a spay/neuter contract and a guarantee that the breeder will take the dog back should the new owner ever need to relinquish it for any reason. The parents of the puppy will have been screened for genetic problems before the breeding occurred. Good breeders breed not only for looks, but also for health and temperament. A reputable breeder will want to know as much about YOU as you want to know about them and their dogs. This is a person who you will hopefully have a relationship with during the life of your new dog. Do not be afraid to ask lots of questions about the puppies and their parents, such as any health problems in that particular bloodline. How many litters has that particular mother had? Most reliable breeders only breed a dog once or twice. Many times only the mother of the puppies will be on site. Some breeders use males from another kennel to strengthen their kennel's bloodlines. This is nothing unusual. It is unusual, however, to not have the mother available to see. Observe the puppy's health carefully - are the eyes clear, the legs straight, does the dog move correctly when it walks and runs? Is the mother of the puppies in good health? Are the puppies current on vaccinations? Puppies need 3-4 sets of vaccinations before they are fully immune to many diseases. Puppies should be at least 10-12 weeks before you take them home. They need time with their mother and siblings to learn social behaviors. Where do you find a good breeder? Reputable breeders do not generally place ads in regular newspapers or put signs up in their neighborhoods advertising their puppies. A good place to start your research is by contacting the Basset Hound Club of America (BHCA) for information about members and breeders in your area. Attend a dog show or two and observe some of the bassets from your area. The AKC can provide you with information about where and when dog shows will be taking place. Talk to the people at the shows about bassets in general and their kennels. Most people are more than happy to talk about their dogs! Buying a basset puppy should not be an instant decision. Sometimes it will take up to several months to find a good, quality puppy that will enrich your families lives in the years to come. It is all worth it in the end, when you bring home that sweet basset hound puppy.
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