5 Important Facts to Remember Before Purchasing a Puppy
If you want to buy a puppy, get ready for a positive emotional experience. Just remember there are some important points to keep in mind when purchasing a new puppy. If you follow most or all of them, your puppy buying experience will be complete and you won’t be stuck with a bunch of regrets.
A Puppy Needs Space to Run
Nothing is worse for a dog than living life like a sardine. There are some poor pooches that have to spend the majority of their days in small boxes inside small houses or apartments. Some owners believe taking their dog out of the box for a walk once a day is sufficient. This sort of treatment is usually reserved for prisoners.
Like you, your puppy will need to not only take a walk, but also have ample space to move around within its living area. If you don’t have this type of space, then it is better to hold off on buying a puppy.
A Puppy Will Grow Into a Dog
Everyone knows in their brain that puppies grow into adult dogs. Everyone also knows that emotions can cloud judgement. If you see an overwhelmingly cute puppy of a breed that produces large adults, then make sure you have this planned into your life. If you have children, a large breed dog will outgrow them very quickly. If you have a space for your dog that’s puppy-big, it may not be adequate upon doggy adulthood, or it might. As long as you know how big the puppy you buy will become, you will be fine.
A Puppy Needs Companionship
Obviously you take on the responsibility for a puppy’s feeding. Failure to do so would amount to animal cruelty or neglect. However, there is another non-criminal duty all pet owners have, especially those with dogs: to provide companionship. When you bring your puppy home from the vet, your fascination may dwindle somewhat overtime, but don’t let this cause you to start neglecting your animal. They are like children and need attention in addition to the home and food you provide for them..
A Puppy Must be Trained
This too is very evident, that puppies must be trained, not only to empty their bowels in the right places, but also to obey the commands you give. If you don’t train your puppy, you will have an unruly beast later on down the road.
Puppies do have a short attention span, so don’t expect them to be doing much learning in the first couple weeks. However, after about two months, professionals in the industry agree that puppies should start training. At this age, they can start to pick up basic commands, like “sit” and “stay”.
A Puppy Needs Veterinary Care
Your new puppy’s health needs will largely depend on where you got it from. If your new friend came from a breeder, then chances are all of its medical needs for its age have been fulfilled, which includes at least one trip to a veterinarian and in some cases all of the standard vaccinations. If your new pooch came from a rescue shelter or the pound, then it should be taken to a veterinarian and examined for diseases and to get vaccinated.
No matter where it has its first visit, most veterinarians recommend that you keep your dog scheduled for regular yearly vet check-ups as the years go on. This does two things. First, it helps keep your furry pal in tip top condition. Second, it helps develop the VCPR (veterinarian client patient relationship) which is extremely beneficial for your dog’s health because the vet becomes familiar with your dog’s physical and psychological health.
You will be awash in a wave of joy when you get that puppy in your arms. You may be so emotional that you might consider getting two. The best bet is to stick to your plan and to remember most of the points listed above. If you do, then your joyful experience with your new puppy will continue through its lifetime.
