SHOULD I GET A PUPPY

If you are considering adding a puppy to your family then there are a few questions you should ask yourself to make sure that a puppy is the right pet for you and your family.


Why do you want a puppy?  A puppy takes a lot of time and effort, granted a lot of it will be fun, but it will still be time consuming.  Adding a puppy to your family will be like having an infant in your home.  It will need to be fed, potty trained, groomed, and played with.  In the beginning this will mean waking up in the middle of the night too.  But unlike an infant the puppy stage will only last about a year.

There is the cost, not only of purchasing the puppy but also for food, bowls, bedding, crates, gates, leashes, bones, treats, and toys.  Some of these will be on going and some will be one time.  There are also the costs of vet examinations and vaccinations and also licenses.

If you are willing to put in the time and have the patience needed for raising a puppy then the rewards will be plentiful.  No other pet can offer the devotion as that of a dog.

 
Do you have time to raise a puppy?  Do you travel a lot or work long hours?  If so who will care for the puppy while you are gone?  Or are you, or someone in your family, home during the day, or able to come home on a lunch break, to accommodate the puppy's potty schedule.

Will you have time for a before work/school walk as well as some play time in the evening?  If you don't think you will have time, or be able to rearrange schedules to make time, an older dog may be a better choice.


Who's in your family?  This is an important question when deciding on what breed or mix of breed of dog to get. 

If you have small children you'll want to choose a breed that can handle the chaos of a small child(ren) and one that is not of a protective or territorial breed.  If you have a small child that is clingy or needy you may want to postpone getting a puppy for a few years or consider adopting an older puppy, 10 months +, or an adult dog.

If you have older children and expect that they will care for the puppy then keep in mind that most children are not equipped to remember everything so the puppy will still be your responsibility.  Sure they will be able to do a lot of what's needed but you will still be their coach, reminding them to walk the dog, feed the dog, bathe the dog, clean up after the dog, etc. 

If you have other pets you'll want to spend some time picking a breed that isn't genetically programmed to corral, maim, or kill those other pets.  Talk to your breeder and make sure they have exposed their puppies to other animals.  Also keep in mind what types of personalities your current pets have; will they be accepting of a new family member?


What things do you want in a dog?  Sure picking a puppy is easy; they all have the cuteness factor.  But try to think ahead to when the puppy becomes an adult dog and pick the breed that most resembles what you are looking for.  (See the section on 'Top 20 Breeds' for breed descriptions.)

Are you looking for a companion, a running buddy, a guard dog, a dog to sit with you while you watch tv, play with your children, etc.?  Or is there a quality that you don't want in a dog.  What about the size of the dog?

If you take the time to consider these things and keep them in mind when picking a breed of puppy you'll end up with a dog you love.