#MyPupStory celebrates the incredible journeys of families who have gone the extra mile to find their furry companion directly from an ethical breeder. We hope their stories shine light on the importance of finding your next puppy directly from an ethical breeder.
Hi, I’m Toby! My story is inspired by a decade of love & lessons from Matthew, my mom’s first dog.
Matthew was purchased from a local pet shop with a vaccination & health check certificate. As a first-time dog owner, this greatly reassured Irene. Unfortunately, Matthew faced serious health challenges later in life - two bouts of Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) before eventually succumbing to oral cancer.
From Heartbreak to Hope
Matthew’s experience encouraged Irene to learn more about ethical breeding, preventable hereditary diseases and the importance of health testing. When she embarked on the search for her next puppy, she was determined to look for an ethical breeder directly.
The Struggle
Irene began her search by reaching out to breeders on the Dogzonline Australia website. However, most were not keen to send their puppies overseas. Between the uncertainties of import & export regulations, and the preconceived risks of transacting with a foreign owner, breeders had plenty of reasons to be unsure about overseas queries. However, Irene never gave up. She finally found Toby’s breeder, who had previously sent 2 puppies to loving homes in Singapore and was open to speaking with her.
Breeders care about the families that they send their puppies to. They not only put in a tremendous amount of effort in raising their puppies, but also remain a pivotal part of your puppy’s life.
Toby’s breeder had questions about the number of family members in her household, her experience with dachshunds, her lifestyle and training plan for the puppy, amongst others. Throughout this process, breeders also help you determine if the breed is a right fit for you & your family. While mini dachshunds are considered small dogs, they were originally bred as hunting dogs and therefore, benefit greatly from adequate physical and mental stimulation.
Love at First Sight
It might be tempting to be able to bring home a puppy immediately, but puppies aren’t made at factory lines. A female dog comes into heat once every 6 - 9 months, and multiple factors have to be taken into consideration prior to breeding. This includes extensive health testing, DNA panelling and ensuring that she is physically fit to carry the pregnancy to full term.
When Irene communicated her preference for a black and tan male puppy, her breeder managed her expectations by sharing more behind the science of colour genes, and that she could not guarantee a specific colour. Beyond colour, Irene wanted a friendly dog that was calm with both humans and around dogs.
After a 1.5 year wait, Toby and his littermates finally arrived. Being the only black and tan male puppy from his litter, Toby had chosen his family from birth! It was love at first sight for Irene - and we can definitely understand why from his baby photos. Toby's breeder still made sure to assess Toby’s personality before giving her the final confirmation that Toby will be joining her family.
Toby becomes Singaporean!
Thankfully, the “application” for a dog to become Singaporean is not akin to the human version. Irene enlisted the help of an Australian pet export company that ensured Toby’s journey to Singapore was smooth. This includes ensuring that Toby had the right vaccinations, export permits, and all arranging his flights back home. On Irene’s side, she chose to handle the import applications on her own by applying for a Dog License and Import Permit from AVS.
Toby arrived in Singapore with his microchip certificate, vaccination records, parents’ genetics health screening results and pedigree papers issued by the ANKC (Australian National Kennel Council).
Life in the Red Dot
Despite the vast difference between life on a farm and in the city, Toby adapted quickly to the new sights and sounds. Initially afraid of the foreign environment including entering lifts, Irene dedicated time to exposing him to new surroundings, and engaging the help of a trainer.
Toby's life in Singapore, from his first car ride to sharing milk with his fellow sausage friends!
Fast forward to today, Toby enjoys his weekend adventures around Singapore with Irene, and weekly daycare sessions with Superdog Academy. He recently celebrated his 3rd birthday, and Irene's relationship with his breeder has turned into a trusted friendship. His breeder not only follows up on the well-being of Toby, but also offers advice and discussions on various topics.
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