Choosing a Puppy
Whether you are getting the family’s first puppy or choosing one for yourself for emotional support, service work, and/or companionship, getting a puppy can be overwhelming. Which breed do I get? How much should I pay? Where are good things to look for and what are red flags? What food do I use and how do I choose a good veterinarian? The list goes on and on. Where do you even start?
Well, we are here to help. We’ve done the work, so you don’t have too. Selecting your first dog or your next dog should be a fun time, not a source of stress. Here are the top 5 steps to choosing the right puppy.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT BREED:
The first thing to consider is your lifestyle. Are you active, or more of a home-body? Do you need a dog who can run everywhere with you, or one to curl up on your lap?
Second is your living situation. Do you live in an apartment, condo, or house? Do you have parks nearby, a backyard, or an area sufficient enough to fit the needs of your dog?
Third, your personal and professional schedule. Do you work a lot or a little? Do you work and go to school? Is your schedule set, or does it vary week to week, month to month?
Fourth is your financial situation. What can you afford? Do you have enough disposable income to feed a large breed, or only enough to feed a small or toy breed? What breed of dog can you actually afford?
Fifth, have you done your research on the breed or breeds you desire? Have you read about them, been around them, learned of their health and temperament benefits and problems? Do you KNOW your breed? Make sure you’re well-educated on their grooming standards.
FINDING A RESPONSIBLE AND EDUCATED BREEDER:
You’ve found the breed you like, that fits your needs and desires as listed above, and now comes to finding the right place to get said puppy. This is the stage where you may begin asking yourself, ‘where in the world to I even start?”
If you don’t know of any local breeders you can trust, a great place to begin your search is online.
Avoid anyone who is a “backyard breeder,'‘ meaning someone who simply bred the dogs because the dogs were physically able to breed. Don’t buy from those who haven’t had health and temperament testing. Don’t buy from someone who is selling a dog who lives in a filthy environment. And one of the most important, DO NOT BUY from people who will not let you meet the parents (while understanding both parents may not be on-site). These are questions I always ask a breeder:
How long have they been breeding?
Why did they choose to breed the pair they did?
Are sire (male) and bitch (female) on-site so I can meet them ? If not, can I speak with the owner and meet the male and/or female?
Do they have a pedigree?
Were the parents health tested before breeding?
Any complications during pregnancy?
In addition to the dog, what comes with my purchase? Vaccines? Health guarantee (genetic defects)? Transitional food? Dewclaw removal?
How old to they have to be before they’ll let them go?
MEETING THE PARENT(S):
Not all breeders will own the male and female. In fact some, and it’s perfectly fine, own the female only, and have taken the time to find a quality “stud” male. NEVER, and I repeat, NEVER buy a puppy or puppies from someone that can’t tell you about the dog’s mother at a minimum, or won’t let you meet one or both of the puppy’s parents.
Take your time evaluating the parents. Make sure they are social and look well-fed and cared for. Make sure they don’t have any obvious psychological problems such as excessive fear, ANY aggression, anxiety, or other problems. The parent(s) will give you a pretty good indication of what you’ll likely end up with in terms of temperament.
A responsible breeder won’t let you come and meet the pups in person until they are around 4 weeks or older, and have likely been weaned off of their mother.
Get all the information on the bitch and sire as you possibly can.
Where did they originally come from?
How long have you owned him/her or both?
How many litters has mom had?
How often do you breed?
What made you pick this male?
What have you been feeding mom?
These are just some of the questions you can ask, to give you an idea if the breeder knows, or even has any clue for that matter what they are doing. If they don’t, you should politely thank them for their time, and move on to a responsible breeder.
We are causing the problems and keeping these “backyard breeders” in business. These days we seem to care more about cost and looks than about quality breeding, and then we complain that places selling puppies are in business. Buy from responsible, knowledgeable breeders, who are trying to improve the breed or keep its standards.
CHOOSING THE PUPPY:
Here we are, in the final stages of choosing our puppy. We have found the breed we want, found a good breeder, met the parent(s), and now it’s time for us to choose which one of the litter is right for your home.
This doesn’t have to be tricky but understand something very important, there are NO guarantees with puppies. Things change, genetics develop, and the most you can do is stack all the odds in your favor. By doing this, you are able to get as close to what you want as possible, and then train the dog and raise them in the type of home they deserve. There are a few areas in this section of your puppy selection process, you should consider
Personality type. Which one of the litter best compliments the type of personality you want to bring into your home? Active and playful? Calmer and more independent, etc? Look for confidence, courage, and an agile body. Don’t take the one cowering in the corner, barking at everything, and not wanting anything to do with anyone, UNLESS that’s the personality you want, and want to work with. These dogs need confident and determined owners, who are patient and understanding. On the flip side of this, don’t take the most active, confident, biting little bugger if you want to have a dog who sits at your feet and does nothing else.
DON’T FIXATE ON LOOKS AND COLOR. Never choose a puppy simply because of the color of their coat, or their look. This is bad news. You should select them for personality first, and if the looks come with it, then great. You’ll be better off selecting a dog who is slightly less attractive to the eye, but has the personality that matches what you’re looking for.
Observe the litter a couple of times. Narrow it down to a couple you’re considering.
Remember, they will be a full-grown dog one day, and they don’t stay “puppy cute” and “puppy wrinkly” forever. So make sure you’re making a logical and well thought out decision, not an emotional one. We want them yes, but we don’t need “all the puppies.”
Once you’ve done this, let the breeder know which one you would like to select, and plan a selected date to come and get your puppy, when you have some time to spend with the dog, during those first days of stress in a new environment.
PUPPY’S FIRST STEPS:
We have arrived at the finish line. We’ve done our research, found the perfect little ball of fluff to bring home and join our family. So I want to end with the last and final set of steps to help you on your new journey.
Find a quality and licensed veterinarian to help you along the way. Do not self-vaccinate, as it will only bring you problems. The vaccines you buy over the counter are not guaranteed and therefore, don’t carry the same protection as those you get from a vet.
Make sure your breeder has given you all the necessary paperwork they are supposed to. These are things like pedigree, vaccines, medical records, and a small bag of the food they are on for transitional purposes.
Make sure the dog appears to be in good physical and mental health the day you pick them up.
Make sure you find a trainer to help you on your way. Training is an obligation, NOT an option. Make sure you start your dog right away, with manners and obedience, as well as careful socialization practices with other healthy dogs and kind people.
Make sure your new dog has food at the house and a few things to help ease them into their new environment. Be firm but fair, understanding, and patient. It will take time for them to adjust and you need to be their leader, not their source of contention or anxiety.
ENJOY the fluffy little thing.
