Just as people arrive as babies, come with different temperaments, and grow to adulthood, SO DO PUPPIES. While puppies may not require as much care as babies, it’s a good idea to consider a list of things that will require a certain amount of time to take care of your pet. Keeping it healthy and a well-behaved member of the family is important.
Before you buy a puppy, decide how much time you can devote
Grooming
Long-haired dogs must be groomed, or you’ll be eating hair for breakfast.
Some breeds require regular trips to the beauty parlor.
Other breeds shed their coats.
There are short-haired dogs, and they still need brushing, just not as often.
Exercise
Do you have a back yard? No? It’s time to walk the dog!
Some breeds require a lot of exercise. Learn what breeds require exercise, because when they don’t get enough exercise they get bored, and take it out on your furniture.
If you live in an apartment (3 flights up) this is an important area to consider.
There are breeds perfectly suited for apartments.
Training
Ironically, some of the most intelligent breeds are the most difficult to train.
You are looking at potty training, chew prevention, jumping up, bark, or should he not bark, as few in a long list of items to consider.
The more time you spend training the puppy and being firm with it, the happier the family is with the choice. It gets easier when you’ve convinced your puppy that you’re the Alpha male, or Alpha mommy.
A well-known dog trainer has main three points about training:
• Do not yell at your puppy or grown dog-ever!
• You must catch the puppy in the act of doing something wrong in order to correct the behavior, and when you do, go to him.
• Do not tell him to “Come!” at that moment, or else he won’t the next you call him, because he’ll think he’s in trouble.
Before you buy a puppy, consider breed traits.
Some breeds are docile, but require a lot of face time; determine if the breed you’re interested in is “needy”. Some breeds are very stubborn; how much time do you want to spend in training? Some breeds are aggressive; do you have children? Do you need a guard dog; can you be firm enough?
The Investment
Along with the purchase cost, there are the beauty parlor bills, food not expensive for a small dog, but can mount up for larger breeds. Then there are the vet bills. Some breeds are hardier than others are. Some breeds have allergies, hip dysplasia, delicate stomach, or tend to separation anxiety disorders. Any breeds, recently introduced into the US, will be more expensive, as well as breeds considered “Fashionable” or “In”.
Final Advice
Before buying a dog, go to the library or a good puppy website and read all you can about the breeds in which you are interested. Compare them, not only to the family you have now, but also to the family you will have. Last, but not least, make SURE you buy from a reputable breeder who will provide you with a health guarantee.
