How to Choose a Puppy

How to Choose a Puppy

So you've decided to get a puppy. Congratulations! Believe it or not, you've now made what is possibly the easiest decision there is for dog ownership. The next on you'll need to face is which puppy is right for you. Sure, that doesn't sound to hard at first, right? You'll just look at puppies and know which one will be that special pooch you've always been missing…wrong!

There are many things to consider when choosing a puppy. Fortunately, when you know what these things are, you're decision is made exponentially easier. For one thing, it's much easier to break the issue down into smaller, more manageable questions instead of the massive, overwhelming "which dog is right for me?"

Before even leaving your house, sit down and answer the following questions:

õ What breed of dog is right for you?
õ What sort of space do you have to offer a dog?
õ Do you really want a puppy, or should you get an adult dog?
õ Where should you get the dog? A breeder, the pet store, or the pound?

When choosing the right breed, you should probably do some research to find out what is involved in their care. Are they the right size? Are they good with kids? Are they good guard dogs? How easy are they to train? Depending on your priorities, selecting the right breed could have a huge bearing on how much your dog matches the answer to those questions.

Fortunately, there are tons of great books out there about dog breeds, and you don't even really need to buy them to get the information you want. Just pop over to the public library, or the nearest quality bookstore to get an idea of what your after. For that matter, surf the web for an afternoon, and you'll learn everything you could ever need to know.

Different kinds of dogs need differing amounts of space. Moreover, you can't simply assume that because a dog is small, s/he'll need less space. Believe it or not, Great Danes have ideal temperaments for apartment life, whereas Border Collies are only small to mid-sized, and they have boundless amounts of energy, and should never be cooped up in the limited space of an apartment. What sort of space do you have inside your home? Do you have a yard? Will this be enough for the type of dog you're considering?

Once you know what sort of dog you want, and that you have enough space to house him or her, you need to decide if it's a puppy or a grown dog that you'll want to adopt. They both have their advantages and disadvantages.

For example, puppies are overwhelmingly adorable, cute, warm, and cuddly, however, they also cry, chew, and pee. If you're home most of the time, and want to spend a great deal of your time bringing up your puppy, then this is the age for you. But remember, puppies are a ton of work, and if you can't invest all of the time required, an adult dog is a much better choice for you. Adult dogs are frequently trained and housebroken, but even when they're not, they have already gone through most of the chewing, crying, and peeing phases, and are ready to devote themselves to you.

Alright, you know who you want to adopt, but where will you find him or her? The most common options are breeders, pet stores, and pounds. For the purposes of this article, pet stores are not at all recommended for puppy adoption, as they are likely supplied by puppy mills and other cruel and illegal sources, and are extremely difficult to ensure their sources.

If you want a specific breed of dog, and want to make sure that it is pure bread to be certain that you get all of the qualities that you're expecting - especially if you're planning on breeding or showing - then you'll definitely want to select a breeder for your puppy. Make sure that your breeder provides all of the right pedigrees, medical papers, and membership and approval by the American Kennel Club or whichever Kennel Club or equal organization exists in your area. Here, you'll have a very good idea of precisely what kind of puppy you'll be getting, and the puppy's temperament and health. Moreover, most quality breeders will guarantee their dogs for a length of time, to make certain that you are getting the healthy dog that you'd hoped for.

If breed purity isn't at the top of your list, then pounds and rescues are the ideal choice. You'll save money, and you'll save a life, while you gain a wonderful pet, who has already had all of its shots and medical tests.

No matter where you get your dog, or what kind of dog you choose, as long as you've thought the matter out in advance, you'll be certain to enjoy your new friend and family member for many years to come.

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