Choosing The Right Puppy

Have you or anyone else ever gone to a pet store or your local animal shelter and fallen in love? Those big sad eyes looking back at you, seemingly BEGGING for you to take him home?

Far too many times, this is a scenario that plays out in homes and apartments all over the U.S. And sadly, far too many times there is a sad ending. Weeks or months go by, and the house breaking isn’t going well. Stains on the carpet begin to take their toll, and those precious sad little eyes have turned into a mischievous, chewing, biting, jumping monster! This is the point where that cute puppy has turned into an adolescent pup with pent up energy that HAS to have an outlet. This is also the point where so many cute puppies end up in shelters and millions are put to sleep each day. The reality is that humans impulsively take dogs into their homes based simply on how cute they are, or how well the children did at “begging” for a new puppy.

If you’re considering getting a new puppy there are several things you should consider to avoid sadness and disappointment later.

Research Dog Breeds

From the beginning of time, dogs were bred for specific purposes. Herding, hunting, retrieving etc. If you’re thinking of getting a pure breed, for heavens sake….find out what the basic instincts of that breed are BEFORE you make the commitment!

Your family's activity level. If your family is the type that goes hiking often you will probably want a pet that you can take with you. If your family tends to stay at home to relax, a cat or a low-activity dog may be better for you.

Pet size. Is your home, yard, and car big enough to accommodate a large-breed dog? Are you able to physically handle a large dog? Do you have any physical conditions that may prevent you from exercising or caring for your pet?

Your schedule. There's no doubt about it: dogs require far more time and effort than cats. Cats are wonderful for people who like the companionship but don't have time to walk a dog everyday or let it out every few hours to do its "business". Consider exercise needs, need to regularly eliminate, feeding, training, and attention.

Coat type. Generally speaking, long-haired dogs and cats will require regular grooming either by your family or a professional groomer. This can be very time-consuming (not to mention expensive!).

Your budget. It's back to the money thing again ... Just keep in mind that large dogs also require large amounts of food. Another consideration is long-haired pets that may require regular trips to the groomers.

Where you live and go on vacation. If you are renting accommodations or going to college, keep in mind that there places that no not allow pets at all, while others allow small dogs or cats but are extremely resistant to larger breeds. There may also be restrictions on the number of pets you may have. The same thing goes for vacations: if you would like to take your pet with you, you will find it easier to find accommodations that will allow small pets.

Your lifestyle. Are you always traveling? Is someone at home for a good part of the day, or is everyone always on the go? If your pet must spend most of its time alone, then you likely won't be able to provide it with a suitable home at this time.

Your family

• Do you have kids or family members with special needs? Some breeds of dogs have known tendencies to bite. Others are known to be extremely high energy dogs that require a great deal of attention and exercise, such as border collies. Young children in particular place restrictions on the type of dog you can get. You will also need to be able to properly supervise your children and dog at all times.
• Has everybody in the family must have agreed to getting the pet? It is heartbreaking when pets are turned into shelters or abandoned because someone in the family did not want it.
• Does anyone have allergies? Spend time with different types of pets if you can. Regardless of claims that a dog or cat is "hypoallergenic", find out for yourself before you adopt. Dogs and cats both produce dander, which people can be allergic to.