A dog walks the ramp during the Pet-A-Porter fashion show at Harrods retail store in London. The annual fashion show for pet dogs showcased outfits from acclaimed international fashion designers. (AFP)

You must have come across a host of problems while adopting a pet. How to understand if a pet is healthy? What kind of disposition will go with your lifestyle? Your decision is sure to be from the heart, but here are some suggestions to guide you on a pet’s health and temperament.

Try to buy a puppy from a breeder, so that you can meet the parents. By seeing a dog’s parents you can judge its temperament.

Watch the condition of the puppy. Is its nose cool and damp? Are there signs of nasal discharge? The gums should be a bright pink; a pale colour can mean anaemia or a problem with worms. Are the teeth clean and straight? (If the setting of the upper and lower teeth is crooked, your dog will score less points if you take it to a show.)

Eyes should be bright and sparkling, and looking straight ahead. White spots or visible lines on the surface of the eye can mean trouble. Check for redness or inflammation of the eyelids. The ear canals should be clean and free of odour. A deposition of wax and dirt, tenderness and shaking of head would indicate ear mite or infection.

Feel the stomach. A swollen stomach indicates poor diet or possibility of worms. A bulge at the navel or groin may mean hernia. The genitals should be clean and free from irritation, which could indicate worms, diarrhoea or a digestive disorder. A male dog should have both testicles. The coat should be fluffy and clean. Sores, itching or deposits in the fur indicate fleas, mites or other parasites. Check if the heartbeat is strong and regular.

Finally, watch how the dog is built. See if the legs are straight and well-formed and the toes well-arched. The puppy should run without a limp. Beware of an animal that is thin and underweight or distinctly overweight. The most desirable pet is one that appears well-proportioned for its age and weight.

While choosing a puppy you must watch its reaction when it sees you for the first time. If the puppy cosies up to you and licks your hand you can rest assured it would be friendly. If it’s afraid of you and urinates, don’t take it. This one will be a shy dog. Grown-up shy dogs usually have a tendency to bite.

A puppy eyes a plate of ice cream in an ice-cream parlour for canines in Taipei. (Reuters)

If you want to enrol your pet in a dog show, check if it’s been registered. The dog will be easily registered if its parents had been registered with the Kennel Club of India (KCI) in Chennai. The breeder will then give you a name transfer form. One side of the form should be signed by the dog’s previous owners.

After registration, the KCI will hand you the dog’s pedigree papers which will help you mate your dog. If the breeder cannot give you this paper, you can take your dog to a nominated judge when it’s a year-old. The certification from the nominated judge will help you get the KCI registration.

Send your queries to goutam3@hotmail.com.